Space News

Blue Origin Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space

NASA Spaceflight • Alejandro Alcantarilla Romera, Chris Bergin

Blue Origin expands test, production and launch infrastructure across Cape Canaveral

Blue Origin is broadening its Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral footprint with a new Merritt Island test site, Rocket Park production buildings, the rebuild of Launch Complex 36 and early work on nearby processing facilities, reinforcing its long-term launch and manufacturing presence in Florida.

1 Source

2026-09-04T13:50:26.896017-07:00

Event Europe Commercial Space Space Policy & International Cooperation

politico.eu • Giorgio Leali, Laura Kayali, Mathieu Pollet

France Downplays SpaceX and Blue Origin’s Decision to Skip Controversial Macron-Organized Space Summit

By politico.eu: Next week’s Paris meeting has more going against it than a Trump-organized shun.

Also: Politico

2 Sources

2026-09-04T11:35:11.232655-07:00

Mars China Space Exploration & Science Missions

SpaceNews.com • Andrew Jones

China narrows Tianwen-3 Mars sample return landing site selection, seeking traces of life

By SpaceNews.com: China will select a final landing site for its Tianwen-3 Mars sample return before the end of the year, while progress on mission hardware continues.

1 Source

2026-09-04T13:06:32.698111-07:00

Satellite Commercial Space

Via Satellite • Rachel Jewett

Planet’s Sovereign Wins Drive Nearly 60% Revenue Growth in Q2

By Via Satellite: Planet grew revenue by nearly 60% year-over-year in the second quarter of 2026 and narrowed its net loss as the satellite imagery company sees growing momentum with sovereign deals for governments around the world.

Also: Space Intel Report

2 Sources

2026-09-04T11:33:17.647061-07:00

Satellite Europe ESA Commercial Space Airbus

Via Satellite • Rachel Jewett

ST Engineering iDirect Demonstrates 5G NR-NTN User Equipment Modem

By Via Satellite: ST Engineering iDirect reports it has demonstrated a pilot version of a multi-waveform 5G New Radio Non-Terrestrial Network (NR-NTN) user equipment modem.

Also: Satellite Evolution, marketforecast.com and mrobusinesstoday.com

4 Sources

2026-09-04T11:33:17.793269-07:00

China Satellite Space Defense & Militarization Space Debris & Traffic Management

SpaceNews.com • Andrew Jones

Chinese reconnaissance satellite breaks up in rare retrograde orbit

By SpaceNews.com: Chinese satellite Yaogan-50 (02) which launched into an unusual orbit early this year has suffered an apparent fragmentation event, generating a field of debris.

1 Source

2026-09-04T10:05:42.435941-07:00

Satellite Space Defense & Militarization Workforce & Skills Development

DefenseNews.com • Michael Scanlon

Space industry lacks workers needed to rebuild satellites lost in war, report says

By DefenseNews.com: The U.S. does not have enough engineers, technicians and assemblers to rebuild military space assets destroyed in a war with China or Russia, per RAND.

Also: AirForceTimes and Military Times

3 Sources

2026-09-04T07:05:31.877112-07:00

Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space

European Spaceflight • Andrew Parsonson

Isar Aerospace Calls Off 4 September Spectrum Launch Attempt

By European Spaceflight: Isar Aerospace appears to have scrubbed a planned 4 September launch attempt hours after launch-related road closures went into effect.

1 Source

2026-09-04T06:50:10.433560-07:00

Blue Origin expands test, production and launch infrastructure across Cape Canaveral

France Downplays SpaceX and Blue Origin’s Decision to Skip Controversial Macron-Organized Space Summit

China narrows Tianwen-3 Mars sample return landing site selection, seeking traces of life

Planet’s Sovereign Wins Drive Nearly 60% Revenue Growth in Q2

ST Engineering iDirect Demonstrates 5G NR-NTN User Equipment Modem

Chinese reconnaissance satellite breaks up in rare retrograde orbit

Space industry lacks workers needed to rebuild satellites lost in war, report says

Isar Aerospace Calls Off 4 September Spectrum Launch Attempt

Blue Origin expands test and launch sites across the Cape

China narrows Tianwen-3 Mars sample return landing site selection, seeking traces of life

France Downplays SpaceX and Blue Origin’s Decision to Skip Controversial Macron-Organized Space Summit

ST Engineering iDirect Demonstrates 5G NR-NTN User Equipment Modem

Planet’s Sovereign Wins Drive Nearly 60% Revenue Growth in Q2

Sparkle and Hellas Sat Demonstrate Quantum Satellite Connection

Sparkle and Hellas Sat Demonstrate Quantum Satellite Connection

Private spacecraft reaches NASA’s Swift Observatory in attempted rescue mission

The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Project at the Intersection of Science and Politics

Franco-German NewSpace to Brussels: Buy, Don't Regulate

Satellite activity spans ISRO’s EOS-05 launch, SES’s final O3b mPOWER spacecraft and Europe’s lunar rover mission

Beijing and Washington prepare for military conflict extending into space

Boeing delivers final three satellites for SES’ 13-satellite O3b mPOWER constellation

Astroscale selects Isar Aerospace to launch ADRAS-J2 orbital-debris removal mission

The day’s aerospace signal, in one email.

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