In this episode of Space Minds, host Mike Gruss speaks with Gabe Zimmerman, Director, In-Space at Ursa Major.

The post Gabe Zimmerman on customer needs and scaling SmallSat production appeared first on SpaceNews.

Commercial mission concept could give the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory a new lease on life, preserving its search for the universe’s most powerful explosions

The post Cambrian Works Selects Astroscale U.S. as its Mission Partner for NASA Swift Observatory Boost Mission Concept Study appeared first on SpaceNews.

Lt. Gen. DeAnna Burt, deputy chief of space operations, is retiring after 33 years of service. She reflects on the progress achieved, and the challenges ahead for the military space branch

The post Burt’s parting thoughts on the Space Force and its next chapter appeared first on SpaceNews.

Five years into its program to provide smallsat rideshare launch services, SpaceX is emphasizing flexibility to accommodate growing demand. SpaceX’s rideshare program has now launched more than 1,400 satellites across more than 30 missions, said Ronnie Foreman, the company’s senior sales manager for rideshare. Foreman spoke during an Aug. 12 side session at SmallSat 2025. […]

The post Flying ‘standby’ proves popular for SpaceX rideshares appeared first on SpaceNews.

SALT LAKE CITY – It’s easy to talk about satellite autonomy but significant work remains to determine exactly which tasks should be handled by machines, according to speakers at the 2025 Small Satellite Conference. Military aircraft have extensive built-in autonomy thanks to decades of experience identifying useful features in combat exercises. U.S. Space Force satellite […]

The post For military space, what tasks should be automated? appeared first on SpaceNews.

The United States and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), though differing in size and history, have forged a vibrant partnership in space. In just over a decade, this bond has accelerated the UAE’s rise as a spacefaring nation while opening new avenues for U.S. industry and diplomacy.  With the UAE’s capital and speed, and the […]

The post Strengthening ties in orbit: the expanding U.S.-UAE space partnership appeared first on SpaceNews.

Insurers are returning to the space industry after retreating in the wake of harrowing losses just a few years ago. At least three firms have announced capacity for space risks in recent months: Phemis and Hive, both revived from former space underwriting teams, and Whitecap,a solo effort led by an underwriter from a now-defunct insurance […]

The post Burnt space insurers are getting back the game appeared first on SpaceNews.

SALT LAKE CITY – Rogue Space Systems is reorganizing to prepare for growth in its space logistics business and a double launch in 2027. Brook Leonard, a retired U.S. Space Force major general, is the new CEO. Former CEO Jon Beam will serve as Rogue president and chief strategy officer. David Franklin, a retired Space […]

The post Rogue expands staff ahead of planned double launch appeared first on SpaceNews.

An Ariane 6 successfully launched a European weather satellite with an Earth science hosted payload Aug. 12 in the third flight of that vehicle.

The post Ariane 6 launches European weather satellite appeared first on SpaceNews.

The launch of USSF-106 marks the Defense Department’s formal shift to flying national security payloads exclusively on domestic rockets powered by U.S.-made engines

The post ULA’s Vulcan Centaur launches first national security mission appeared first on SpaceNews.

SALT LAKE CITY – Mission Control Space Services is inviting organizations to test machine-learning models on the Canadian startup’s Persistence mission launched in June. “Whether you’re from a for-profit company, nonprofit or even a school, we think that the need for autonomy to meet the requirements of an increasingly complex space environment is here to […]

The post Mission Control offers in-orbit testbed for AI models appeared first on SpaceNews.

AST SpaceMobile shares rose more than 8% after the direct-to-smartphone operator said it has secured all the funding needed to deploy 45–60 satellites, enough to provide continuous coverage in the United States and other key markets.

The post Fully funded key-market coverage plan lifts AST SpaceMobile appeared first on SpaceNews.

The facility is the first location in the Deep-Space Advanced Radar Capability (DARC) network

The post Deep-space radar in Australia begins tracking satellites for AUKUS partners appeared first on SpaceNews.

In this episode of Space Minds, host Mike Gruss speaks with Todd Master, Chief Operating Officer of Umbra, about the evolving small satellite market, supply chain challenges, and the company’s expansion from SAR data services into satellite components.

The post Todd Master on Umbra’s evolution appeared first on SpaceNews.

Japanese water propulsion startup Pale Blue is exploring jointly developing systems with Mitsubishi Electric, after the satellite maker joined the University of Tokyo spin-off’s $10 million Series C funding round.

The post Pale Blue teams up with Mitsubishi Electric to advance water propulsion appeared first on SpaceNews.

SALT LAKE CITY –The head of NASA’s science directorate said the agency remains committed to using small satellites to carry out a variety of missions, although those plans face uncertain budgets. In a keynote at the Small Satellite Conference here Aug. 11, Nicola Fox, NASA associate administrator for science, highlighted the role that smallsats were […]

The post NASA emphasizes smallsats for science amid budget uncertainty appeared first on SpaceNews.

In this episode of Space Minds, host Mike Gruss speaks with Tom Walkinshaw, founder and CEO of Alba Orbital, a Scotland-based manufacturer specializing in pocket-sized satellites known as PocketQubes.

The post Tom Walkinshaw on pocket-sized satellites appeared first on SpaceNews.

An alternative trajectory developed for a NASA Mars smallsat mission could enable other missions to go to Mars outside the constraints of conventional launch windows.

The post ESCAPADE trajectory design creates new options for Mars smallsat missions appeared first on SpaceNews.

Geost’s technology is used in U.S. national security missions, including missile warning and tracking, space surveillance, and tactical reconnaissance

The post Rocket Lab completes acquisition of U.S. satellite sensor maker Geost appeared first on SpaceNews.

The Office of Space Commerce is moving beyond the beta-test phase of its space traffic coordination system as it prepares to enter service in January.

The post TraCSS moving past beta test of space traffic coordination system appeared first on SpaceNews.

Viasat’s modular portfolio of capabilities offers space-to-ground connectivity and relay solutions for resilient and responsive data transport

The post Viasat Unveils HaloNet Capability Portfolio for Near-Earth Communications and Beyond appeared first on SpaceNews.

SALT LAKE CITY – Aerospace Corp. is refining technology to enable cubesats to share data through optical links, after demonstrating the capability early this year. Such a move would allow communication at greater distances and to work more autonomously. To boost data rates at longer ranges, the Flashlight Laser Crosslink cubesats, roughly the size of […]

The post Autonomy improves performance of Aerospace cubesat optical links appeared first on SpaceNews.

America has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to open the space frontier by initiating a sustained program of human exploration of Mars. Elon Musk’s SpaceX Starship launch system may soon be operational, offering payload delivery capability comparable to a Saturn V moon rocket at about 5% the cost. President Trump has announced that he plans on sending […]

The post Crewed Mars missions will require a new ascent vehicle appeared first on SpaceNews.

Experts caution that the budget’s method of funding matters just as much as the amount.

The post Space Force 2026 budget: an $11B boon or bubble? appeared first on SpaceNews.