Space News

Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space

Space.com • Josh Dinner

SpaceX plans Falcon 9 retirement once Starship is operational, reshaping the launch market

SpaceX plans to retire Falcon 9, one of the most-flown launchers in history, after bringing its next-generation Starship vehicle into operational service. The transition could materially alter launch capacity, competition and customer options across the commercial launch market.

1 Source

2026-08-24T11:05:04.807615-07:00

Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space

Space.com • Mike Wall

SpaceX will set rocket-reuse record on 100th Falcon 9 launch of the year early Aug. 25: Watch it live

By Space.com: SpaceX will set a new rocket-reuse record early Tuesday morning (Aug. 25), on its 100th Falcon 9 flight of the year. You can watch the action live.

1 Source

2026-08-24T10:05:16.774240-07:00

Satellite Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space

SpaceNews.com • Jeff Foust

CesiumAstro plans first Element satellite launch in October

By SpaceNews.com: CesiumAstro plans to launch a satellite in October that will be a precursor to the company’s planned constellation of more than 700 spacecraft.

1 Source

2026-08-24T09:55:45.086291-07:00

Satellite

SpaceNews.com • Debra Werner

‘Decoding’ Earth: Demand signal for hyperspectral emerges

By SpaceNews.com: The appeal of hyperspectral satellites has long been apparent.

1 Source

2026-08-24T10:30:43.988727-07:00

ArianeGroup ESA Moon Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Space Exploration & Science Missions

European Spaceflight • Andrew Parsonson

ESA to Adapt Ariane 6 for Nuclear-Powered Argonaut Missions

By European Spaceflight: ESA is planning specific adaptations to Ariane 6 for future Argonaut lunar missions that will carry radioisotope power systems.

1 Source

2026-08-24T07:35:06.173944-07:00

Satellite Commercial Space

SpaceNews.com • Jason Rainbow

Kepler starts commercial optical data relay service

By SpaceNews.com: Kepler Communications announced the start of commercial in-orbit optical data relay services Aug. 24, marking the smallsat operator’s expansion beyond the IoT connectivity business it began more than a decade ago.

Also: SpaceWatch Africa

2 Sources

2026-08-24T07:36:46.824351-07:00

AI M&A Commercial Space

SpaceNews.com • Konstantinos Trantopoulos

SpaceX Reportedly Acquires xAI in Record $1.25 Trillion Deal

By SpaceNews.com: uary, SpaceX acquired xAI in an all-stock deal valuing the combined business at $1.25 trillion, the largest merger on record.

1 Source

2026-08-24T04:40:47.919985-07:00

Satellite Supply Chain Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space Space Defense & Militarization

SpaceWatch Global • Joshua Faleti

2026-08-24T02:52:34.282259-07:00

SpaceX plans Falcon 9 retirement once Starship is operational, reshaping the launch market

SpaceX will set rocket-reuse record on 100th Falcon 9 launch of the year early Aug. 25: Watch it live

CesiumAstro plans first Element satellite launch in October

‘Decoding’ Earth: Demand signal for hyperspectral emerges

ESA to Adapt Ariane 6 for Nuclear-Powered Argonaut Missions

Kepler starts commercial optical data relay service

SpaceX Reportedly Acquires xAI in Record $1.25 Trillion Deal

Synspective Sets 31 August Launch for 11th 'StriX' Constellation Satellite on Rocket Lab Electron

Soyuz Rocket Launches Military Satellite From Plesetsk

Small-satellite industry shifts toward larger 500-kg spacecraft buses

Goodbye, Falcon 9: SpaceX planning to retire workhorse launcher when Starship is up and running

‘Decoding’ Earth: Demand signal for hyperspectral emerges

CesiumAstro plans first Element satellite launch in October

SpaceX will set rocket-reuse record on 100th Falcon 9 launch of the year early Aug. 25: Watch it live

Kepler starts commercial optical data relay service

ESA to Adapt Ariane 6 for Nuclear-Powered Argonaut Missions

Beyond Reach Technologies unveils line of large deployable solar arrays

Kongsberg NanoAvionics more than doubles flagship satellite bus mass

Star Catcher signs power-beaming deal with Aethero

Veoware demonstrates mini control moment gyros on Planet Pelican

White House sets 2030 target for U.S. to support more than 1,000 annual launches and reentries

China postpones Chang’e-7 lunar south-pole mission hours before launch

Artemis II crew to receive Congressional Space Medal of Honor from Trump on Aug. 28

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

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