Space News

China Moon Space Exploration & Science Missions Human Spaceflight & Space Stations

Universe Today • Matthew Williams

China outlines plan for crewed Moon landing

Wang Xiang, deputy chief designer of China’s crewed space program and chief designer of its lunar exploration program, unveiled an official statement on Nov. 3 detailing plans for a crewed Moon mission. The announcement puts China’s human lunar exploration objectives on the record, but the report provides no mission timeline or technical details.

1 Source

2026-11-04T13:35:10.426713-08:00

Space Exploration & Science Missions

Universe Today • Evan Gough

Game Theory Helps SETI Search for Alien Civilizations

By Universe Today: SETI can be more effective the more the targets in the search are refined. SETI's newest survey effort uses game theory to inform its search. It's based on the idea that other ETIs would almost certainly use the transit method to detect habitable worlds like Earth.

Also: The Independent and astrobiology.com

3 Sources

2026-11-04T13:05:24.408750-08:00

aviation Satellite North America Commercial Space

CNBC • Lora Kolodny

SpaceX signs deal with Qualcomm to provide network technology for U.S. mobile service

By CNBC: SpaceX struck a multiyear deal with Qualcomm to build out base stations for its Starlink Mobile cellular network.

1 Source

2026-11-04T06:04:46.691272-08:00

Supply Chain ULA Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation

Via Satellite • Frank Wolfe

ULA To Bring Payload Fairing Manufacturing for Vulcan In-House

By Via Satellite: Elon Musk’s SpaceX has made payload fairings for its rockets, including Falcon 9, at SpaceX’s Hawthorne, California plant, and now competitor United Launch Alliance (ULA) is bringing its fairings build in house as well — an effort that may achieve savings from vertical integration of manufacturing.

1 Source

2026-11-04T12:54:38.967381-08:00

Mars ESA Space Exploration & Science Missions

NASA Spaceflight • Haygen Warren

Trace Gas Orbiter discovers potential evidence of volcanic activity on Mars via atmospheric observations

By NASA Spaceflight: Using data from the joint European and Russian ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter at Mars, an international team of scientists has discovered new evidence of volcanic activity on the red planet’s surface.

Reuters

Pungent gas above Martian fissures hints at ongoing volcanism

Live Science

'Living organisms might wait for us to discover them': Mars may host an environment similar to hydrothermal vents on Earth, where life first arose

Also: The Independent

8 Sources

2026-11-04T11:15:25.110853-08:00

Mars Space Exploration & Science Missions

Space.com • Robert Lea

Mars isn't dead — recent volcanic activity reveals it's just sleeping

By Space.com: Scientists have long suspected that Mars is geologically "dead" but new spacecraft observations suggests the Red Planet's volcanoes are merely sleeping.

1 Source

2026-11-04T11:19:34.471586-08:00

Viasat Satellite Commercial Space Policy & Regulation NASA

SpaceNews.com • Jason Rainbow

Open Cosmos Ka-band filing capped at 52 satellites

By SpaceNews.com: International regulators have capped a key spectrum filing for Open Cosmos’ planned connectivity network at 52 satellites after missed deployment deadlines, little more than a quarter of what the British company plans for initial global services.

Via Satellite

Viasat, SES, and Astranis Win NASA Ka-band Relay Contracts

Via Satellite

SES Reports Optical Communications Demo on K2 Gravitas Mission

Also: SpaceWatch Africa, NASA and newspaceeconomy.ca

6 Sources

2026-11-04T11:06:03.024910-08:00

defense Satellite Space Defense & Militarization Space Debris & Traffic Management

SpaceNews.com • Sandra Erwin

Pentagon backs LeoLabs radar expansion with $150 million loan commitment

By SpaceNews.com: To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site.

1 Source

2026-11-04T13:25:40.922664-08:00

China outlines plan for crewed Moon landing

Game Theory Helps SETI Search for Alien Civilizations

SpaceX signs deal with Qualcomm to provide network technology for U.S. mobile service

ULA To Bring Payload Fairing Manufacturing for Vulcan In-House

Trace Gas Orbiter discovers potential evidence of volcanic activity on Mars via atmospheric observations

Pungent gas above Martian fissures hints at ongoing volcanism

'Living organisms might wait for us to discover them': Mars may host an environment similar to hydrothermal vents on Earth, where life first arose

Mars isn't dead — recent volcanic activity reveals it's just sleeping

Open Cosmos Ka-band filing capped at 52 satellites

Viasat, SES, and Astranis Win NASA Ka-band Relay Contracts

SES Reports Optical Communications Demo on K2 Gravitas Mission

Pentagon backs LeoLabs radar expansion with $150 million loan commitment

China Unveils Their Plan for a Crewed Moon Landing

Pentagon backs LeoLabs radar expansion with $150 million loan commitment

ULA To Bring Payload Fairing Manufacturing for Vulcan In-House

Game Theory Helps SETI Search for Alien Civilizations

SpaceX signs deal with Qualcomm to provide network technology for U.S. mobile service

Trace Gas Orbiter discovers potential evidence of volcanic activity on Mars via atmospheric observations

NASA's Artemis II moon launch tore a hole in Earth's upper atmosphere so huge it disrupted GPS signals

SpaceX and Tesla Stocks Tumble After Elon Musk-Backed Candidates Lose in Texas

Qualcomm to Build Equipment for SpaceX’s US Mobile Phone Network

EXCLUSIVE: House China committee pushes Air Force on think tank cuts

Finnair and Air Astana select SES multi-orbit satellite Wi-Fi for aircraft fleets

Northwood Space raises $375 million at $2 billion valuation to expand satellite ground network

China details two-launch architecture for first crewed lunar landing before 2030

SpaceX reportedly weighs Boost Mobile deal as Starlink expands into cellular service

The day’s aerospace signal, in one email.

More in Space

Orbital Matter, EnduroSat Announce an In-Space Manufacturing Mission in 2028

SkyFi brings satellite intelligence to Robinhood investors for $10 a month

Here are Wednesday's biggest analyst calls: SpaceX, AMD, Apple, Adobe, CoreWeave & more

The cost of operating amid debris

Satellite on orbit responded to voice command in experimental first

Astrolab to develop lunar power and communications infrastructure

Election 2026: Space Winners, Losers, and What’s Next

PLD Space Completes MIURA 5 Flight Termination System Test