Satellite   ESA   Commercial Space  
Aviation Week • Robert Wall

Kepler Communications awarded $30.1M prime contract for ESA HydRON Element 3 optical-interoperability tests

ESA has selected Kepler Communications to lead a hosted payload mission under the HydRON program, using its in-orbit optical relay network to test “fiber in the sky” terminal interoperability. The prime contract is valued at $30.1M for HydRON Element 3, advancing ESA’s space-based laser communications across multiple orbital planes.

Also: SpaceQ and Payload
2026-04-14T16:53:23.631178-07:00
Satellite   Moon   Space Exploration & Science Missions  
Universe Today • Mark Thompson

Reading the Moon’s Buried Past.

By Universe Today: The lunar south pole is where humanity plans to build its first permanent outpost but we still don't fully understand what lies beneath the surface. A new study has used radar to peer below the ground in one of the Moon's most complex and battered regions and what it's finding raises important questions about the geological minefield that future astronauts will be navigating.

2026-04-14T13:53:11.262768-07:00
Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Space Exploration & Science Missions   Commercial Space   Space Defense & Militarization   BAE Systems  
Aviation Week • Vivienne Machi

BAE Unveils New Spacecraft Line For Dynamic Space Operations

By Aviation Week: BAE Systems is entering the space tug market, debuting a new vehicle it says will be capable of transporting cargo and small satellites to the Moon.

Also: Defense Daily, defence-industry.eu and insidedefense.com
2026-04-14T05:08:26.678162-07:00