Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation   Space Exploration & Science Missions   Commercial Space  
NASA Spaceflight • Ryan Weber

Super Heavy Block 3: SpaceX’s largest Super Heavy redesign since Block 1/2

SpaceX’s Super Heavy booster has already seen multiple design iterations, but the shift from Block 1/2 to Block 3 represents its biggest change to date. The Block 3 update is positioned as the next major step in making the redesigned Starship/Super Heavy system ready for upcoming test campaigns.

2026-05-18T11:40:01.640804-07:00
Europe   ESA   Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation   Space Exploration & Science Missions  
Space Intel Report • Peter B. de Selding

ESA, CNES sign off on three-year, $1.16-billion investment in Europe's Guiana Space Center spaceport

By Space Intel Report: LA PLATA, Maryland — The European Space Agency (ESA) and the French space agency, CNES, have signed a three-year commitment to maintain and upgrade Europe’s equatorial Guiana Space Center spaceport with a combined investment of 1 billion euros ($1.16 billion).

2026-05-18T10:23:53.882356-07:00
Satellite   Commercial Space  
NEW
Space Intel Report • Peter B. de Selding

Maritime connectivity provider KVH: Starlink, OneWeb now 45% of revenue, vs 30% a year ago; 3,100 units shipped in Q1

By Space Intel Report: LA PLATA, Maryland —Maritime connectivity service provider KVH Industries reported a 27% increase in revenue and a sharply reduced operating loss for the three months ending March 31 and said its business is on the way to being provided mainly by SpaceX Starlink and Eutelsat OneWeb LEO services.

2026-05-18T12:10:31.921598-07:00
Space Force   Supply Chain   Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation   Commercial Space   Space Defense & Militarization  
DefenseNews.com • Michael Peck

US Air Force looks to convert offshore oil rigs into rocket recovery platforms

By DefenseNews.com: An Air Force plan calls for old oil platforms to become Sea-based Recovery Stations for the U.S. Space Force and private spaceflight companies.

Also: AirForceTimes, news.ssbcrack.com and Military Times
2026-05-18T08:53:46.937333-07:00
Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation   Commercial Space   Space Debris & Traffic Management  
SpaceNews.com • Commercial Space Federation

New CSF Report Sees Up To 7,000+ Satellites Launched Annually By Mid 2030's, Highlights The Challenges With US Launch Infrastructure

By SpaceNews.com: WASHINGTON, D.C., May 18, 2026 — The Commercial Space Federation (CSF), in partnership with Rational Futures (RF), announced the release of SCRUBBED: America’s Launch Capacity Challenge , a data-driven assessment of potential U.S.

2026-05-18T05:10:27.640159-07:00