Space News

Moon Space Exploration & Science Missions Human Spaceflight & Space Stations NASA

NASA • Gerelle Q. Dodson

Trump to award Artemis II crew Congressional Space Medal of Honor on Aug. 28

President Donald Trump will present NASA’s Artemis II astronauts with the Congressional Space Medal of Honor during a ceremony at Johnson Space Center in Houston on Aug. 28. The crew flew around the moon on the Artemis II mission, marking formal national recognition of the expedition.

Also: Space.com, CBS News and Space Policy Online

4 Sources

2026-08-21T10:33:24.316039-07:00

Mars Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Human Spaceflight & Space Stations Commercial Space Space Policy & International Cooperation Defense Policy

Washington Post • Violet Jira

White House space policy directs agencies to send humans to Mars

By Washington Post: A new space transportation policy from the Trump administration calls for a dramatic increase in launches, as well as working with the commercial space industry to send humans to Mars.

Space.com

Trump signs new national space policy to enable 1,000 US rocket launches per year

Via Satellite

White House Targets Support for 1,000 Launches Per Year by 2030

Also: aia-aerospace.org, insidedefense.com and insidedefense.com

6 Sources

2026-08-21T11:20:35.639619-07:00

Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space

Bloomberg • Julian Hast

SpaceX Is Hiring in Natural Gas Trading for Energy Needs

By Bloomberg: Elon Musk’s SpaceX is hiring a trader to build and lead a natural gas trading team to support the space flight company’s growing fuel and power needs.

1 Source

2026-08-21T13:06:13.202572-07:00

Satellite Defense Budgets & Spending Defense Industry & Major Contractors Space Defense & Militarization

SpaceNews.com • 2026 Paris

New Novaspace forecast: 6,500+ EO satellites to launch by 2035

By SpaceNews.com: Defense demand for sovereign Earth observation capabilities will help drive $155.9 billion in satellite August 21, 2026.

1 Source

2026-08-21T13:06:41.126028-07:00

China Satellite Commercial Space Space Defense & Militarization

NEW

SpaceNews.com • Andrew Jones

Chinese radio-frequency intelligence startup StarRF closes new funding round

By SpaceNews.com: A Chinese startup building a constellation to detect and geolocate radio-frequency emissions from orbit has closed a funding round as China’s commercial sector expands.

1 Source

2026-08-21T13:40:41.829472-07:00

Satellite Commercial Space

Via Satellite • Rachel Jewett

Starcloud Adds $250M to Series A at a $2.3B Valuation

By Via Satellite: Orbital data center startup Starcloud added $250 million to its Series A round just five months after the raise, more than doubling its valuation to $2.3 billion.

Also: SpaceNews.com

2 Sources

2026-08-21T11:36:20.959453-07:00

Mars Space Exploration & Science Missions

Space.com • Mike Wall

Japan unveils Mars moon sample-return spacecraft ahead of Oct. 19 launch (photos)

By Space.com: Japan recently gave the world a look at the spacecraft of its MMX mission, which will launch on Oct. 19 to grab pieces of the Mars moon Phobos and haul them back to Earth.

1 Source

2026-08-21T11:05:19.742312-07:00

Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space

Space.com • Josh Dinner

SpaceX fires up Starship ahead of megarocket’s 1st orbital flight (video)

By Space.com: SpaceX completed a single-engine test-firing of its next Starship spacecraft to prepare for its coming test flight, which will be the first to reach orbit.

NASA Spaceflight

Ship 41 Completes Engine Testing Ahead of Flight 14

2 Sources

2026-08-21T09:13:18.379631-07:00

Trump to award Artemis II crew Congressional Space Medal of Honor on Aug. 28

White House space policy directs agencies to send humans to Mars

Trump signs new national space policy to enable 1,000 US rocket launches per year

White House Targets Support for 1,000 Launches Per Year by 2030

SpaceX Is Hiring in Natural Gas Trading for Energy Needs

New Novaspace forecast: 6,500+ EO satellites to launch by 2035

Chinese radio-frequency intelligence startup StarRF closes new funding round

Starcloud Adds $250M to Series A at a $2.3B Valuation

Japan unveils Mars moon sample-return spacecraft ahead of Oct. 19 launch (photos)

SpaceX fires up Starship ahead of megarocket’s 1st orbital flight (video)

Ship 41 Completes Engine Testing Ahead of Flight 14

Chinese radio-frequency intelligence startup StarRF closes new funding round

New Novaspace forecast: 6,500+ EO satellites to launch by 2035

SpaceX Is Hiring in Natural Gas Trading for Energy Needs

NASA’s Artemis II Crew Set to Receive Congressional Space Medal of Honor

Starcloud Adds $250M to Series A at a $2.3B Valuation

Space Norway Appoints Rune Jensen as Acting CEO With Morten Tengs Departure

Space Norway Appoints Rune Jensen as Acting CEO With Morten Tengs Departure

SpaceX launches 29 Starlink satellites, lands rocket on ship at sea (video, photos)

York Space promises rebound in 2027 after 32% drop in 2026 revenue target, says contracts have been delayed, not lost

Taiwan's First Domestic Rocket Test Ends in Mid-flight Termination as the Island Pursues Launch Independence

LandSpace Recovers Zhuque-3 Booster, Advancing China’s Reusable Orbital Launch Capability

Katalyst Space rescue mission fails, leaving NASA’s Swift observatory on course for reentry

LandSpace’s Zhuque-3 Completes Second Orbital Flight With First-Stage Landing

NASA releases sharpest images yet of crater formed by SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage on the Moon

The day’s aerospace signal, in one email.

More in Space

Landspace aims to refly recovered Zhuque-3 booster within six months

JAXA Sets October Launch for MMX Mars-Region Sample-Return Mission

Rocket Report: SpaceX makes its mark on the Moon; ULA names new boss

Musk Touts Starlink for India’s Rural Users Amid Stalled Launch

New space transportation policy focuses on increased launch rates

Boeing Starliner Thruster Failures Turned First Crewed Docking Into Near-Disaster

SpaceX, AST Said Seeking to Buy Spectrum Valued at $6 Billion

Europe cancels planned upgrades for Ariane 6 rocket