Space News

Europe Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space

TechCrunch • Anna Heim

The Exploration Company raises $450 million to advance reusable spacecraft

The Exploration Company has raised $450 million in a Series C financing round to develop reusable spacecraft and challenge SpaceX in space transportation. The funding brings the European company’s total capital raised to approximately $680 million, which it describes as the largest-ever Series C for a European space company.

Also: SpaceWatch Global

3 Sources

2026-09-08T14:15:18.284918-07:00

Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Space Defense & Militarization

SpaceNews.com • Sandra Erwin

National security launch forecast surges as new rockets struggle to break SpaceX's grip

By SpaceNews.com: WASHINGTON — The Pentagon has more than doubled the number of national security launch services it expects to procure, from 151 in its 2022 baseline to 337 under its latest estimate, as the U.S.

1 Source

2026-09-08T18:00:38.910501-07:00

Space Exploration & Science Missions

Universe Today • Matthew Williams

Japan's Hayabusa2 Achieves First-Ever Laser Ranging Experiment with an Asteroid

By Universe Today: On Sunday July 5th, 2026, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) achieved the first-ever successful laser ranging experiment while making a flyby of an asteroid.

1 Source

2026-09-08T16:16:16.687979-07:00

FCC Satellite Commercial Space Space Policy & International Cooperation Policy & Regulation

SpaceNews.com • Jason Rainbow

FCC to draw line under constellation environmental review exemption

By SpaceNews.com: The FCC is poised to cement its longstanding practice of excluding constellations from environmental reviews, amid an unprecedented wave of proposals covering more than a million orbital data centers.

1 Source

2026-09-08T13:55:50.108734-07:00

Satellite Commercial Space

Via Satellite • Rachel Jewett

Pixxel Targets US Growth, New Sensing Tech With $100M Raise

By Via Satellite: Hyperspectral satellite startup Pixxel completed a $100 million funding raise that Pixxel says will fuel its growth in the U.S. and expansion into sensing.

Also: SpaceQ

2 Sources

2026-09-08T12:35:06.399122-07:00

Europe Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space

Via Satellite • Rachel Jewett

Isar Aerospace Achieves First Commercial Launch from Europe

By Via Satellite: German launch startup Isar Aerospace achieved the first successful commercial launch from Europe over the weekend, launching payloads on the second flight.

1 Source

2026-09-08T12:35:05.724956-07:00

Europe ESA Space Exploration & Science Missions Space Policy & International Cooperation

SpaceNews.com • Andrew Parsonson

ESA opens call for plant to produce radioisotope spacecraft heaters in Europe

By SpaceNews.com: BURG — The European Space Agency is moving ahead with plans to establish a pilot plant intended to produce sovereign European-manufactured americium-241 radioisotope heater units (RHUs), devices that use heat generated by radioactive decay to keep spacecraft components warm enough to operate, for future exploration missions.

1 Source

2026-09-08T11:00:41.521696-07:00

Viasat Satellite Project Kuiper PaxEx North America Commercial Space Cybersecurity (Cyber Threats & Protection) Airlines Delta Air Lines

Via Satellite • Rachel Jewett

The Exploration Company raises $450 million to advance reusable spacecraft

National security launch forecast surges as new rockets struggle to break SpaceX's grip

Japan's Hayabusa2 Achieves First-Ever Laser Ranging Experiment with an Asteroid

FCC to draw line under constellation environmental review exemption

Pixxel Targets US Growth, New Sensing Tech With $100M Raise

Isar Aerospace Achieves First Commercial Launch from Europe

ESA opens call for plant to produce radioisotope spacecraft heaters in Europe

AT&T Business Expands Work with Amazon Leo for Resilient Connectivity

Delta’s Amazon Leo In-Flight Wi-Fi Transition Faces Potential Spectrum Dispute Snag

AT&T and Amazon Leo Advance Strategic Fiber-to-Space Alliance to Challenge SpaceX Starlink

The Exploration Company nabs $450 million to challenge SpaceX

National security launch forecast surges as new rockets struggle to break SpaceX's grip

Japan's Hayabusa2 Achieves First-Ever Laser Ranging Experiment with an Asteroid

FCC to draw line under constellation environmental review exemption

Isar Aerospace Achieves First Commercial Launch from Europe

Pixxel Targets US Growth, New Sensing Tech With $100M Raise

White House has lofty space launch ambitions, but experts question price tag

The secret to protecting next-gen spacecraft might be eggshells

Stoke Space Raises $1B Initial Series E Round

Infinite Orbits’ Marion Andrieux on Its New Toulouse AIT Facility and Satellite Services

Artemis III SLS stacking advances as Orion results validate trajectory fix

SpaceX advances Starbase infrastructure as Flight 14 hardware moves toward the pad

MTG-I2 completes Meteosat Third Generation constellation as India’s EOS-05 begins ascent to geostationary orbit

Five orbital launches planned, including Falcon 9 missions for O3b mPOWER and USSF-153

The day’s aerospace signal, in one email.

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