SpaceX will launch 25 Starlink V2 Mini Optimized satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base on Sunday, inserting the batch into a polar low Earth orbit. Falcon 9 will depart on a southerly trajectory to place the broadband payload into polar LEO.
SpaceWatch Global
• Torsten Kriening
By SpaceWatch Global: There are strategy documents you read, and there are strategy documents you feel. The 2026 U.S. National Defense Strategy (NDS) belongs to the second category.
Universe Today
• Andy Tomaswick
By Universe Today: As they roll across shadowed regions of the moon's surface, future lunar rovers could develop hazardous buildups of electric charge on their wheels. Through new analysis published in Advances in Space Research, Bill Farrell at the Space Science Institute in Colorado, together with Mike Zimmerman at Johns Hopkins University, outline realistic precautions for mitigating this risk—offering valuable guidance for engineers designing future lunar missions.
European Spaceflight
• Andrew Parsonson
By European Spaceflight: Rocket Factory Augsburg has been awarded an ESA Flight Ticket Initiative contract to launch two missions aboard its RFA One rocket.
Breaking Defense
• Theresa Hitchens
By Breaking Defense: Tom Ainsworth has been named as the Air Force's top space acquisition officer, taking over from Maj. Gen. Stephen Purdy who will remain in place as Ainsworth's military deputy.
Via Satellite
• Rachel Jewett
By Via Satellite: The AFRL will evaluate Aalyria’s Spacetime network orchestration software as a candidate for a future “network of networks” concept.
Via Satellite
• Rachel Jewett
By Via Satellite: AiDash, a provider of vegetation, storm, and ignition risk intelligence and SatelliteFirst grid monitoring solutions, has tapped Spire to help improve its services.
SpaceNews.com
• Sandra Erwin
By SpaceNews.com: As satellites become targets, Space Force plans for growth and a broader role As satellites become targets, Space Force plans for growth and a broader role.
Space.com
• Sharmila Kuthunur
