Space News

Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space

NASA Spaceflight • Chris Bergin, Martijn Luinstra

Relativity Space, Rocket Lab and PLD Space advance next-gen orbital rocket testing ahead of 2026 debuts

Relativity Space, Rocket Lab and PLD Space each announced key testing milestones for their new orbital launch vehicles—Terran R, Neutron and Miura 5. The companies say the progress is aimed at supporting first debut flights later in 2026, underscoring the push to mature new rocket programs through near-term test campaigns.

2 Sources

2026-07-20T12:23:11.172032-07:00

Satellite Aviation Safety & Regulation Human Spaceflight & Space Stations Space Policy & International Cooperation Space Debris & Traffic Management

satnews.com

ThinKom GT2517 Terminal Achieves SES Government Technology Certification for O3b mPOWER Operation

By satnews.com: On Monday, July 20, 2026, ThinKom Solutions, Inc. announced that its ThinAir GT2517 airborne terminal successfully completed the SES Government Technology Certification (GTC) program.

Runway Girl

Press Release: GT2517 completes GTC to operate on SES mPOWER MEO

2 Sources

2026-07-20T08:53:26.421896-07:00

Moon Human Spaceflight & Space Stations NASA

Space.com • Josh Dinner

Four astronauts, 3 spacecraft, 2 weeks in orbit: Artemis III will be NASA's most complicated mission ever

By Space.com: NASA's Artemis III mission is shaping up to be NASA's most complex mission in history, coordinating the launch and rendezvous of three different spacecraft.

1 Source

2026-07-20T09:22:13.785463-07:00

Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space

Space.com • Mike Wall

Twice in a row: SpaceX rocket aborts launch at last second again (video)

By Space.com: SpaceX suffered its second last-second abort in a row this morning (July 20), this time during an attempted Falcon 9 launch of Starlink broadband satellites.

1 Source

2026-07-20T09:22:15.943442-07:00

Event ESA Space Exploration & Science Missions Human Spaceflight & Space Stations NASA

Space.com • Aparna Venkatesan

Artemis II was an incredible reminder of our shared humanity just when we needed it most (op-ed)

By Space.com: The Artemis II astronauts reminded us that they considered it the honor of a lifetime to go to the moon for us - and as us - while transmitting daily that they couldn’t wait to come home to us.

Also: ESA

2 Sources

2026-07-20T08:15:18.272882-07:00

Space Policy & International Cooperation Space Debris & Traffic Management

European Spaceflight • Andrew Parsonson

UK Misses Deadline to Award Contract for Space Debris Removal Mission

By European Spaceflight: The UK Space Agency has delayed the award of a £75.6 million contract for a mission that will capture and remove two defunct satellites from low Earth orbit.

2 Sources

2026-07-20T07:10:52.483805-07:00

Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space

Space.com • Charles Q. Choi

Rocket launch costs have dropped 96% since 1960. How low can they go?

By Space.com: The costs of space launch have fallen 96% in the past six decades and have the potential to plummet by nearly as much by 2040, a new study finds.

1 Source

2026-07-20T06:07:25.812781-07:00

China AI Commercial Space

SpaceNews.com • Andrew Jones

AI rocket engine startup LegendSpace raises $29.5 million angel round

By SpaceNews.com: A six-month-old Chinese startup aiming to use artificial intelligence to compress rocket engine development cycles has raised $29.5 million in angel funding.

3 Sources

2026-07-20T04:38:37.045019-07:00

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Relativity Space, Rocket Lab and PLD Space advance next-gen orbital rocket testing ahead of 2026 debuts

ThinKom GT2517 Terminal Achieves SES Government Technology Certification for O3b mPOWER Operation

Press Release: GT2517 completes GTC to operate on SES mPOWER MEO

Four astronauts, 3 spacecraft, 2 weeks in orbit: Artemis III will be NASA's most complicated mission ever

Twice in a row: SpaceX rocket aborts launch at last second again (video)

Artemis II was an incredible reminder of our shared humanity just when we needed it most (op-ed)

UK Misses Deadline to Award Contract for Space Debris Removal Mission

Rocket launch costs have dropped 96% since 1960. How low can they go?

AI rocket engine startup LegendSpace raises $29.5 million angel round

Making Progress: Relativity’s Terran R, Rocket Lab’s Neutron, and PLD Space’s Miura 5

ThinKom GT2517 Terminal Achieves SES Government Technology Certification for O3b mPOWER Operation

Twice in a row: SpaceX rocket aborts launch at last second again (video)

Four astronauts, 3 spacecraft, 2 weeks in orbit: Artemis III will be NASA's most complicated mission ever

Artemis II was an incredible reminder of our shared humanity just when we needed it most (op-ed)

UK Misses Deadline to Award Contract for Space Debris Removal Mission

Skyroot Aerospace Reaches Orbit on Maiden 'Vikram-1' Flight, Making India the Third Nation with Private Launch Capability

Mauritius Joins the Artemis Accords, Becoming the Program's 70th and 7th African Signatory

e-GEOS to Provide Technical Training to the African Space Agency under New AESPP Institutional Cooperation Project

SpaceX moves Starship launch attempt to Thursday

NASA ends Draper lunar lander effort after major development delays

Japan completes first RV-X experimental reusable rocket flight test

SDA backs ‘Golden Dome’ missile-warning/tracking with $1.75B in new space-vehicle agreements; Pentagon funds $7.1M boost to US-m

Artemis III: NASA to Run 2027 ‘Dress Rehearsal’ Lander Rendezvous & Docking Ahead of 2028 Moon Return

Starlink's 2024 Advances: Transforming In-Flight Wi-Fi Connectivity in Aviation

Riyadh Air: Saudi Arabia's New National Carrier Prepares for Launch Amid Regional Competition

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