Space News

China Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space

SpaceNews.com • Andrew Jones

Landspace targets Zhuque-3 booster reflight within six months after first-stage landing

Chinese commercial launch company Landspace plans to refly the first stage of its Zhuque-3 rocket within six months of its historic successful vertical landing on Aug. 18. The timeline signals an effort to rapidly demonstrate reusable launch operations and shorten turnaround between missions.

1 Source

2026-08-21T02:00:40.532471-07:00

Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Space Exploration & Science Missions

NEW

SpaceWatch Global • Joshua Faleti

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

By SpaceWatch Global: as the scheduled launch date for its Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission.

1 Source

2026-08-21T02:13:38.592707-07:00

Satellite Commercial Space Space Policy & International Cooperation Policy & Regulation Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact Asia-Pacific (APAC)

Bloomberg • Satviki Sanjay

Musk Touts Starlink for India’s Rural Users Amid Stalled Launch

By Bloomberg: Billionaire Elon Musk pitched Starlink Inc.’s satellite-based internet service as a solution for India’s most underserved rural regions, even though the operator’s launch remains stalled in the country over security concerns.

Also: The Independent, Economic Times and newsable.asianetnews.com

4 Sources

2026-08-20T23:35:56.089794-07:00

Satellite Space Force Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space Space Policy & International Cooperation Policy & Regulation

SpaceNews.com • Jeff Foust

New space transportation policy focuses on increased launch rates

By SpaceNews.com: The White House released a new space transportation policy Aug. 20 with an emphasis on enabling a sharp increase in the number of launches and reentries.

Space Policy Online

White House Releases New Space Transportation Policy

keeptrack.space

SpaceX Reaches 100 Launches as Starlink Tops 11,000 Satellites; Space Force Budget Surges

Also: Seeking Alpha and 3 more

7 Sources

2026-08-20T16:40:40.993658-07:00

Human Spaceflight & Space Stations Boeing

The Air Current • Julie Johnsson

Boeing Starliner Thruster Failures Turned First Crewed Docking Into Near-Disaster

By The Air Current: Thruster failures turned Starliner’s docking with the orbiting lab into a white-knuckle near-disaster for astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita “Suni” Williams during its first crewed flight in June 2024.

1 Source

2026-08-20T17:05:40.730308-07:00

FCC Satellite M&A Commercial Space Space Policy & International Cooperation Policy & Regulation

Bloomberg • Kelcee Griffis, Michelle F Davis, Reshmi Basu

SpaceX, AST Said Seeking Grain Spectrum Valued at $6 Billion

By Bloomberg: SpaceX and AST SpaceMobile Inc. are among the companies that have expressed interest in acquiring a swath of spectrum held by Grain Management LLC that’s valuable for providing wireless phone services directly from space, according to people familiar with the discussions.

techfundingnews.com

Muon Space raises $250 million at $1.5 billion valuation to scale satellite production

newsable.asianetnews.com

AST SpaceMobile and SpaceX Reportedly Pursue Satellite Spectrum Access

Also: Bloomberg Law and techstartups.com

5 Sources

2026-08-20T16:35:38.540100-07:00

Satellite Commercial Space

SpaceNews.com • Debra Werner

Elve qualifies millimeter-wave amplifiers for spaceflight

By SpaceNews.com: SAN FRANCISCO – California startup Elve has qualified its 100-watt millimeter-wave Traveling Wave Tube Amplifier platform for spaceflight.

1 Source

2026-08-20T18:25:41.303113-07:00

Satellite M&A Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space

Via Satellite • Mark Holmes

Rocket Lab’s Bold Move to Acquire Iridium: Analysts Break Down the Strategy

By Via Satellite: 2026 continues to be a seismic year for news in the satellite sector. On June 29, in one of the biggest, and maybe even surprising stories of the year, Rocket Lab announced a deal to acquire Iridium and take huge leap forward in terms of building a next-generation space company.

1 Source

2026-08-20T13:35:57.499118-07:00

Landspace targets Zhuque-3 booster reflight within six months after first-stage landing

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

Musk Touts Starlink for India’s Rural Users Amid Stalled Launch

New space transportation policy focuses on increased launch rates

White House Releases New Space Transportation Policy

SpaceX Reaches 100 Launches as Starlink Tops 11,000 Satellites; Space Force Budget Surges

Boeing Starliner Thruster Failures Turned First Crewed Docking Into Near-Disaster

SpaceX, AST Said Seeking Grain Spectrum Valued at $6 Billion

Muon Space raises $250 million at $1.5 billion valuation to scale satellite production

AST SpaceMobile and SpaceX Reportedly Pursue Satellite Spectrum Access

Elve qualifies millimeter-wave amplifiers for spaceflight

Rocket Lab’s Bold Move to Acquire Iridium: Analysts Break Down the Strategy

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

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

Musk Touts Starlink for India’s Rural Users Amid Stalled Launch

Elve qualifies millimeter-wave amplifiers for spaceflight

Boeing Starliner Thruster Failures Turned First Crewed Docking Into Near-Disaster

New space transportation policy focuses on increased launch rates

Europe cancels planned upgrades for Ariane 6 rocket

SpaceX will try for 1st Starship tower catch 'in a few months,' Elon Musk says

SpaceX Is Racking Up Wins in Washington

Sypris Electronics Wins Manufacturing Deal to Support LEO Constellation

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

The day’s aerospace signal, in one email.

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