Space News

Satellite Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space

SpaceNews.com • Jeff Foust

Exolaunch secures rideshare capacity on two launches, including Japanese rocket flight

Exolaunch said Sept. 14 it secured capacity for rideshare payloads on two upcoming launches, one involving a Japanese rocket. The agreements add launch opportunities to Exolaunch’s manifest as the provider continues arranging shared-launch access for satellite customers.

1 Source

2026-09-14T03:06:40.691075-07:00

Defense Industry & Major Contractors Commercial Space Space Defense & Militarization

SpaceNews.com • Sandra Erwin

U.S. Air Force awards Antares $161 million to advance nuclear reactor for space

By SpaceNews.com: GTON — The nuclear microreactor startup Antares won a $161 million Department of the Air Force contract to develop and demonstrate a nuclear reactor for spacecraft.

1 Source

2026-09-14T02:22:34.928644-07:00

Europe Space Policy & International Cooperation

SpaceNews.com • Jeff Foust

Europe uses space summit to advocate for greater autonomy

By SpaceNews.com: European officials used an international space conference to bolster the continent’s own space capabilities as they push for greater autonomy.

1 Source

2026-09-14T01:45:41.979720-07:00

Satellite LEO Commercial Space

SpaceWatch Global • Guest Author

#SpaceWatchGL Opinion: LEO economics are decided in the chipset, not the launch bay

By SpaceWatch Global: Why custom silicon and common terminal architectures could determine the economics of LEO networks, from Starlink to Europe’s IRIS² constellation.

1 Source

2026-09-14T01:22:12.340847-07:00

Satellite Commercial Space

SpaceWatch Global • Joshua Faleti

NOAA Selects 14 Companies for New Commercial Environmental Data Supply Framework

By SpaceWatch Global: NOAA selects 14 providers in a new framework to expand satellite data use for U.S. weather forecasting and space-weather monitoring.

1 Source

2026-09-14T01:15:03.150593-07:00

Satellite Asia-Pacific (APAC)

SpaceWatch Global • Joshua Faleti

SWISSto12 and Mitsubishi Electric Expand Japan Partnership With MoU and Antenna Contract

By SpaceWatch Global: SWISSto12 and Mitsubishi Electric will explore advanced payload and RF opportunities in Japan, alongside a new phased-array antenna contract.

1 Source

2026-09-14T01:54:59.645938-07:00

Satellite M&A Aircraft Finance & Leasing Commercial Space

Payload • Victoria Woodburn

Sophia Space, SLI Set Terms for $300M Satellite Leasing Deal

By Payload: Orbital compute startup Sophia Space and space asset leasing company SLI have set terms for a $300M asset-financing deal.

SpaceNews.com

Apex to set up US D2D satellite manufacturing facility for Elveo Mobile

SpaceNews.com

Sophia Space and SLI agree on $300 million financing for 10-satellite edge-computing constellation

Also: Space Intel Report, Satellite Evolution, Airline Economics, newspaceeconomy.ca, GeekWire, marketforecast.com, Inflight Online and 5 more

15 Sources

2026-09-13T21:05:05.406034-07:00

Satellite Commercial Space

SpaceNews.com • Debra Werner

Startups seek to demonstrate 3D printing in vacuum of space

By SpaceNews.com: PARIS – Poland’s Orbital Matter and Dcubed of Germany are conducting on-orbit demonstrations of 3D printing in cubesats, a step toward creating solar arrays with additively manufactured booms.

1 Source

2026-09-14T00:36:55.826689-07:00

Exolaunch secures rideshare capacity on two launches, including Japanese rocket flight

U.S. Air Force awards Antares $161 million to advance nuclear reactor for space

Europe uses space summit to advocate for greater autonomy

#SpaceWatchGL Opinion: LEO economics are decided in the chipset, not the launch bay

NOAA Selects 14 Companies for New Commercial Environmental Data Supply Framework

SWISSto12 and Mitsubishi Electric Expand Japan Partnership With MoU and Antenna Contract

Sophia Space, SLI Set Terms for $300M Satellite Leasing Deal

Apex to set up US D2D satellite manufacturing facility for Elveo Mobile

Sophia Space and SLI agree on $300 million financing for 10-satellite edge-computing constellation

Startups seek to demonstrate 3D printing in vacuum of space

Exolaunch secures additional rideshare launches

U.S. Air Force awards Antares $161 million to advance nuclear reactor for space

SWISSto12 and Mitsubishi Electric Expand Japan Partnership With MoU and Antenna Contract

Europe uses space summit to advocate for greater autonomy

#SpaceWatchGL Opinion: LEO economics are decided in the chipset, not the launch bay

NOAA Selects 14 Companies for New Commercial Environmental Data Supply Framework

BlackSky shares first-light imagery from fifth Gen3 satellite

Avio reports strong growth but seeks more funding to increase Ariane 6 and Vega launch cadence

NASA offers details about, and defends, proposed space academy

Vega C set to launch the ESA Sentinel-3C and FLEX missions from Kourou

Rocket Lab protests NASA’s $700 million Mars orbiter award to Blue Origin

Europe’s commercial launch sector accelerates with Isar, PLD Space advances and a new UK strategy

ULA prepares to resume Vulcan launches as financial pressure raises ownership questions

Poland launches process to develop a domestic Starlink-like satellite system

The day’s aerospace signal, in one email.

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