Space News

Europe ESA Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space

NASA Spaceflight • Chris Bergin, Martijn Luinstra

ESA commits €543.6 million to three startups in first European Launcher Challenge contracts

The European Space Agency has awarded the first contracts under its European Launcher Challenge, committing €543.6 million to three European rocket startups. The initiative is intended to broaden Europe’s launch options beyond Ariane 6 and Vega-C, expanding the region’s commercial launch ecosystem.

1 Source

2026-08-29T04:13:13.133921-07:00

Satellite Supply Chain Europe Commercial Space Airbus

Air Data News • Ricardo Meier

Airbus Considers Sale of U.S. Small-Satellite Business as OneWeb Production Moves to France

By Air Data News: Airbus is considering the sale of its US small-satellite manufacturing business as the European aerospace group reorganizes its space activities and moves production of the next generation of OneWeb satellites to France.

2 Sources

2026-08-29T01:53:02.766457-07:00

Space Force Human Spaceflight & Space Stations Commercial Space Space Policy & International Cooperation Workforce & Skills Development Defense Policy NASA

Bloomberg • Jeff Mason

Trump Begins Process to Establish U.S. Space Academy for NASA and Military Missions

By Bloomberg: President Donald Trump began the process of creating a “US space academy,” in a move he said would help bolster military and civilian missions to space.

Aero-News

White House Policy Sets Goal Of Supporting 1,000 Rocket Launches A Year by 2030

aviationnews.eu

Trump Signs Order to Create U.S. Space Academy Modeled After West Point

Also: Wall Street Journal, Space Policy Online, Space.com, Washington Post, NASA, SpaceNews.com, ANI News Agency, notus.org, Task & Purpose, Stars and Stripes, CBS News, CNA and 6 more

23 Sources

2026-08-28T10:36:41.337426-07:00

Satellite Commercial Space Asia-Pacific (APAC)

Via Satellite • Rachel Jewett

India’s InspeCity Raises $10.5M in Pre-Series A round

By Via Satellite: InspeCity, a space startup based in India, has raised $10.5 million in a pre-Series A funding round to support four planned on-orbit missions over the next year and a half.

1 Source

2026-08-28T11:33:31.814114-07:00

North America Moon Space Exploration & Science Missions Human Spaceflight & Space Stations NASA

Space.com • Mike Wall

President Trump gives Artemis II moon astronauts the Congressional Space Medal of Honor

By Space.com: The astronauts of NASA's Artemis II mission, who flew around the moon this past April, just received the United States' highest space honor.

Associated Press

Artemis II astronauts receive nation's highest space honor for their successful moonshot

NASA

President Honors NASA’s Artemis II Crew with Highest US Space Award

Also: news.ssbcrack.com, Economic Times and 3 more

8 Sources

2026-08-28T05:05:13.278902-07:00

China Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space

Space.com • Mike Wall

LandSpace’s Zhuque-3 Rocket Explodes During First Landing Attempt

By Space.com: LandSpace's first attempt to land its Zhuque-3 rocket was quite a spectacle, as newly released video footage reminds us.

Also: SpaceNews.com

2 Sources

2026-08-28T10:05:17.919133-07:00

Europe M&A Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space

European Spaceflight • Andrew Parsonson

Orbex’s Sutherland Spaceport Assets Sold to Scottish Development Agency

By European Spaceflight: HIE has bought the assets of Sutherland Spaceport Ltd following Orbex’s collapse. The future of the site is not yet known.

1 Source

2026-08-28T07:35:12.202484-07:00

Satellite Commercial Space Space Debris & Traffic Management

Space Intel Report • Peter B. de Selding

Astroscale Prioritizes First-Mover Advantage in Satellite Servicing Over Near-Term Profitability

By Space Intel Report: TUPPER LAKE, NY — Satellite debris removal and rendezvous, proximity and operations service provider Astroscale Holdings Inc. of Japan is holding fast to its investment strategy to secure first-mover advantage in its markets, even if that means foregoing profit in the next year or two.

1 Source

2026-08-28T08:35:27.461995-07:00

ESA commits €543.6 million to three startups in first European Launcher Challenge contracts

Airbus Considers Sale of U.S. Small-Satellite Business as OneWeb Production Moves to France

Trump Begins Process to Establish U.S. Space Academy for NASA and Military Missions

White House Policy Sets Goal Of Supporting 1,000 Rocket Launches A Year by 2030

Trump Signs Order to Create U.S. Space Academy Modeled After West Point

India’s InspeCity Raises $10.5M in Pre-Series A round

President Trump gives Artemis II moon astronauts the Congressional Space Medal of Honor

Artemis II astronauts receive nation's highest space honor for their successful moonshot

President Honors NASA’s Artemis II Crew with Highest US Space Award

LandSpace’s Zhuque-3 Rocket Explodes During First Landing Attempt

Orbex’s Sutherland Spaceport Assets Sold to Scottish Development Agency

Astroscale Prioritizes First-Mover Advantage in Satellite Servicing Over Near-Term Profitability

ESA awards first European Launcher Challenge contracts

Airbus Considers Sale of U.S. Small-Satellite Business as OneWeb Production Moves to France

India’s InspeCity Raises $10.5M in Pre-Series A round

President Trump gives Artemis II moon astronauts the Congressional Space Medal of Honor

Ovzon to Enter German Market With New Partnerships

Trump Begins Process to Establish U.S. Space Academy for NASA and Military Missions

Ovzon to Enter German Market With New Partnerships

Exolaunch to Deploy 68 Payloads Across SpaceX’s Transporter-18 and Bandwagon-5 Missions

Shanghai Begins Construction of Wharf for Planned Commercial Rocket Manufacturing and Sea-Launch Hub

Isar Aerospace secures 200 million euros from European Space Agency

ESA awards €543.6 million European Launcher Challenge contracts to Isar, PLD Space and RFA

MTG-I2 and NASA’s Roman Space Telescope enter final launch preparations for late-August liftoffs

Expedition 75 Begins ISS Upgrade Campaign With Solar-Array and Antenna Work

China’s Chang’e-7 delay highlights uneven launch cadence as commercial missions advance

The day’s aerospace signal, in one email.

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