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Space Moves You - Orbital Compute Frontiers and Transatlantic Infrastructure Consolidation, Week 15

Space Moves You

• 1 min read
Space Moves You - Orbital Compute Frontiers and Transatlantic Infrastructure Consolidation, Week 15

In this fifteenth episode of Space Moves You - Global, we analyze the surge in orbital edge computing and the strategic consolidation of transatlantic space infrastructure that unfolded during the third week of May 2026. We explore Cowboy Space’s ambitious 20,000-satellite filing for orbital data centers alongside Iridium’s definitive acquisition of Aireon and Intuitive Machines’ move to control critical deep-space ground architecture—while examining the defense industry's friction over "Golden Dome" cost projections and the rise of a new telco-led direct-to-device coalition.

Inside this episode:

  • Orbital Computing & ISS Logistics: Analyzing Cowboy Space’s massive filing for a 20,000-satellite "Stampede" constellation for orbital data centers and SpaceX’s successful CRS-34 mission delivering nearly 3,000kg of cargo to the International Space Station.
  • Global Defense & Strategic Funding: Breaking down the $398 million Northrop Grumman contract for resilient satellite communications and the leadership pushback against the Congressional Budget Office’s $1.2 trillion cost estimate for the "Golden Dome" missile defense program.
  • Infrastructure Consolidation & M&A: Examining Iridium’s $367 million acquisition of Aireon to dominate space-based VHF and Intuitive Machines’ strategic purchase of the UK's Goonhilly Earth Station to scale its deep-space network and lunar PNT services.
  • D2D Evolution & Launch Strategy: Evaluating the unprecedented joint venture between AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon to compete in the direct-to-device market and AST SpaceMobile’s potential utilization of ULA’s Vulcan rocket for its future constellation needs.
  • Lunar Navigation & Artemis Planning: Reviewing Northrop Grumman’s Webb-derived LR-450 lunar navigation system for GPS-denied environments and NASA’s revised Artemis III architecture involving an SLS launch without an upper stage.
  • Market Growth & Chinese Expansion: Assessing the Satellite Industry Association report valuing the global space economy at a historic $429 billion and Chinese satellite maker MinoSpace’s $736 million IPO filing to fuel its constellation expansion.

Join us for this comprehensive briefing curated from over 15 world-class space news sources.

Listen to the full episode below: