Space News

Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space

European Spaceflight • Andrew Parsonson

MaiaSpace drops suborbital test plan; targets inaugural orbital launch attempt in 2H 2027

MaiaSpace has abandoned plans for a suborbital test flight and will instead pursue an inaugural orbital launch attempt in the second half of 2027. The change indicates a shift in how the company plans to validate its launch pathway ahead of its first orbital mission.

1 Source

2026-07-29T07:46:48.551805-07:00

Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space Space Defense & Militarization

NEW

Space.com • Mike Wall

SpaceX launching secret US spy satellite early on July 30: Watch it live

By Space.com: SpaceX plans to launch a secret reconnaissance mission for the U.S. government early on Thursday morning (July 30), and you can watch the action live.

1 Source

2026-07-29T10:34:43.746927-07:00

Human Spaceflight & Space Stations Boeing

NEW

Ars Technica • Eric Berger

Actually, Starliner might fly into space this year

By Ars Technica: We're feeling pretty good about that," Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg said.

1 Source

2026-07-29T10:43:28.310931-07:00

Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space

NEW

Bloomberg • Loren Grush

SpaceX Starship Heat Shield Can’t Support Rapid Flights, Experts Say

By Bloomberg: The heat shield that protects SpaceX’s Starship vehicle as it plummets back to Earth may prove to be a substantial roadblock to Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk’s path to designing a rapidly reusable rocket, according to three former NASA researchers and experts in the field.

1 Source

2026-07-29T10:47:23.992719-07:00

China Satellite Space Policy & International Cooperation Space Defense & Militarization Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact

Wall Street Journal • Ashley Cai, Chun Han Wong

China Closes the Satellite Gap in Space Race With the U.S.

By Wall Street Journal: Beijing chips away at American space power and gains better view of U.S.

1 Source

2026-07-29T08:13:29.395909-07:00

Satellite Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space

Bloomberg • Sana Pashankar

SpaceX Customers Are Bracing for the Falcon Rocket Phaseout

By Bloomberg: Satellite operators have long relied on hitching rides on SpaceX’s workhorse rocket.

1 Source

2026-07-29T07:36:01.990756-07:00

Satellite Middle East Commercial Space Asia-Pacific (APAC)

SpaceNews.com • LatConnect 60

LatConnect 60 Accelerates SWIRSAT Constellation Growth Anchored in Western Australia with Expansion into Malaysia and UAE

By SpaceNews.com: PERTH, Western Australia — LatConnect 60 (LC60) is executing on a multi-geography industrial plan to accelerate its SWIRSAT constellation, anchoring core technology development and payload manufacturing in Western Australia while expanding its manufacturing presence in Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates as additional locations for broader spacecraft production.

1 Source

2026-07-29T08:00:40.966124-07:00

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

SpaceNews.com • Jeff Foust

H3 to launch next ispace lunar lander mission

By SpaceNews.com: Japanese lunar lander developer ispace has selected the H3 to launch its next mission in 2028, creating Japan’s first private lunar transportation system.

1 Source

2026-07-29T05:12:08.847867-07:00

MaiaSpace drops suborbital test plan; targets inaugural orbital launch attempt in 2H 2027

SpaceX launching secret US spy satellite early on July 30: Watch it live

Actually, Starliner might fly into space this year

SpaceX Starship Heat Shield Can’t Support Rapid Flights, Experts Say

China Closes the Satellite Gap in Space Race With the U.S.

SpaceX Customers Are Bracing for the Falcon Rocket Phaseout

LatConnect 60 Accelerates SWIRSAT Constellation Growth Anchored in Western Australia with Expansion into Malaysia and UAE

H3 to launch next ispace lunar lander mission

SpaceX Starship Heat Shield Can’t Support Rapid Flights, Experts Say

Actually, Starliner might fly into space this year

SpaceX launching secret US spy satellite early on July 30: Watch it live

China Closes the Satellite Gap in Space Race With the U.S.

LatConnect 60 Accelerates SWIRSAT Constellation Growth Anchored in Western Australia with Expansion into Malaysia and UAE

MaiaSpace Ditches Suborbital Test Flight Plans

Outlier Space Raises $7.3M to Build New Zealand’s First Reentry Vehicle

NATO Q&A on July summit decision on HALO mega-constellation

ESA Commissions Optical Ground Station in Luxembourg to Advance Quantum-Enabled Ultra-Secure Satellite Communications

#SpaceWatchGL Inside EO - The Missing Layer Part 3: The Road to Scale

Amazon asks FCC approval for up to 5,105 direct-to-device satellites, leveraging Globalstar assets post-$11.6B acquisition

European “SpaceX rival” The Exploration Company in talks for a $300M raise, targeting $2B+ valuation

ESA awards ispace-EUROPE execution contract for MAGPIE lunar polar ice exploration mission phase

Rocket Lab lands record $266M U.S. Space Force award for up to 18 suborbital launches

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