Space News

Satellite Europe LEO Commercial Space Space Policy & International Cooperation Airbus

Aviation Week • Robert Wall

EU gives expanded IRIS² constellation operational green light, adding 66 LEO satellites

The European Commission and the Spacerise industrial consortium have agreed to expand the EU’s secure IRIS² connectivity network by 66 low-Earth-orbit satellites. The program has passed its Rendezvous One review and can now advance into its operational phase, alongside related European secure-communications work including SpainSat NG-III.

Aviation Week • Robert Wall

Europe Expands IRIS² As Constellation Gets The Green Light

SpaceNews.com • Jeff Foust

Europe increases size and cost of IRIS² constellation

Also: Space Intel Report

5 Sources

2026-08-07T03:45:35.668869-07:00

Satellite LEO Commercial Space

SpaceWatch Global • Joshua Faleti

AST SpaceMobile Expands Direct-to-Device Network With Three New BlueBird Satellites

By SpaceWatch Global: AST SpaceMobile launches three new satellites, BlueBird 11, 12, and 13 into orbit, expanding its satellite-based cellular broadband network.

1 Source

2026-08-07T00:51:42.410929-07:00

Leadership Europe Space Policy & International Cooperation

European Spaceflight • Andrew Parsonson

ASI Board Resigns to Allow for the Appointment of an Extraordinary Commissioner

By European Spaceflight: Three Italian Space Agency board members have resigned to clear the way for the appointment of an extraordinary commissioner.

1 Source

2026-08-07T00:15:34.840075-07:00

Satellite Europe Commercial Space

Payload • Douglas Gorman

Scaleup Europe Fund Makes its First Space Bet

By Payload: Scaleup Europe, a new €5B fund created by the European Commission, announced this week that it completed its first investment in ICEYE.

1 Source

2026-08-06T23:15:07.252160-07:00

ISS Human Spaceflight & Space Stations NASA

Space.com • Robert Z. Pearlman

NASA astronauts complete 6.5-hour spacewalk to prepare ISS for solar array upgrade

By Space.com: Jessica Meir and Anil Menon completed a 6.5-hour spacewalk to install solar array mounting hardware outside of the International Space Station on Thursday, Aug.

Also: The Guardian and newsnationnow.com

3 Sources

2026-08-06T13:10:34.010432-07:00

ArianeGroup Europe ESA Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space Space Policy & International Cooperation

Space Intel Report • Peter B. de Selding

OHB to European governments: Invest now in Europe's spaceport to capture demand and industry will follow

By Space Intel Report: TUPPER LAKE, NY — Space hardware provider OHB SE of Germany said Europe’s Ariane 6 rocket is at risk of losing German and other government and commercial business if European political authorities don’t agree to a sharp ramp-up in launch capacity soon.

1 Source

2026-08-06T13:31:06.063199-07:00

Commercial Space

Bloomberg • Dana Hull

SpaceX to Build Natural Gas Power Plants for Texas Chip Factory

By Bloomberg: SpaceX plans to build its own power plants to support the massive semiconductor manufacturing facility it’s developing in Texas with Tesla Inc.

2 Sources

2026-08-06T12:44:49.169805-07:00

Satellite Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space

Space.com • Mike Wall

Rocket Lab launches Japanese Earth-observing satellite after 5-week delay (video, photos)

By Space.com: Rocket Lab launched its eighth mission for the Japanese Earth-imaging company iQPS on Thursday morning (Aug. 6), five weeks later than originally planned.

2 Sources

2026-08-06T11:43:59.542960-07:00

EU gives expanded IRIS² constellation operational green light, adding 66 LEO satellites

Europe Expands IRIS² As Constellation Gets The Green Light

Europe increases size and cost of IRIS² constellation

AST SpaceMobile Expands Direct-to-Device Network With Three New BlueBird Satellites

ASI Board Resigns to Allow for the Appointment of an Extraordinary Commissioner

Scaleup Europe Fund Makes its First Space Bet

NASA astronauts complete 6.5-hour spacewalk to prepare ISS for solar array upgrade

OHB to European governments: Invest now in Europe's spaceport to capture demand and industry will follow

SpaceX to Build Natural Gas Power Plants for Texas Chip Factory

Rocket Lab launches Japanese Earth-observing satellite after 5-week delay (video, photos)

IRIS² Enters Operational Phase After Review Completed: Eutelsat CEO

AST SpaceMobile Expands Direct-to-Device Network With Three New BlueBird Satellites

ASI Board Resigns to Allow for the Appointment of an Extraordinary Commissioner

Scaleup Europe Fund Makes its First Space Bet

OHB to European governments: Invest now in Europe's spaceport to capture demand and industry will follow

NASA astronauts complete 6.5-hour spacewalk to prepare ISS for solar array upgrade

Redwire to fly dedicated Starfall mission for microgravity research

BlackSky Reports Second Quarter 2026 Results

Gilat demonstrates breakthrough AI-based interference detection and cancellation technology for satellite links

MatSing Details Manufacturing Technology to Improve Satellite Antenna Performance

Blue Origin identifies BE-4 engine issue as trigger of New Glenn explosion, targets return later this year

SpaceX recovers intact Ship 40 as Ship 41 begins testing ahead of potential Flight 14

ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot completes third EuroSuit spacesuit test aboard the ISS

Rocket Lab wins record $266M Space Force launch contract as iQPS orders three Electron missions

The day’s aerospace signal, in one email.

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