Jordan signs the Artemis Accords Jordan is the latest country to sign the Artemis Accords as NASA works to attract more countries to its lunar exploration efforts.

Jordan signs the Artemis Accords

Jordan is the latest country to sign the Artemis Accords as NASA works to attract more countries to its lunar exploration efforts.

Optical links in contested space In this episode of Space Minds, we head back to Space Symposium where SpaceNews’ Sandra Erwin moderated a panel on how optical communication links can provide warfighters and operators with the data throughput, resilience and security they need in contested and congested environments. She speaks with GP Sandhoo, the acting director of the Space Development Agency, Mina Mitry, CEO and co-founder of Kepler, Jeff Huggins, president of Cailabs US and Sven Rettig, chief commercial officer of Tesat.

Optical links in contested space

In this episode of Space Minds, we head back to Space Symposium where SpaceNews’ Sandra Erwin moderated a panel on how optical communication links can provide warfighters and operators with the data throughput, resilience and security they need in contested and…

Pentagon seeks $2.3 billion for Maven AI battlefield system  The Pentagon’s 2027 budget proposal includes an estimated $58.5 billion tied to artificial intelligence.

Pentagon seeks $2.3 billion for Maven AI battlefield system 

The Pentagon’s 2027 budget proposal includes an estimated $58.5 billion tied to artificial intelligence.

House Science Committee pans NASA budget request Members of the House Science Committee rejected a proposed fiscal year 2027 budget for NASA because of sweeping cuts as the agency’s administrator argued it could do more with less.

House Science Committee pans NASA budget request

Members of the House Science Committee rejected a proposed fiscal year 2027 budget for NASA because of sweeping cuts as the agency’s administrator argued it could do more with less.

Pentagon closes $1 billion investment in L3Harris missile unit Deal gives government future ownership in Missile Solutions business

Pentagon closes $1 billion investment in L3Harris missile unit

Deal gives government future ownership in Missile Solutions business

Electron launches Japanese cubesats A Rocket Lab Electron launched a set of cubesats sponsored by the Japanese space agency JAXA April 22 on the company’s second dedicated mission for the agency.

Electron launches Japanese cubesats

A Rocket Lab Electron launched a set of cubesats sponsored by the Japanese space agency JAXA April 22 on the company’s second dedicated mission for the agency.

Univity funds VLEO 5G demonstrators with $32 million Series A French startup Univity has raised around $32 million to deploy a pair of 5G demonstrators into very low Earth orbit next year, ahead of plans for at least 1,600 VLEO satellites to help telecom operators extend 5G coverage from space.

Univity funds VLEO 5G demonstrators with $32 million Series A

French startup Univity has raised around $32 million to deploy a pair of 5G demonstrators into very low Earth orbit next year, ahead of plans for at least 1,600 VLEO satellites to help telecom operators extend 5G coverage from space.

Atmos Space Cargo raises $30 million for reentry missions Atmos Space Cargo has raised 25.7 million euros ($30.1 million) to fly a series of reentry vehicle missions and work on a larger spacecraft.

Atmos Space Cargo raises $30 million for reentry missions

Atmos Space Cargo has raised 25.7 million euros ($30.1 million) to fly a series of reentry vehicle missions and work on a larger spacecraft.

Trump picks industry executive Roger Mason to lead National Reconnaissance Office Nominee would succeed Christopher Scolese as head of the nation’s spy satellite agency

Trump picks industry executive Roger Mason to lead National Reconnaissance Office

Nominee would succeed Christopher Scolese as head of the nation’s spy satellite agency

FCC clears AST SpaceMobile constellation as launch setback clouds ramp-up AST SpaceMobile received permission to provide direct-to-smartphone broadband services in the United States with up to 248 satellites, days after a botched launch complicated plans to ramp up deployments this year.

FCC clears AST SpaceMobile constellation as launch setback clouds ramp-up

AST SpaceMobile received permission to provide direct-to-smartphone broadband services in the United States with up to 248 satellites, days after a botched launch complicated plans to ramp up deployments this year.

