Space Force Leadership Space Defense & Militarization

SpaceNews.com • Sandra Erwin

Trump nominates Lt. Gen. Douglas Schiess for promotion and next Chief of Space Operations

President Donald Trump has nominated Lt. Gen. Douglas Schiess for promotion to four-star general and selection as the next Chief of Space Operations. The pick places a career operator atop the U.S. Space Force as the service prepares for more contested space missions.

Air & Space Forces Mag • Chris Gordon

Trump Picks Schiess as Next Space Force Chief

Also: Breaking Defense

2026-05-01T06:15:05.921695-07:00

Satellite LEO Commercial Space

SpaceNews.com • Jason Rainbow

Starcloud seeks more orbital data center funding shortly after unicorn status

By SpaceNews.com: Starcloud is looking to raise at least $200 million in a deal that would double the two-year-old orbital data center startup’s valuation to about $2.2 billion, a source close to the situation confirmed.

2026-05-01T06:15:06.373240-07:00

Event Satellite LEO Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space

Spaceflight Now • Will Robinson-Smith

Live coverage: SpaceX marks May Day with Starlink mission on a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral

By Spaceflight Now: SpaceX is kicking off the month of May by launching a batch of Starlink V2 Mini satellites into low Earth orbit. The Falcon 9 rocket will take off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Friday afternoon.

2026-05-01T05:34:39.880748-07:00

Defense Budgets & Spending Space Exploration & Science Missions Space Policy & International Cooperation Policy & Regulation NASA

Payload • Douglas Gorman

Space Nuclear Execs Cheer the FY27 Budget Proposal

By Payload: The space nuclear industry, sees the FY27 budget bill as potentially kick-starting their wildest dreams, with funds towards multiple missions.

2026-05-01T06:06:33.389966-07:00

LEO Moon Space Exploration & Science Missions Space Defense & Militarization

SpaceNews.com • Jeff Foust

DARPA selects three companies for lunar orbiter studies

By SpaceNews.com: DARPA has awarded contracts to three companies to study concepts for a lunar mission to search for water ice in very low orbits.

2026-05-01T04:52:03.214073-07:00

ESA Space Exploration & Science Missions

European Spaceflight • Andrew Parsonson

ESA Completes Sterilisation of ExoMars Parachute

By European Spaceflight: ESA has completed sterilisation of the ExoMars parachute that will slow the Rosalind Franklin rover’s descent for a safe touchdown on the Red Planet.

Also: ESA

2026-05-01T00:54:51.537593-07:00

Space Policy & International Cooperation Policy & Regulation

SpaceWatch Global • Torsten Kriening

#SpaceWatchGL Analysis: Brussels brought a regulation to a supremacy summit

By SpaceWatch Global: Torsten Kriening on the EU Space Act after Colorado Springs: competence questions, equivalence failures, and a narrowing window before the Irish presidency.

2026-05-01T02:44:05.574273-07:00

Europe ESA Space Policy & International Cooperation Policy & Regulation

SpaceWatch Global • Joshua Faleti

New EU-Switzerland Bilateral Agreement to Open up Swiss Participation in EU Space Program Activities

By SpaceWatch Global: The European Union and Swiss Confederation have signed a broad package of agreements aimed at strengthening their bilateral cooperation.

2026-05-01T02:24:59.822507-07:00

Menu

Trump nominates Lt. Gen. Douglas Schiess for promotion and next Chief of Space Operations

Trump Picks Schiess as Next Space Force Chief

Starcloud seeks more orbital data center funding shortly after unicorn status

Live coverage: SpaceX marks May Day with Starlink mission on a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral

Space Nuclear Execs Cheer the FY27 Budget Proposal

DARPA selects three companies for lunar orbiter studies

ESA Completes Sterilisation of ExoMars Parachute

#SpaceWatchGL Analysis: Brussels brought a regulation to a supremacy summit

New EU-Switzerland Bilateral Agreement to Open up Swiss Participation in EU Space Program Activities

Trump nominates Schiess as next Space Force chief

Starcloud seeks more orbital data center funding shortly after unicorn status

Space Nuclear Execs Cheer the FY27 Budget Proposal

Live coverage: SpaceX marks May Day with Starlink mission on a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral

DARPA selects three companies for lunar orbiter studies

#SpaceWatchGL Analysis: Brussels brought a regulation to a supremacy summit

Russia debuts new rocket with maiden Soyuz-5 launch

Space Force taps K2 satellites to test laser communications for missile-defense

France and Spain want space reserved for EU firms in satellite frequencies

Northrop Grumman delivers sensor for missile-warning satellite as Pentagon cancels program

Space Force FY27 request ramps Space Data Network ambitions and PNT/SATCOM funding

Ariane 6 readying four-booster configuration for VA268/LE-02: launch of 32 Amazon LEO satellites

Cosmoleap raises $73 million for reusable rocket aimed at a 2027 debut, using tower catch recovery

Morocco signs the Artemis Accords, becoming the 64th signatory

Starlink's 2024 Advances: Transforming In-Flight Wi-Fi Connectivity in Aviation

Riyadh Air: Saudi Arabia's New National Carrier Prepares for Launch Amid Regional Competition

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U.S. investors dominate Europe’s private-led space scale-up rounds

House appropriators keep NASA funding flat