Space Exploration & Science Missions  
Universe Today • Matthew Williams

ESO’s Paranal PoET telescope makes first observations; Canada’s shoebox PoET planned as JWST follow-up exoplanet scout

ESO’s Paranal Solar ESPRESSO Telescope (PoET) has completed installation and recorded its first observations at Paranal, adding a new capability for solar-enabled precision science. Separately, Canada’s shoebox-sized PoET concept is aimed at finding Earth-sized worlds around the dimmest stars to prioritize JWST follow-up.

2026-05-03T21:49:19.636477-07:00
Event   Satellite   LEO   Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation   Commercial Space  
Space.com • Mike Wall

SpaceX sends 45 satellites to orbit in nighttime launch from California (video)

By Space.com: SpaceX launched 45 satellites to orbit from California early Sunday morning (May 3), including a South Korean spacecraft that was originally supposed to fly in 2022.

Also: SpaceNews.com, Via Satellite, Seeking Alpha and 4 more
2026-05-02T09:39:35.973820-07:00
Space Force   Leadership   Space Defense & Militarization   Defense Policy  
SpaceNews.com • Sandra Erwin

Trump nominates Schiess as next Space Force chief

By SpaceNews.com: GTON — President Donald Trump has nominated Lt. Gen. Douglas Schiess for promotion to four-star general and selected him to become the next chief of space operations, positioning a career operator to lead the U.S.

Also: Space Policy Online, AirForceTimes, spaceanddefense.io, Stars and Stripes, Defense Daily and 3 more
2026-05-01T06:15:05.921695-07:00