Space News

China Satellite Moon Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Space Exploration & Science Missions Commercial Space

NASA Spaceflight • Justin Davenport

SpaceX Plans Three Starlink Launches as China Schedules Reusable-Booster Test and Chang’e 7 Lunar Mission

The week of Aug. 17-23 will feature three SpaceX Starlink launches alongside China’s second test flight of the partially reusable ZhuQue-3 launcher and the robotic Chang’e 7 lunar mission. The schedule marks China’s return to launch activity after the previous week’s Chang Zheng 7A failure.

2 Sources

2026-08-17T15:33:00.556627-07:00

Satellite Commercial Space

SpaceNews.com • Jeff Foust

HEO to use Planet satellites for non-Earth imaging

By SpaceNews.com: WASHINGTON — HEO, the Australian company that uses Earth observation satellites to take images of other spacecraft, has signed an agreement with Planet to access that company’s satellites.

1 Source

2026-08-17T15:10:41.392423-07:00

Satellite Europe Space Defense & Militarization Policy & Regulation Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact Export Controls & Trade Compliance

SpaceNews.com • Andrew Parsonson

New EU sanctions target leaders of Russia’s space industry

By SpaceNews.com: tion, CC BY-SA 4.0 JOHANNESBURG — The European Union has sanctioned the head of a Roscosmos subsidiary developing a synthetic aperture radar satellite system for the Russian military.

1 Source

2026-08-17T14:35:34.306804-07:00

Mars AI Helicopter LEO Moon Space Exploration & Science Missions NASA

Universe Today • Matthew Williams

NASA's SkyFall Mars Helicopters Will Feature a Revolutionary Antenna Design

By Universe Today: Engineers developed a unique fabric-based design for a ground-penetrating radar that will be a key instrument on NASA’s SkyFall Mars helicopters. The hardware will enable the SkyFall mission’s trio of planetary rotorcraft to use ground-penetrating radar to study the Martian subsurface.

NASA

NASA Challenge Tests Wheel Designs for Moon Base Mobility

satnews.com

NASA Demonstrates GPS-Free Autonomous Spacecraft Navigation System on Starling Swarm

5 Sources

2026-08-17T14:06:14.972512-07:00

Commercial Space Space Defense & Militarization Space Debris & Traffic Management

Via Satellite • Mark Holmes

Katalyst Space Wins U.S. Defense Innovation Unit Contract

By Via Satellite: Katalyst Space has won a major new contract from the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) as the U.S. Government looks to tap into the latest deorbiting technologies.

1 Source

2026-08-17T13:06:10.304713-07:00

China Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation

Space.com • Josh Dinner

China bounces back from Long March rocket explosion with back-to-back launches (video)

By Space.com: China's space program has returned to flight after an Aug. 10 Long March 7A rocket explosion, launching both a Long March 12 and a Long March 2C rocket on Sunday (Aug.

1 Source

2026-08-17T13:05:12.673746-07:00

Satellite LEO Commercial Space

Space Intel Report • Peter B. de Selding

Telesat, facing December $1.7B debt payment and bondholder lawsuits, says it's pursuing good-faith negotiations

By Space Intel Report: TUPPER LAKE, NY — Satellite fleet operator Telesat reiterated its intent to pursue negotiations with bondholders who have filed suit to force the company to reverse a 2025 transfer of funds from Telesat to its dedicated Telesat LEO subsidiary.

1 Source

2026-08-17T12:20:28.531790-07:00

Leadership ULA Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Boeing

SpaceNews.com • Jeff Foust

ULA names Peller as new CEO

By SpaceNews.com: United Launch Alliance has named Mark Peller, a longtime manager and executive at the company, as its new chief executive.

Also: newsroom.ulalaunch.com, Seeking Alpha and orlandosentinel.com

4 Sources

2026-08-17T09:55:41.148732-07:00

SpaceX Plans Three Starlink Launches as China Schedules Reusable-Booster Test and Chang’e 7 Lunar Mission

HEO to use Planet satellites for non-Earth imaging

New EU sanctions target leaders of Russia’s space industry

NASA's SkyFall Mars Helicopters Will Feature a Revolutionary Antenna Design

NASA Challenge Tests Wheel Designs for Moon Base Mobility

NASA Demonstrates GPS-Free Autonomous Spacecraft Navigation System on Starling Swarm

Katalyst Space Wins U.S. Defense Innovation Unit Contract

China bounces back from Long March rocket explosion with back-to-back launches (video)

Telesat, facing December $1.7B debt payment and bondholder lawsuits, says it's pursuing good-faith negotiations

ULA names Peller as new CEO

Launch Preview: Chang’e 7 headlines week of Chinese and Starlink launches

HEO to use Planet satellites for non-Earth imaging

New EU sanctions target leaders of Russia’s space industry

NASA's SkyFall Mars Helicopters Will Feature a Revolutionary Antenna Design

Katalyst Space Wins U.S. Defense Innovation Unit Contract

China bounces back from Long March rocket explosion with back-to-back launches (video)

DIU, SDA Select Winners for Deorbit-as-a-Service Designs

Family Offices Amass $3.8 Billion SpaceX Bet in Boost for Musk

SEOPS adds second Waymaker rideshare mission

Long March 12 launches despite recent 7A failure, Long March 2C launches satellite for UAE

Ukraine says Flamingo missiles struck Russia’s Progress rocket center and military airfield

Firefly Aerospace advances medium-lift rocket and Alpha launcher as $1.5B backlog supports growth

Blue Origin plans second Cape Canaveral launch complex for New Glenn 9×4

Emirates SkyCargo Moves UAE’s First AI Satellite From Dubai to Los Angeles

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