Space News

Mars Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Human Spaceflight & Space Stations Commercial Space Space Policy & International Cooperation

Washington Post • Violet Jira

White House space policy targets 1,000 annual launches by 2030 and human Mars missions

A new Trump administration space transportation policy calls for a sharp increase in launch cadence, targeting 1,000 launches annually by 2030. It also directs the government to work with commercial space companies on sending humans to Mars, linking near-term launch growth to longer-term exploration goals.

aia-aerospace.org • Ellie Trieloff

AIA Applauds White House Effort to Scale Space Launch Competition and Infrastructure August 21, 2026

insidedefense.com

White House Directs Review of Barriers to Rapid, Resilient Access to Space

Also: Via Satellite, Space.com and insidedefense.com

6 Sources

2026-08-21T11:20:35.639619-07:00

Moon Space Exploration & Science Missions Human Spaceflight & Space Stations NASA

NASA • Gerelle Q. Dodson

NASA’s Artemis II Crew Set to Receive Congressional Space Medal of Honor

By NASA: President Donald J. Trump will award each of NASA’s Artemis II crew members the Congressional Space Medal of Honor at 11 a.m. EDT on Friday, Aug. 28, during a ceremony at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Also: Space.com, CBS News and Space Policy Online

4 Sources

2026-08-21T10:33:24.316039-07:00

Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space

NEW

Bloomberg • Julian Hast

SpaceX Is Hiring for Natural Gas Trading to Support Energy Needs

By Bloomberg: Elon Musk’s SpaceX is hiring a trader to build and lead a natural gas trading team to support the space flight company’s growing fuel and power needs.

1 Source

2026-08-21T13:06:13.202572-07:00

Satellite Commercial Space

Via Satellite • Rachel Jewett

Starcloud Adds $250M to Series A at a $2.3B Valuation

By Via Satellite: Orbital data center startup Starcloud added $250 million to its Series A round just five months after the raise, more than doubling its valuation to $2.3 billion.

1 Source

2026-08-21T11:36:20.959453-07:00

Mars Space Exploration & Science Missions

Space.com • Mike Wall

Japan unveils Mars moon sample-return spacecraft ahead of Oct. 19 launch (photos)

By Space.com: Japan recently gave the world a look at the spacecraft of its MMX mission, which will launch on Oct. 19 to grab pieces of the Mars moon Phobos and haul them back to Earth.

1 Source

2026-08-21T11:05:19.742312-07:00

Leadership

Via Satellite • Mark Holmes

Space Norway Appoints Rune Jensen as Acting CEO With Morten Tengs Departure

By Via Satellite: Space Norway CEO Morten Tengs is stepping down from the role at the end of August, and the company will begin the search for a new permanent CEO.

1 Source

2026-08-21T11:36:19.999418-07:00

Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space

Space.com • Josh Dinner

SpaceX fires up Starship ahead of megarocket’s 1st orbital flight (video)

By Space.com: SpaceX completed a single-engine test-firing of its next Starship spacecraft to prepare for its coming test flight, which will be the first to reach orbit.

NASA Spaceflight

Ship 41 Completes Engine Testing Ahead of Flight 14

2 Sources

2026-08-21T09:13:18.379631-07:00

Satellite LEO Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space

Space.com • Mike Wall

SpaceX launches 29 Starlink satellites, lands rocket on ship at sea (video, photos)

By Space.com: SpaceX launched yet another Starlink mission today (Aug. 21), sending 29 more of the broadband satellites to orbit from Florida's Space Coast.

Also: Spaceflight Now and spacecoastdaily.com

3 Sources

2026-08-21T08:33:21.356932-07:00

White House space policy targets 1,000 annual launches by 2030 and human Mars missions

AIA Applauds White House Effort to Scale Space Launch Competition and Infrastructure August 21, 2026

White House Directs Review of Barriers to Rapid, Resilient Access to Space

NASA’s Artemis II Crew Set to Receive Congressional Space Medal of Honor

SpaceX Is Hiring for Natural Gas Trading to Support Energy Needs

Starcloud Adds $250M to Series A at a $2.3B Valuation

Japan unveils Mars moon sample-return spacecraft ahead of Oct. 19 launch (photos)

Space Norway Appoints Rune Jensen as Acting CEO With Morten Tengs Departure

SpaceX fires up Starship ahead of megarocket’s 1st orbital flight (video)

Ship 41 Completes Engine Testing Ahead of Flight 14

SpaceX launches 29 Starlink satellites, lands rocket on ship at sea (video, photos)

SpaceX Is Hiring for Natural Gas Trading to Support Energy Needs

NASA’s Artemis II Crew Set to Receive Congressional Space Medal of Honor

Starcloud Adds $250M to Series A at a $2.3B Valuation

Space Norway Appoints Rune Jensen as Acting CEO With Morten Tengs Departure

White House space policy directs agencies to send humans to Mars

Japan unveils Mars moon sample-return spacecraft ahead of Oct. 19 launch (photos)

York Space promises rebound in 2027 after 32% drop in 2026 revenue target, says contracts have been delayed, not lost

Taiwan's First Domestic Rocket Test Ends in Mid-flight Termination as the Island Pursues Launch Independence

Landspace aims to refly recovered Zhuque-3 booster within six months

JAXA Sets October Launch for MMX Mars-Region Sample-Return Mission

LandSpace Recovers Zhuque-3 Booster, Advancing China’s Reusable Orbital Launch Capability

Katalyst Space rescue mission fails, leaving NASA’s Swift observatory on course for reentry

LandSpace’s Zhuque-3 Completes Second Orbital Flight With First-Stage Landing

NASA releases sharpest images yet of crater formed by SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage on the Moon

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