Europe   ESA   Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation   Human Spaceflight & Space Stations   Commercial Space   Space Policy & International Cooperation  
European Spaceflight • Andrew Parsonson

As ESA Chief Pushes for European Autonomous Human Spaceflight, Agency Prepares Reusable Orbital Spaceplane Proposal

ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher says Europe must build an autonomous human spaceflight capability, framing it as a strategic requirement rather than a “luxury.” In parallel, ESA is set to propose a reusable orbital spaceplane to close gaps in Europe’s independent post-ISS transportation capabilities.

2026-05-19T07:54:42.246339-07:00
Satellite   LEO   Space Defense & Militarization  
SpaceNews.com • Sandra Erwin

Startup challenging satellite industry’s multi-orbit playbook

By SpaceNews.com: WASHINGTON — Since SpaceX disrupted the satellite communications market with low-latency broadband from low Earth orbit, traditional satellite operators have promoted “multi-orbit” architectures that combine low Earth orbit, medium Earth orbit and geostationary satellites into integrated communications systems designed to survive outages, attacks and congestion.

2026-05-19T08:11:47.729871-07:00
Space Exploration & Science Missions   Human Spaceflight & Space Stations   NASA  
NEW
Space.com • Josh Dinner

NASA satellite will test orbital 'gas station' tech to help astronauts reach the moon and Mars

By Space.com: The Liquid Oxygen Flight demonstration (LOXSAT) will help NASA test and develop technologies to support in-space transfer and storage of cryogenic propellants, critical abilities for the Artemis program to return astronauts to the moon.

2026-05-19T09:05:31.165123-07:00
Satellite   Commercial Space   Space Defense & Militarization  
Payload • Jacqueline Feldscher

Vast Launches Satellite Bus Business Line

By Payload: The commercial space station company announced this morning that it would start selling satellite buses, specifically targeting the low-cost, high-volume, high-power niche for missions from comms, to EO, to national-security programs.

Also: Ars Technica, SpaceNews.com and newspaceeconomy.ca
2026-05-19T06:03:59.513891-07:00