Event   Blue Origin   Aviation Safety & Regulation   Space Exploration & Science Missions   Human Spaceflight & Space Stations   Commercial Space   Industry Leader Profiles & Interviews  
New York Times • Richard Goldstein

Wally Funk, last of “Mercury 13” and oldest woman to fly to space (Blue Origin, 2021), dies at 87

Wally Funk, the aviation pioneer and astronaut trainee who became the oldest woman to fly into space at 82, has died at 87 in Texas. A longtime air safety investigator and “Mercury 13” member, she finally flew to space in 2021 after Jeff Bezos invited her to join a Blue Origin rocket.

Also: Flying Magazine, Space.com, Washington Post, The Guardian, The Independent, CNN, CBS News and 7 more
2026-07-09T09:59:25.062127-07:00
Satellite   Project Kuiper   Commercial Space   Space Policy & International Cooperation   Space Debris & Traffic Management  
Space.com • Mike Wall

SpaceX wants to launch 100,000 Starlink satellites to orbit

By Space.com: SpaceX has applied for approval to operate a 100,000-member megaconstellation of next-gen Starlink satellites in Earth orbit. And each of the new spacecraft will weigh about 4,400 pounds.

2026-07-09T12:45:17.037586-07:00
FCC   Space Debris & Traffic Management   Policy & Regulation   Sustainability & Climate Initiatives  
SpaceNews.com • Jason Rainbow

Environmental groups urge FCC to pause orbital data center applications

By SpaceNews.com: Environmental and scientific groups are calling for a halt to processing orbital data center applications, arguing the rush to move computing infrastructure into space has raised the stakes in a broader push for more megaconstellation oversight.

Also: Space.com
2026-07-09T12:54:44.821732-07:00
Satellite   Space Force   AI   Military Aircraft Procurement   Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons   Defense Budgets & Spending   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation   Space Policy & International Cooperation   Space Defense & Militarization   Defense Policy  
SpaceNews.com • Sandra Erwin

Space Force awards Pulse Space $40 million to advance laser power technology

By SpaceNews.com: WASHINGTON — Pulse Space, a startup developing laser technology designed to transmit power and data between spacecraft, said it has won a $40 million contract from the U.S.

Also: Aviation Week, GeekWire, Defense Scoop, Defense Daily, Defense One, Seeking Alpha and 10 more
2026-07-09T06:15:31.858085-07:00