Space News

China M&A Commercial Space Space Defense & Militarization Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact Export Controls & Trade Compliance

Bloomberg • Peter Vercoe

Tesla weighs separating China business ahead of potential SpaceX merger, WSJ reports

Tesla is considering spinning off, selling or closing its China operations as executives and advisers explore a possible merger with SpaceX, according to The Wall Street Journal. A China carveout could reduce regulatory complications surrounding SpaceX’s U.S. defense work and potential scrutiny from Beijing.

Wall Street Journal • Becky Peterson, Raffaele Huang

Tesla Weighs Sale of China Business to Pave Way for Potential SpaceX Merger

newsable.asianetnews.com • Stocktwits Inc

Tesla Reportedly Weighs China Carveout Ahead of Potential SpaceX Merger

Also: Seeking Alpha, newsable.asianetnews.com and Economic Times

9 Sources

2026-07-30T18:32:59.461348-07:00

Satellite Commercial Space Space Policy & International Cooperation Space Debris & Traffic Management Policy & Regulation

SpaceNews.com • Jeff Foust

Rules of the road needed for orbital data center constellations

By SpaceNews.com: As companies develop plans for orbital data center constellations, experts say now is the time to start thinking about some critical space safety topics.

1 Source

2026-07-30T17:02:04.417941-07:00

Aviation Safety & Regulation Space Policy & International Cooperation Policy & Regulation

Flying Magazine • Jack Daleo

Environmentalists Condemn ‘Obscene’ FAA Space Licensing Proposal

By Flying Magazine: Proposed rule would reduce the time and cost to obtain a license, allowing commercial space activity to explode.

Also: Space.com

2 Sources

2026-07-30T12:05:16.953529-07:00

Satellite Leadership Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space Space Defense & Militarization

SpaceNews.com • Sandra Erwin

K2 Space raises $500 million for commercial, defense satellite expansion

By SpaceNews.com: WASHINGTON — K2 Space has raised $500 million in new funding, more than doubling its valuation in seven months as the satellite manufacturer prepares to move from orbital demonstrations to large commercial and military orders.

newsable.asianetnews.com

U.S. Space Force Opens $981 Million Contract Opportunity for Testing, Evaluation and Training

startuprise.io

Defense-Based K2 Space Raises $500M in Series D Funding Round

Also: GeekWire and cosmiclog.com

5 Sources

2026-07-30T11:46:54.073539-07:00

Space Exploration & Science Missions NASA

SpaceNews.com • Jeff Foust

Roman Space Telescope on track for late August launch

By SpaceNews.com: NASA’s next flagship space telescope is set to launch in late August, nine months ahead of schedule.

1 Source

2026-07-30T11:08:41.600112-07:00

Viasat Satellite LATAM PaxEx Commercial Space Airbus Airlines Embraer

Via Satellite • Mark Holmes

SES Optimistic for Second Half Year Bounce after “Soft” Q2

By Via Satellite: Satellite operator SES’s Networks business surpassed 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) in revenue during its six-month fiscal period ending June 2026, according to the operator’s latest financial results issued July 30.

Space Intel Report

SES on Iris2 - 'we're days away' from final deal; transformation into satellite solutions provider; and FCC C-band clearing

Runway Girl

LATAM taps SES for multi-orbit IFC on 60 Airbus and Embraer jets

Also: Aviation Week, Simple Flying and Boarding Area

7 Sources

2026-07-30T06:46:27.533333-07:00

Space Exploration & Science Missions Space Debris & Traffic Management NASA

New York Times • Kenneth Chang

Mission to Save Falling NASA Space Telescope Suffers Setback

By New York Times: A spacecraft meant to push NASA’s Swift Observatory to a higher orbit malfunctioned and started tumbling several days ago. Engineers think it can still succeed.

1 Source

2026-07-30T07:34:07.373433-07:00

Satellite Europe Policy & Regulation

Via Satellite • Jeffrey Hill

Planet Labs Wins One-Year Agricultural Data Contract with the Scottish Government

By Via Satellite: The Scottish Government signed a one-year, seven-figure contract with imagery data satellite operator Planet Labs through its Computacenter reseller.

1 Source

2026-07-30T10:19:46.956270-07:00

Tesla weighs separating China business ahead of potential SpaceX merger, WSJ reports

Tesla Weighs Sale of China Business to Pave Way for Potential SpaceX Merger

Tesla Reportedly Weighs China Carveout Ahead of Potential SpaceX Merger

Rules of the road needed for orbital data center constellations

Environmentalists Condemn ‘Obscene’ FAA Space Licensing Proposal

K2 Space raises $500 million for commercial, defense satellite expansion

U.S. Space Force Opens $981 Million Contract Opportunity for Testing, Evaluation and Training

Defense-Based K2 Space Raises $500M in Series D Funding Round

Roman Space Telescope on track for late August launch

SES Optimistic for Second Half Year Bounce after “Soft” Q2

SES on Iris2 - 'we're days away' from final deal; transformation into satellite solutions provider; and FCC C-band clearing

LATAM taps SES for multi-orbit IFC on 60 Airbus and Embraer jets

Mission to Save Falling NASA Space Telescope Suffers Setback

Planet Labs Wins One-Year Agricultural Data Contract with the Scottish Government

Tesla Weighs China Unit Sale Ahead of SpaceX Deal, WSJ Says

Rules of the road needed for orbital data center constellations

Environmentalists Condemn ‘Obscene’ FAA Space Licensing Proposal

K2 Space raises $500 million for commercial, defense satellite expansion

Roman Space Telescope on track for late August launch

Planet Labs Wins One-Year Agricultural Data Contract with the Scottish Government

FAA proposes waiving environmental rules to speed commercial space launches

Satellite Startup K2 Space Raises $500 Million at $6.8 Billion Value

Fortastra and Hadrian Sign National Security Spacecraft Manufacturing MoU

Starlink’s Link Budget Comes up Short for the D2D Opportunity

Space Force awards SpaceX $1.6B for 18 Falcon 9 launches under NSSL Phase 3

ESA moves to assess repurposing Lunar Link for a dedicated lunar communications asset

SpaceX Starship Flight 13 shows Ship 40 reentry/water impact survivability as Booster Block 3 remains in refinement

Link spacecraft on NASA’s Swift reboost rescue mission reports reaction wheel and thruster failures, spinning in uncontrolled at

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