Space News

Mars Space Exploration & Science Missions

Space.com • Mike Wall

Japan is set to launch MMX, a sample-return mission to Mars’ moon Phobos

Japan’s Martian Moons eXploration mission is scheduled to launch today, Oct. 19, on a journey to Phobos. The mission aims to return samples from the moon, and the launch is being broadcast live.

2 Sources

2026-10-19T03:05:22.649023-07:00

Commercial Space

CNBC • Kai Nicol-Schwarz

Elon Musk says he'll give a SpaceX share to every child in America next year

By CNBC: The SpaceX boss said Monday that he'll give one of his company shares to every child in the U.S. next year. He didn't say how the share giveaway would happen.

Axios

Musk pledges 1 SpaceX share for every child in America

Wall Street Journal

Musk Vows to Give Each U.S. Child a SpaceX Share

Also: Bloomberg, CNN, Seeking Alpha, thesouthafrican.com and Yahoo Finance

11 Sources

2026-10-19T02:04:39.182708-07:00

Satellite Policy & Regulation

Space Intel Report • Peter B. de Selding

13 months before ITU WRC-27, satellite & terrestrial operators are far from agreement on rules for D2D at national borders

By Space Intel Report: LA PLATA, Maryland — International regulators appear far from a consensus on how to regulate satellite direct-to-device service in geographies where many nations share borders, threatening interference when D2D service uses mobile network operator (MNO) spectrum.

1 Source

2026-10-19T04:04:17.223840-07:00

Satellite Europe Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact

NEW

AeroTime • Clement Charpentreau

Lithuania suspects Russian sabotage after attempt to burn Starlink site in Vilnius

By AeroTime: Lithuania investigates an arson attempt targeting Starlink infrastructure in Vilnius, amid suspected sabotage attacks on similar sites in Poland and Bulgaria.

1 Source

2026-10-19T04:19:24.920968-07:00

Satellite Europe Policy & Regulation

Reuters

European telecom groups mull bid for mobile satellite spectrum

By Reuters: Deutsche Telekom , Orange , Telefonica and Vodafone have agreed to ‌explore a joint bid for the future allocation of spectrum for mobile satellite services in Europe, the network operators said on Monday.

Bloomberg

Europe’s Top Carriers Explore Satellite Group to Fend Off SpaceX

Financial Times

European telecoms groups join forces to challenge Elon Musk’s Starlink

6 Sources

2026-10-19T03:04:24.527398-07:00

Satellite

SpaceNews.com • Jeff Foust

GAO report flags risk of geostationary weather satellite data gap

By SpaceNews.com: A report warns that a gap in weather satellite coverage could emerge in the early 2030s as NOAA develops a new generation of spacecraft.

2 Sources

2026-10-19T03:19:38.421118-07:00

defense Satellite Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons Space Defense & Militarization Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact

Washington Post • Dan Crenshaw

Elon, let Ukraine use Starlink to hit Russian missile launchers

By Washington Post: Activating the satellite technology over Russia would greatly aid Ukraine’s defense against ballistic missile strikes.

1 Source

2026-10-19T04:04:41.728536-07:00

Europe Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space Asia-Pacific (APAC)

SpaceWatch Global • Joshua Faleti

SSC Space Expands Japanese Presence via Launch and Recovery Services MoU with ElevationSpace

By SpaceWatch Global: SSC Space and ElevationSpace sign an MoU to explore launch, microgravity research and spacecraft recovery opportunities in Europe and Japan.

1 Source

2026-10-19T02:14:41.585058-07:00

Japan is set to launch MMX, a sample-return mission to Mars’ moon Phobos

Elon Musk says he'll give a SpaceX share to every child in America next year

Musk pledges 1 SpaceX share for every child in America

Musk Vows to Give Each U.S. Child a SpaceX Share

13 months before ITU WRC-27, satellite & terrestrial operators are far from agreement on rules for D2D at national borders

Lithuania suspects Russian sabotage after attempt to burn Starlink site in Vilnius

European telecom groups mull bid for mobile satellite spectrum

Europe’s Top Carriers Explore Satellite Group to Fend Off SpaceX

European telecoms groups join forces to challenge Elon Musk’s Starlink

GAO report flags risk of geostationary weather satellite data gap

Elon, let Ukraine use Starlink to hit Russian missile launchers

SSC Space Expands Japanese Presence via Launch and Recovery Services MoU with ElevationSpace

Lithuania suspects Russian sabotage after attempt to burn Starlink site in Vilnius

13 months before ITU WRC-27, satellite & terrestrial operators are far from agreement on rules for D2D at national borders

Elon, let Ukraine use Starlink to hit Russian missile launchers

GAO report flags risk of geostationary weather satellite data gap

European telecom groups mull bid for mobile satellite spectrum

Japan launching bold sample-return mission to Mars moon Phobos today: Watch it live

#SpaceWatchGL Opinion: Satellites Tell You Where to Look. Then Someone Has to Go and Look.

Polish satellite maker Creotech plans tenfold capacity boost, warns of Europe’s US rocket reliance

HawkEye 360 Announces $36 Million in International Contracts Across Q3 2026

Gogo HDX LEO Satcom Certified in Textron Aviation Longitude and Latitude

Starlink restrictions constrain Ukraine’s military communications and drone interception

SpaceX’s spectrum purchase is only a first step toward a US mobile network

Astronomers identify treble-clef-shaped radio formation as a radio phoenix

Webb and new atmospheric mapping techniques reveal changing clouds and distorted skies on nearby worlds

The day’s aerospace signal, in one email.

More in Space

Falcon 9 set to launch Bandwagon-5 rideshare mission from Florida

Returning the first samples from a Martian moon: Inside the science of Japan's bold MMX mission to Mars

SpaceX working through Starship Flight 15 and 16 milestones

Computer scientist Margaret Hamilton was a problem-solver for the ages (op-ed)

New Research Reveals How Long Stays in Space Affects the Human Genome

On this day in space! Oct. 17, 2016: Private Antares rocket returns to flight after catastrophic launch explosion

Enigmatic Mercury Will Remain A Puzzle Until Someone Sends A Lander

Scientists find 'gemstones' in atmosphere of bizarre, scorching-hot 'marshmallow' exoplanet