Space News

Satellite Space Exploration & Science Missions NASA

SpaceNews.com • Jeff Foust

NASA and Katalyst Space abandon plans to reboost Swift gamma-ray observatory

NASA and Katalyst Space have called off plans to use Katalyst’s Link spacecraft to raise the orbit of NASA’s Swift gamma-ray observatory. The decision ends a proposed commercial intervention intended to extend or support the mission’s orbital operations, though no alternative plan is identified.

Bloomberg • Loren Grush, Yash Roy

NASA, Katalyst Call Off Risky Mission to Save Falling Satellite

Space.com • Josh Dinner

Private mission to save NASA's Swift space telescope fails

Also: Reuters, Space Policy Online, The Independent and Aerospace America

7 Sources

2026-08-19T12:40:44.639330-07:00

China Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space

Ars Technica • Stephen Clark

Another Chinese Company Successfully Lands a Reusable Rocket Booster

By Ars Technica: We will put the booster back into service for another flight as soon as possible.".

Spaceflight Now

LandSpace becomes first commercial Chinese company to land an orbital-class booster

Scientific American

China successfully lands its Zhuque-3 rocket, rivaling Blue Origin and SpaceX

5 Sources

2026-08-19T11:49:53.544687-07:00

Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space

European Spaceflight • Andrew Parsonson

ATMOS Moves Forward with Phoenix 3 as Phoenix 2 Launch Slips

By European Spaceflight: ATMOS Space Cargo has completed an initial study into the development of its Phoenix 3 spacecraft as the inaugural flight of Phoenix 2 slips to 2027.

1 Source

2026-08-19T12:35:06.281894-07:00

Satellite Space Exploration & Science Missions NASA

Axios • Alex Fitzpatrick

NASA aborts attempt to save dying space telescope

By Axios: It'll burn up in Earth's atmosphere.

1 Source

2026-08-19T12:53:28.557708-07:00

Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space

NEW

NASA Spaceflight • Eleanor Day

Stoke Space conducts second stage fit checks, completes first stage engines ahead of Nova debut

By NASA Spaceflight: While Starship is grabbing headlines, another fully reusable vehicle is advancing towards a potential 2026 debut. Nova, developed by Stoke Space, is a medium-lift vehicle that has reached several key milestones for its maiden launch over the last few weeks, including vehicle mating.

1 Source

2026-08-19T14:05:16.563332-07:00

AI M&A Commercial Space

Bloomberg • Edward Ludlow, Natasha Mascarenhas, Rebecca Torrence

SpaceX Attempted to Acquire AI Coding Startup Cognition

By Bloomberg: SpaceX approached artificial intelligence coding startup Cognition AI Inc. about a potential acquisition, according to people familiar with the matter, in what would have been its second large takeover in recent months to gain ground in the AI race.

2 Sources

2026-08-19T12:21:16.436963-07:00

Satellite Aerial Firefighting Europe

politico.eu • Pieter Haeck

How satellite technology can help Europe battle wildfires

By politico.eu: As summer blazes are again spreading across the continent, satellites can now gather images and data to map damage and detect fires at an early stage.

1 Source

2026-08-19T10:13:35.438491-07:00

Satellite

SpaceNews.com • Moog Inc.

Moog Inc. Expands METEORITE Satellite Bus Capacity for High-Maneuverability Missions

By SpaceNews.com: East Aurora, NY — Moog Inc. (NYSE: MOG.A and MOG.B), a worldwide designer, manufacturer and systems integrator of high-performance precision motion and fluid controls and control systems announces a new, High Delta-V configuration for its METEORITE (ESPA) class satellite bus to deliver greater flexibility, more maneuvering capability, and higher thrust for targeted missions.

3 Sources

2026-08-19T08:52:34.636213-07:00

NASA and Katalyst Space abandon plans to reboost Swift gamma-ray observatory

NASA, Katalyst Call Off Risky Mission to Save Falling Satellite

Private mission to save NASA's Swift space telescope fails

Another Chinese Company Successfully Lands a Reusable Rocket Booster

LandSpace becomes first commercial Chinese company to land an orbital-class booster

China successfully lands its Zhuque-3 rocket, rivaling Blue Origin and SpaceX

ATMOS Moves Forward with Phoenix 3 as Phoenix 2 Launch Slips

NASA aborts attempt to save dying space telescope

Stoke Space conducts second stage fit checks, completes first stage engines ahead of Nova debut

SpaceX Attempted to Acquire AI Coding Startup Cognition

How satellite technology can help Europe battle wildfires

Moog Inc. Expands METEORITE Satellite Bus Capacity for High-Maneuverability Missions

Stoke Space conducts second stage fit checks, completes first stage engines ahead of Nova debut

ATMOS Moves Forward with Phoenix 3 as Phoenix 2 Launch Slips

NASA aborts attempt to save dying space telescope

Katalyst Space and NASA abandon plans for Swift reboost

SpaceX Attempted to Acquire AI Coding Startup Cognition

Another Chinese Company Successfully Lands a Reusable Rocket Booster

Orbital Data Centers Become Europe’s Latest Cosmic Challenge

The space industry’s next challenge: supply chain resilience

Zeno Power Books its First Nuclear Mission to the Moon

Intuitive Machines purchase of Maxar looks a lot better with 3-satellite order and orbital data center potential

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

Satellite connectivity buildout advances with Globalstar deployment, IRIS² milestone, Viasat- Rocket Lab contract and ReOrbit R&

United Launch Alliance Names Mark Peller CEO as Vulcan Faces Program Challenges

NASA reworks Voyager power systems to extend interstellar mission into the early 2030s

The day’s aerospace signal, in one email.

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