Space News

Satellite Policy & Regulation Workforce & Skills Development

SpaceWatch Global • Guest Author

Earth Observation Demand Depends on Standards and Accountable Jobs, Not Satellites Alone

Earth observation markets will expand commercially only when standards make data usable, comparable and accountable, argues Karolina Sarna. The analysis shifts attention from satellite deployment to the jobs, governance and market infrastructure required to turn Earth-observation capabilities into sustained demand.

1 Source

2026-08-13T01:20:38.622849-07:00

Satellite M&A Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space

Bloomberg • Carmen Reinicke

SpaceX Passes First Lockup Expiry Test With $500 Billion Rally

By Bloomberg: Since SpaceX went public in June, Wall Street had been dreading Aug. 6, when the first lockup preventing early investors from selling the stock expired and millions of shares were set to flood the market.

satnews.com

SpaceX Finalizes Regulatory Procedures to Close $60 Billion Acquisition of AI Platform Cursor

Yahoo Finance

SpaceX is racing back toward $150 — how to play a breakout with limited risk: Alpha Options Playbook

Also: Yahoo Finance and Bloomberg Law

5 Sources

2026-08-13T02:21:27.418634-07:00

Moon Human Spaceflight & Space Stations NASA

SpaceNews.com • Jeff Foust

Paragon lays off 70 workers after NASA halts work on lunar Gateway module

By SpaceNews.com: A subcontractor for a module that was being developed for NASA’s lunar Gateway has laid off 70 people after NASA halted work on the program.

1 Source

2026-08-13T03:15:37.701132-07:00

Satellite Space Defense & Militarization Space Debris & Traffic Management

Payload • Jacqueline Feldscher

Astranis Unveils Perceptor, an SDA Product for GEO

By Payload: Astranis found problems with existing SDA tech while operating in GEO—so it built a tool to fix it.

Also: SpaceNews.com, Space.com and intellinews.com

4 Sources

2026-08-13T02:32:17.771666-07:00

Human Spaceflight & Space Stations Commercial Space

SpaceNews.com • Jeff Foust

Virgin Galactic delays resumption of commercial flights to 2027

By SpaceNews.com: Virgin Galactic says it will not start commercial flights of its new suborbital spaceplane until early 2027, a delay of a few months.

1 Source

2026-08-12T19:35:30.496953-07:00

Space Force LEO Space Defense & Militarization Defense Policy

SpaceNews.com • Sandra Erwin

Space Command identifies capabilities it needs for the next space war

By SpaceNews.com: Stephen Whiting, commander of U.S. Space Command, speaks at the 2026 Space & Missile Defense Symposium Aug. 12. HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — U.S. Space Command has ranked offensive space capabilities and systems for countering proliferated low Earth orbit constellations as its two highest priority needs for fiscal years 2029 through 2033, signaling where the combatant command sees some of the biggest gaps in preparing for a future conflict in space.

Also: Air & Space Forces Mag

2 Sources

2026-08-12T16:10:36.967322-07:00

Human Spaceflight & Space Stations Commercial Space

Bloomberg • Loren Grush, Sana Pashankar

Virgin Galactic Delays Debut of Upgraded Spaceplane, Shares Fall

By Bloomberg: Virgin Galactic Holdings Inc. is delaying the debut of its Delta-class spaceplane, pushing the first expected full-power flight of the upgraded tourism vehicle until February of 2027.

collectSPACE

Virgin Galactic wants your help naming its new Delta-class SpaceShip

Leonard David

Virgin Galactic Raises Price of Seats on Suborbital Spaceflights

Also: Aviation Week, Seeking Alpha, Seeking Alpha and Seeking Alpha

7 Sources

2026-08-12T13:51:01.776355-07:00

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

NASA Spaceflight • Martin Smith

Amid failure, Wenchang celebrates milestone as China launches AI satellites and prepares for lunar south pole mission

By NASA Spaceflight: China’s Wenchang Space Launch Site reached its milestone 50th launch at the end of July, but this week also experienced a third launch failure; while China’s other launch sites have all been active as the nation increasingly deploys more AI-powered and in-space computing technology into orbit.

1 Source

2026-08-12T12:36:29.909064-07:00

Earth Observation Demand Depends on Standards and Accountable Jobs, Not Satellites Alone

SpaceX Passes First Lockup Expiry Test With $500 Billion Rally

SpaceX Finalizes Regulatory Procedures to Close $60 Billion Acquisition of AI Platform Cursor

SpaceX is racing back toward $150 — how to play a breakout with limited risk: Alpha Options Playbook

Paragon lays off 70 workers after NASA halts work on lunar Gateway module

Astranis Unveils Perceptor, an SDA Product for GEO

Virgin Galactic delays resumption of commercial flights to 2027

Space Command identifies capabilities it needs for the next space war

Virgin Galactic Delays Debut of Upgraded Spaceplane, Shares Fall

Virgin Galactic wants your help naming its new Delta-class SpaceShip

Virgin Galactic Raises Price of Seats on Suborbital Spaceflights

Amid failure, Wenchang celebrates milestone as China launches AI satellites and prepares for lunar south pole mission

Why Earth Observation Markets Depend on Standards and Jobs, Not Just Satellites

Paragon lays off 70 workers after NASA halts work on lunar Gateway module

Astranis Unveils Perceptor, an SDA Product for GEO

SpaceX Passes First Lockup Expiry Test With $500 Billion Rally

Virgin Galactic delays resumption of commercial flights to 2027

Space Command identifies capabilities it needs for the next space war

Radiation vest tested on NASA moonshot can cut astronauts' exposure in solar storms, study suggests

AST SpaceMobile: Beta D2D commercial service in US should start this year for half-day coverage, continuous service in 2027

These 13 Environmental Laws Could be Waived to Speed Up Airport-to-Spaceport Conversions

Poland Reignites Dispute With Musk Over Exclusion From Starlink Roaming Zone

Rocket Lab’s Neutron debut faces schedule risk as company unveils GHOST deployable launch system

Long March 7A fails shortly after liftoff during communications-satellite launch

Vietnam’s VinSpace signs SpaceX launch deal for first satellites in 2027

SpaceX shares rebound after $7.8 billion Q2 revenue beat as satellite and Starship ambitions raise commercial-space stakes

The day’s aerospace signal, in one email.

More in Space

China’s iSpace raises first batch of series E funding for reusable rocketry

Satellogic Reports Positive Operating Income and EBITDA, Projects Continued Profitability

Firefly Aerospace Reports Record Quarter Backed by Launch and Defense Announcements

#SpaceWatchGL Analysis: India’s Space Industry Push Pays Off With Successful Launch

Rocket Lab establishes German subsidiary to target sovereign European satellite manufacturing and Electron and Neutron launch demand

SpaceX wraps Starlink double header day with the launch of 24 Starlink satellites from California

Firefly increases vehicle production even as launches lag

Vietnam’s VinSpace signs deal with Elon Musk’s SpaceX to launch its first satellites in 2027