Space Force awards contracts to Leidos, MapLarge for ‘battle planning’ software The contracts are part of the ‘Kronos’ program that aims to replace legacy tools with commercial software

Space Force awards contracts to Leidos, MapLarge for ‘battle planning’ software

The contracts are part of the ‘Kronos’ program that aims to replace legacy tools with commercial software

Kigali to Host IAF Global Space Conference on Climate Change 2026 – A First for Africa Organized by the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) and hosted by the Rwanda Space Agency (RSA), the 2nd IAF Global Space Conference on Climate Change (GLOC 2026) will take place from 2-4 June 2026 in Kigali, Rwanda, under the theme “Uniting Space and Earth for Climate Resilience”, marking the first time the landmark conference will take place on African soil.

Kigali to Host IAF Global Space Conference on Climate Change 2026 – A First for Africa

Organized by the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) and hosted by the Rwanda Space Agency (RSA), the 2nd IAF Global Space Conference on Climate Change (GLOC 2026) will take place from 2-4 June 2026 in…

NASA sets early September launch date for Roman Space Telescope NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is now scheduled for launch in early September as agency officials hail its early completion despite ongoing budget uncertainty for its science programs.

NASA sets early September launch date for Roman Space Telescope

NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is now scheduled for launch in early September as agency officials hail its early completion despite ongoing budget uncertainty for its science programs.

Hybridizing nuclear command, control and communications systems puts space infrastructure at risk Space based nuclear command, control and communications (NC3) systems were developed as highly classified and sovereign systems, insulated from external influence and designed to survive in the most extreme circumstances. Constructed in the 1960s, the systems made sure that states were able to reliably identify and retaliate against threats, maintaining deterrence stability. Contemporary space-based capabilities are frequently used to play dual national security and civilian purposes.

Hybridizing nuclear command, control and communications systems puts space infrastructure at risk

Space based nuclear command, control and communications (NC3) systems were developed as highly classified and sovereign systems, insulated from external influence and designed to survive in the most…

Commerce Department budget proposal would halt work on TraCSS The Commerce Department is proposing to halt work on its space traffic coordination system while it develops a “new operating and financial structure” that may include user fees.

Commerce Department budget proposal would halt work on TraCSS

The Commerce Department is proposing to halt work on its space traffic coordination system while it develops a “new operating and financial structure” that may include user fees.

China backs orbital data center startup with $8.4 billion in credit lines A Beijing-based space startup has secured early-stage funding and extensive credit backing as part of a broader Chinese push toward space-based computing infrastructure.

China backs orbital data center startup with $8.4 billion in credit lines

A Beijing-based space startup has secured early-stage funding and extensive credit backing as part of a broader Chinese push toward space-based computing infrastructure.

Northrop Grumman takes $71 million charge on Vulcan booster issue Northrop Grumman said April 21 it took a $71 million charge in its fiscal first quarter linked to an anomaly with a solid rocket booster that has grounded ULA's Vulcan.

Northrop Grumman takes $71 million charge on Vulcan booster issue

Northrop Grumman said April 21 it took a $71 million charge in its fiscal first quarter linked to an anomaly with a solid rocket booster that has grounded ULA's Vulcan.

Trump taps Raytheon executive for top military space acquisition post Erich Hernandez-Baquero is currently vice president for space intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance at Raytheon

Trump taps Raytheon executive for top military space acquisition post

Erich Hernandez-Baquero is currently vice president for space intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance at Raytheon

Pentagon details funding strategy behind Trump’s proposed $1.45 trillion defense budget Officials confirm $71 billion request for U.S. Space Force

Pentagon details funding strategy behind Trump’s proposed $1.45 trillion defense budget

Officials confirm $71 billion request for U.S. Space Force

The U.S. must defend the final frontier against cyberattacks As recent American military operations show, space underpins American forces’ ability to operate globally with unmatched precision. Its strategic importance is reflected in the President’s Cyber Strategy for America and the Joint Staff’s integration of space into non-kinetic effects alongside cyber, electronic warfare and information operations. Through the United States Space Force and initiatives like the Golden Dome missile defense shield, space has evolved from an enabler of operations to a contested and actively targeted domain of operations.

