Space News

Space Force Space Defense & Militarization Defense Policy

Wall Street Journal • Shelby Holliday

Space Force prepares for future conflicts in orbit while supporting wars on Earth

Gen. Chance Saltzman outlines how the U.S. Space Force is using space capabilities in current conflicts and preparing for a future in which space itself could become a warfighting domain. The discussion highlights the service’s evolving role in national security and military operations.

1 Source

2026-08-17T21:06:14.326359-07:00

Europe ESA Human Spaceflight & Space Stations

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Space.com • Mike Wall

Watch European astronaut make history during spacewalk today

By Space.com: On Aug. 18, European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot will become the first French woman ever to perform a spacewalk, and you can watch the historic action live.

1 Source

2026-08-17T21:20:10.264488-07:00

China Satellite Moon Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Space Exploration & Science Missions Commercial Space

NASA Spaceflight • Justin Davenport

Launch Preview: Chang’e 7 headlines week of Chinese and Starlink launches

By NASA Spaceflight: After last week’s Chang Zheng 7A launch failure, China returns to action with the high-profile Chang’e 7 robotic lunar mission and the second test flight of the ZhuQue-3 partially reusable launcher.

3 Sources

2026-08-17T15:33:00.556627-07:00

Mars Satellite AI Helicopter LEO Moon Space Exploration & Science Missions NASA

Universe Today • Matthew Williams

NASA's SkyFall Mars Helicopters Will Feature a Revolutionary Antenna Design

By Universe Today: Engineers developed a unique fabric-based design for a ground-penetrating radar that will be a key instrument on NASA’s SkyFall Mars helicopters. The hardware will enable the SkyFall mission’s trio of planetary rotorcraft to use ground-penetrating radar to study the Martian subsurface.

NASA

NASA Challenge Tests Wheel Designs for Moon Base Mobility

smallsatnews.com

NASA Demonstrates GPS-Free Autonomous Spacecraft Navigation System on Starling Swarm

5 Sources

2026-08-17T14:06:14.972512-07:00

Satellite Commercial Space

SpaceNews.com • Jeff Foust

HEO to use Planet satellites for non-Earth imaging

By SpaceNews.com: WASHINGTON — HEO, the Australian company that uses Earth observation satellites to take images of other spacecraft, has signed an agreement with Planet to access that company’s satellites.

Also: Payload

2 Sources

2026-08-17T15:10:41.392423-07:00

Satellite Europe Space Defense & Militarization Policy & Regulation Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact Export Controls & Trade Compliance

SpaceNews.com • Andrew Parsonson

New EU sanctions target leaders of Russia’s space industry

By SpaceNews.com: tion, CC BY-SA 4.0 JOHANNESBURG — The European Union has sanctioned the head of a Roscosmos subsidiary developing a synthetic aperture radar satellite system for the Russian military.

1 Source

2026-08-17T14:35:34.306804-07:00

Commercial Space Space Defense & Militarization Space Debris & Traffic Management

Via Satellite • Mark Holmes

Katalyst Space Wins U.S. Defense Innovation Unit Contract

By Via Satellite: Katalyst Space has won a major new contract from the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) as the U.S. Government looks to tap into the latest deorbiting technologies.

1 Source

2026-08-17T13:06:10.304713-07:00

China Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation

Space.com • Josh Dinner

China bounces back from Long March rocket explosion with back-to-back launches (video)

By Space.com: China's space program has returned to flight after an Aug. 10 Long March 7A rocket explosion, launching both a Long March 12 and a Long March 2C rocket on Sunday (Aug.

1 Source

2026-08-17T13:05:12.673746-07:00

Space Force prepares for future conflicts in orbit while supporting wars on Earth

Watch European astronaut make history during spacewalk today

Launch Preview: Chang’e 7 headlines week of Chinese and Starlink launches

NASA's SkyFall Mars Helicopters Will Feature a Revolutionary Antenna Design

NASA Challenge Tests Wheel Designs for Moon Base Mobility

NASA Demonstrates GPS-Free Autonomous Spacecraft Navigation System on Starling Swarm

HEO to use Planet satellites for non-Earth imaging

New EU sanctions target leaders of Russia’s space industry

Katalyst Space Wins U.S. Defense Innovation Unit Contract

China bounces back from Long March rocket explosion with back-to-back launches (video)

Watch European astronaut make history during spacewalk today

How Space Force Is Fighting Wars Today–and Preparing for the Future

Launch Preview: Chang’e 7 headlines week of Chinese and Starlink launches

HEO to use Planet satellites for non-Earth imaging

New EU sanctions target leaders of Russia’s space industry

NASA's SkyFall Mars Helicopters Will Feature a Revolutionary Antenna Design

Telesat, facing December $1.7B debt payment and bondholder lawsuits, says it's pursuing good-faith negotiations

ULA names Peller as new CEO

DIU, SDA Select Winners for Deorbit-as-a-Service Designs

Family Offices Amass $3.8 Billion SpaceX Bet in Boost for Musk

Ukraine says Flamingo missiles struck Russia’s Progress rocket center and military airfield

Firefly Aerospace advances medium-lift rocket and Alpha launcher as $1.5B backlog supports growth

Blue Origin plans second Cape Canaveral launch complex for New Glenn 9×4

Emirates SkyCargo Moves UAE’s First AI Satellite From Dubai to Los Angeles

The day’s aerospace signal, in one email.

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