The rideshare is designed to launch time-sensitive or non-standard payloads that can’t be accommodated on existing rideshare options. The post SEOPS Will Start Waymaker LEO Rideshares In 2028 appeared first on Payload. Source: https://payloadspace.com/seops-will-start-waymaker-leo-rideshares-in-2028/

Traffic at US military launch sites is approaching max capacity. The post The US Needs a New Launch Site, Air Force Secretary Says appeared first on Payload. Source: https://payloadspace.com/the-us-needs-a-new-launch-site-air-force-secretary-says/

Europe has made huge strides increasing public funds to grow its space economy, but to some in the industry, enough is not enough. The post ESA Chief Calls on Europe to Double Funds for Space appeared first on Payload. Source: https://payloadspace.com/esa-chief-calls-on-europe-to-double-funds-for-space/

Two years ago, NASA asked the space community what technical challenges are giving people the biggest headaches to help NASA prioritize its space tech investments. The post Better Moon-Tech Tops NASA Stakeholder Wishlist appeared first on Payload. Source: https://payloadspace.com/better-moon-tech-tops-nasa-stakeholder-wishlist/

Europe is on a mission to prove that groundbreaking science can be done on the cheap. The post ESA Approves Two Scout Science Missions appeared first on Payload. Source: https://payloadspace.com/esa-approves-two-scout-science-missions/

SpaceX generated $18.67B in revenue in 2025, according to paperwork filed today with the Securities and Exchange Commission ahead of the company’s IPO, expected next month. The post SpaceX Reveals Financial Data Ahead of IPO appeared first on Payload. Source: https://payloadspace.com/spacex-reveals-financial-data-ahead-of-ipo/

NASA has potentially funded or supported hundreds of scientific collaborations since 2015 that might involve Chinese researchers, a new Congressional report says. The post NASA-Funded Research May Create Chinese Security Risk, Report Says appeared first on Payload. Source: https://payloadspace.com/nasa-funded-research-may-create-chinese-security-risk-report-says/

The Golden Dome missile defense system is intended to protect America—but Democratic lawmakers argue that it would have the opposite effect.    The post Dems Warn Golden Dome Will Accelerate the Nuclear Arms Race appeared first on Payload. Source: https://payloadspace.com/dems-warn-golden-dome-will-accelerate-the-nuclear-arms-race/

In engineering production, hundreds—sometimes thousands—of decisions stand between initial concept and final product. Some decisions are big, and some are small trade-offs, but collectively, they determine whether a program moves forward efficiently—or stalls under the weight of its own complexity. Those stalls often stem from an inefficient

Depending on which scenario comes to fruition, the report predicts the space community will want to launch between 6,000 and 230,000 sats per year—requiring up to 7,000 launches annually, according to a release. The post CSF Forecasts Launch Supply Running Low appeared first on Payload. Source:

York Space Systems’ ($YSS) M&A team is having a busy year. The post York Space Systems to Acquire Solestial appeared first on Payload. Source: https://payloadspace.com/york-space-systems-to-acquire-solestial/

The commercial space station company announced this morning that it would start selling satellite buses, specifically targeting the low-cost, high-volume, high-power niche for missions from comms, to EO, to national-security programs. The post Vast Launches Satellite Bus Business Line appeared first on Payload. Source: https://payloadspace.com/vast-launches-satellite-bus-business-line/

Skynopy’s ground-station-as-a-service model is quickly gaining traction. The post U-Space Selects Skynopy to Support Multiple Missions appeared first on Payload. Source: https://payloadspace.com/u-space-selects-skynopy-to-support-multiple-missions/

There’s money to be made on the Moon, but it’s not all mining and infrastructure. The post Potomac Database Systems Unveils Plans to Amass Lunar Data appeared first on Payload. Source: https://payloadspace.com/potomac-database-systems-unveils-plans-to-amass-lunar-data/

There’s a new launcher in town. The post Exclusive: LEAP Launches its First Rocket appeared first on Payload. Source: https://payloadspace.com/exclusive-leap-launches-its-first-rocket/

By acquiring Aireon, Iridium hopes to leverage this capability into a more powerful offering: space-based VHF communications. The post Iridium Boosts Air Safety Offering With Aireon Acquisition appeared first on Payload. Source: https://payloadspace.com/iridium-boosts-air-safety-offering-with-aireon-acquisition/

Intuitive Machines is going all-in on lunar comms. Yesterday, Intuitive Machines announced a definitive agreement to acquire UK-based Goonhilly Earth Station, as well as Goonhilly’s US subsidiary COMSAT, to expand the lunar company’s offering in deep-space comms and PNT. “Customers have been clear that they want a single,

Europe has a growth-stage-capital problem. The post European Space Startups Jockey for ‘Infrastructure’ Financing appeared first on Payload. Source: https://payloadspace.com/european-space-startups-jockey-for-infrastructure-financing/

The head of the Golden Dome program said CBO’s $1.2T cost estimate for the missile-defense program is way off base.  The post Guetlein: CBO is ‘Not Estimating What We’re Building’ appeared first on Payload. Source: https://payloadspace.com/guetlein-cbo-is-not-estimating-what-were-building/

Blacknight Space Labs will provide companies up to $100,000 each. In addition, accelerator companies will get startup 101 education, mentorship, assistance breaking into the defense space market—and help with everything from fundraising, to navigating the government contracting system, to finding customers.  The post Meet Blacknight Space Labs In-Orbit

Artemis III, expected to fly in 2027, will bring astronauts to LEO to test capabilities that will be necessary for the planned Moon landing in 2028. The post NASA Lays Out Preliminary Artemis III Mission Plan appeared first on Payload. Source: https://payloadspace.com/nasa-lays-out-preliminary-artemis-iii-mission-plan/

The estimate is an order of magnitude larger than the $185B figure proposed by Golden Dome chief Gen. Michael Guetlein in March The post CBO Puts $1.2T Price Tag on Golden Dome appeared first on Payload. Source: https://payloadspace.com/cbo-puts-1-2t-price-tag-on-golden-dome/

Exobiosphere has designed an Orbital High-Throughput Screening Device—an automated mini lab that fits into standard mid-deck lockers, aboard crewed or uncrewed space stations.  The post Exobiosphere, Voyager Partner on ISS Mission appeared first on Payload. Source: https://payloadspace.com/exobiosphere-voyager-partner-on-iss-mission/

Brian Hughes, who will serve as NASA’s first senior launch operations director, was the space agency’s chief of staff from May to December, departing the agency once Administrator Jared Isaacman took over.  The post NASA’s Launch Director Pick Turns Political appeared first on Payload. Source: https://payloadspace.

Fenix Space is one step closer to leaving the world behind. The post Fenix Space Flies Tow-Launch Prototype appeared first on Payload. Source: https://payloadspace.com/fenix-space-flies-tow-launch-prototype/