Space News

Space Exploration & Science Missions Commercial Space

Payload • Victoria Woodburn

Starcloud’s Fermi Explorer targets first Alpha Centauri mission by 2029 on $15M budget

Starcloud cofounders announced Fermi Explorer, a mission targeting Alpha Centauri by 2029 with a stated $15 million budget. The proposal would attempt humanity’s first mission to another star, pairing an exceptionally ambitious interstellar objective with a comparatively modest commercial-space funding envelope.

1 Source

2026-09-01T05:06:12.597278-07:00

Commercial Space

NEW

Payload • Douglas Gorman

Exclusive: Helogen Plans Two In-Orbit Manufacturing Missions in October

By Payload: Helogen today announced two upcoming missions of its HEL-IOS biomaterials manufacturing platform, both scheduled to launch in October.

1 Source

2026-09-01T06:05:13.371720-07:00

Satellite Commercial Space

SpaceNews.com • Sandra Erwin

Quindar to manage ground operations for Quantum Space’s maneuverable spacecraft

By SpaceNews.com: Illustration by Quindar and Quantum Space WASHINGTON — Quindar, a Denver-based startup that develops satellite ground software, said Sept.

1 Source

2026-09-01T05:10:44.566835-07:00

Europe Aircraft Finance & Leasing Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space

Reuters

Spain's PLD Space adds $125 million to its latest funding round

By Reuters: Aerospace engineering firm PLD Space said on Tuesday it had extended its equity funding round by €108 million ($125 million), ‌bringing the round's total to €288 million.

European Spaceflight

PLD Space Adds €108 million to Series C Funding Round

SpaceNews.com

PLD Space raises an additional $125 million

Also: FlightGlobal, AeroTime, SpaceWatch Africa, Economic Times and 3 more

10 Sources

2026-09-01T02:20:38.813412-07:00

Mars Space Exploration & Science Missions NASA

Ars Technica • Stephen Clark

NASA’s Mars Program Faces Cost and Capability Questions Without New Landers or Rovers

By Ars Technica: NASA's cost estimate for SR-1 Freedom is $2.1 billion, but that doesn't include the helicopters.

1 Source

2026-09-01T04:05:25.227696-07:00

Europe Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space

SpaceWatch Global • Joshua Faleti

MaiaSpace Completes Upper-Stage Validation of its 'Maia' Launcher ahead of its 2027 Orbital Debut

By SpaceWatch Global: MaiaSpace completes a further upper-stage validation campaign for its Maia launcher, marking another step toward its orbital debut in 2027.

1 Source

2026-09-01T02:32:44.641162-07:00

Moon Space Exploration & Science Missions Space Policy & International Cooperation NASA

NASA • Elizabeth Shaw

China Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space

SpaceNews.com • Andrew Jones

Galactic Energy’s Pallas-1 rocket reaches orbit on debut launch

By SpaceNews.com: Chinese commercial launch company Galactic Energy successfully launched its first Pallas-1 rocket late Monday, with future flights to attempt first stage recovery.

2 Sources

2026-09-01T01:40:38.835381-07:00

Starcloud’s Fermi Explorer targets first Alpha Centauri mission by 2029 on $15M budget

Exclusive: Helogen Plans Two In-Orbit Manufacturing Missions in October

Quindar to manage ground operations for Quantum Space’s maneuverable spacecraft

Spain's PLD Space adds $125 million to its latest funding round

PLD Space Adds €108 million to Series C Funding Round

PLD Space raises an additional $125 million

NASA’s Mars Program Faces Cost and Capability Questions Without New Landers or Rovers

MaiaSpace Completes Upper-Stage Validation of its 'Maia' Launcher ahead of its 2027 Orbital Debut

NASA Welcomes Türkiye as Newest Artemis Accords Signatory

Turkey signs the Artemis Accords

Türkiye Joins Artemis Accords as 71st Signatory

Galactic Energy’s Pallas-1 rocket reaches orbit on debut launch

Exclusive: Helogen Plans Two In-Orbit Manufacturing Missions in October

Quindar to manage ground operations for Quantum Space’s maneuverable spacecraft

Fermi Explorer Wants to Reach Another Star for $15M

NASA’s Mars Program Faces Cost and Capability Questions Without New Landers or Rovers

MaiaSpace Completes Upper-Stage Validation of its 'Maia' Launcher ahead of its 2027 Orbital Debut

Spain's PLD Space adds $125 million to its latest funding round

Watch 2 astronauts take 6th-ever all-female spacewalk today

Launch Preview: Array of international launches planned this week

NorthStar to Lead ESA Consortium on Uncontrolled Reentry

Trump launches plan to create US Space Academy led by NASA

SES awards OHB nearly €1 billion to build 18 MEO satellites for Europe’s IRIS² secure communications constellation

NASA launches $4.3 billion Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope to study dark energy, dark matter and exoplanets

SpaceX test-fires all 33 Super Heavy engines ahead of Starship’s first orbital attempt

SLS production accelerates as Artemis III hardware advances and four vehicles enter production

The day’s aerospace signal, in one email.

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