The U.S. must defend the final frontier against cyberattacks

As recent American military operations show, space underpins American forces’ ability to operate globally with unmatched precision. Its strategic importance is reflected in the President’s Cyber Strategy for America and the Joint Staff’s…

NordSpace nets Canadian defense funding for VLEO satellite development NordSpace has secured early defense funding to develop a very low Earth orbit satellite, further broadening the Canadian startup’s push to build sovereign space capabilities beyond launch.

NordSpace nets Canadian defense funding for VLEO satellite development

NordSpace has secured early defense funding to develop a very low Earth orbit satellite, further broadening the Canadian startup’s push to build sovereign space capabilities beyond launch.

Falcon 9 launches final GPS 3 satellite into orbit for U.S. Space Force

SV-10 caps Lockheed Martin-built series as SpaceX continues to absorb missions shifted from ULA

Artemis spacesuit development risks further delays New spacesuits for Artemis lunar missions and the International Space Station may not be ready until after the end of the decade, a report by NASA’s inspector general warns.

Artemis spacesuit development risks further delays

New spacesuits for Artemis lunar missions and the International Space Station may not be ready until after the end of the decade, a report by NASA’s inspector general warns.

Pentagon officially ends OCX program, citing risk and delays The decision to terminate RTX's contract for the next-generation GPS ground system follows testing failures and years of cost growth

Pentagon officially ends OCX program, citing risk and delays

The decision to terminate RTX's contract for the next-generation GPS ground system follows testing failures and years of cost growth

Latvia joins the Artemis Accords Latvia is the latest country to sign the Artemis Accords as part of a new push to use the Accords to foster cooperation on NASA’s lunar exploration ambitions.

Latvia joins the Artemis Accords

Latvia is the latest country to sign the Artemis Accords as part of a new push to use the Accords to foster cooperation on NASA’s lunar exploration ambitions.

Space Force sets up ‘cislunar coordination’ office to focus beyond Earth orbit Officials say civil-military overlap with NASA grows as lunar activity accelerates

Space Force sets up ‘cislunar coordination’ office to focus beyond Earth orbit

Officials say civil-military overlap with NASA grows as lunar activity accelerates

In the wake of Artemis 2, America needs to consider the ‘why’ of its government space program The moon itself does not wax and wane as frequently as American public opinion on its space program. The Artemis 2 astronauts barely gulped their first taste of fresh Pacific air before a chorus of voices began criticizing the Artemis program as a waste of money for which the American people received little in return. The argument goes that SpaceX does it better so Americans ought to invest in SpaceX rather than have their tax dollars go toward the bumbling government and its old fuddy duddy contractors like Boeing and Northrop Grumman.

In the wake of Artemis 2, America needs to consider the ‘why’ of its government space program

The moon itself does not wax and wane as frequently as American public opinion on its space program. The Artemis 2 astronauts barely gulped their first taste of fresh Pacific air before a chorus of voices…

China ramps up satellite production capacity amid constellation ambitions China is rapidly building a broad, diverse satellite manufacturing base capable of producing thousands of spacecraft annually, but faces bottlenecks in launch and uncertain demand.

China ramps up satellite production capacity amid constellation ambitions

China is rapidly building a broad, diverse satellite manufacturing base capable of producing thousands of spacecraft annually, but faces bottlenecks in launch and uncertain demand.

Space Force weighs Vulcan flights without solid boosters  Vulcan would be allowed to fly lower-energy missions as investigation of solid rocket motors anomaly continues

Space Force weighs Vulcan flights without solid boosters 

Vulcan would be allowed to fly lower-energy missions as investigation of solid rocket motors anomaly continues

Third New Glenn launch suffers upper stage malfunction Blue Origin’s New Glenn suffered a malfunction of its second stage on the rocket’s third flight April 19, stranding its payload in an “off-nominal” orbit.

Third New Glenn launch suffers upper stage malfunction

Blue Origin’s New Glenn suffered a malfunction of its second stage on the rocket’s third flight April 19, stranding its payload in an “off-nominal” orbit.