SAN FRANCISCO – Albedo, the former Earth-observation startup now focused on satellite manufacturing, announced plans April 9 to send its second spacecraft into very low-Earth orbit (VLEO). Vicinity, scheduled to launch in 2027, will deploy solar arrays to provide far more power than the solar panels mounted on Precision, the bus

The companies will compete for contracts to build ‘neighborhood watch’ satellites The post Space Force taps 14 firms for $1.8 billion GEO surveillance program appeared first on SpaceNews. Source: https://spacenews.com/space-force-taps-14-firms-for-1-8-billion-geo-surveillance-program/

The new architecture combines high resolution with rapid revisit The post Vantor to expand imaging satellite fleet, adding smallsats to increase revisit rates appeared first on SpaceNews. Source: https://spacenews.com/vantor-to-expand-imaging-satellite-fleet-adding-smallsats-to-increase-revisit-rates/

The contract supports next-generation GPS IIIF satellites through 2030 The post Lockheed Martin wins $105 million contract for GPS ground control system as OCX winds down appeared first on SpaceNews. Source: https://spacenews.com/lockheed-martin-wins-105-million-contract-for-gps-ground-control-system-as-ocx-winds-down/

‘Comet Mini’ and ‘Comet XL’ target energy-intensive missions The post Apex to develop larger satellites for missile defense, space-based computing appeared first on SpaceNews. Source: https://spacenews.com/apex-to-develop-larger-satellites-for-missile-defense-space-based-computing/

Improving the accuracy of space situational awareness data and using tighter thresholds for potential conjunctions can help retire most satellite collision risk in LEO, a new study concludes. The post Improved thresholds and SSA accuracy can reduce most satellite collision risk appeared first on SpaceNews. Source: https://spacenews.com/improved-thresholds-and-ssa-accuracy-can-reduce-most-satellite-collision-risk/

A Critical Infrastructure Under Strain Space has quietly become the infrastructure beneath modern life. From financial transactions synchronised by satellite timing to military operations reliant on secure communications, the global […] The post Space Sovereignty Is No Longer Optional appeared first on SpaceNews. Source: https://spacenews.com/space-sovereignty-is-no-longer-optional/

When Congress passed a fiscal year 2026 “minibus” appropriations bill in January, much of the space community breathed a sigh of relief. Congress had rejected the steep cuts proposed by the Trump administration, including a nearly 25% reduction in the agency’s overall budget and nearly 50% to science. The

A flurry of commercial innovation has left the U.S. government with no shortage of sensors and AI-driven insights to monitor the increasingly packed and contested space environment. The challenge is […] The post Tracking the next SDA challenge appeared first on SpaceNews. Source: https://spacenews.com/tracking-the-next-sda-challenge/

Join us in Washington, D.C., for the next event in our orbital data centers series The post April 30: Opportunities for On-Orbit Computing appeared first on SpaceNews. Source: https://spacenews.com/opportunities-for-on-orbit-computing-event/

LeoLabs ‘Delta’ moves beyond collision warnings to identify potential adversarial activity The post LeoLabs debuts space monitoring tool for military users appeared first on SpaceNews. Source: https://spacenews.com/leolabs-debuts-space-monitoring-tool-for-military-users/

We applaud the lunar base vision laid out by NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman on March 24. Placing this stake in the lunar regolith is long overdue. What is missing from the mission architecture, however, is a vision for long-term economic development on the moon. It will be a profound missed

(Note: This article went to press for the April issue of SpaceNews Magazine before NASA announced potential changes to the CLD program.) NASA signaled last summer it planned to accelerate efforts to replace the aging International Space Station. Nearly nine months later, that push appears to have slowed.In a

Secure World Foundation report highlights growing reliance on orbiting systems and spread of interference technologies The post Space security moves to forefront as threats to satellites spread appeared first on SpaceNews. Source: https://spacenews.com/space-security-moves-to-forefront-as-threats-to-satellites-spread/

The contract was awarded by the Space Development Agency for 2027 demonstrations The post Capella Space wins $49 million contract for military communications satellite demo appeared first on SpaceNews. Source: https://spacenews.com/capella-space-wins-49-million-contract-for-military-communications-satellite-demo/

As Artemis 2 begins its return to Earth, scientists are just starting to review the images and observations taken by the crew as they flew around the moon. The post Artemis 2 science gets underway as Orion begins its return trip appeared first on SpaceNews. Source: https://spacenews.com/artemis-2-science-gets-underway-as-orion-begins-its-return-trip/

Bulgarian satellite maker EnduroSat and British defense tech startup Shield Space aim to deploy a cubesat next year capable of maneuvering near other satellites for inspection, ahead of plans to develop a mothership that could house dozens of them for on-demand missions. The post Inspection cubesat demo planned as first

Astroscale has completed the critical design review for two cubesats slated to launch next year to help the British military monitor space weather and track objects in LEO. The post Astroscale passes key design milestone for UK military space-tracking cubesats appeared first on SpaceNews. Source: https://spacenews.com/astroscale-passes-key-design-milestone-for-uk-military-space-tracking-cubesats/

Hungary’s defense and space tech contractor 4iG also announced deals with L3Harris and Apex for defense systems and satellite manufacturing The post Hungary taps Northrop Grumman for first national geostationary communications satellite appeared first on SpaceNews. Source: https://spacenews.com/hungary-taps-northrop-grumman-for-first-national-geostationary-communications-satellite/

Newly anointed NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman made a $20 billion announcement on March 24, 2026. To the delight of space enthusiasts everywhere, Isaacman said NASA was cancelling its project to deploy a space station in lunar orbit and would reorient to building a $20 billion base on the surface of

Tell us about the innovators, collaborators and change-makers whose contributions have left a lasting mark on the sector The post Nominate space industry leaders for the 2026 SpaceNews Icon Awards appeared first on SpaceNews. Source: https://spacenews.com/nominate-space-industry-leaders-for-the-2026-spacenews-icon-awards/

Vantor employees were gathered for a sales kickoff in January, when an executive announced that a WorldView Legion satellite passing overhead would snap a photo of the California venue. Later, a buzzer sounded to alert the audience that the 30-centimeter-resolution image was available on the Vantor Hub portal. It had

Four astronauts from the United States and Canada became the humans to travel the furthest from the Earth April 6 as they went around the moon on the Artemis 2 mission. The post Artemis 2 swings around the moon appeared first on SpaceNews. Source: https://spacenews.com/artemis-2-swings-around-the-moon/

East Aurora, NY — Moog Inc. (NYSE: MOG.A and MOG.B), a worldwide designer, manufacturer and systems integrator of high-performance precision motion and fluid controls and control systems will highlight its […] The post Moog Highlights Growing Satellite Bus Capabilities with Full‑Scale METEOR Reveal at Space Symposium appeared first on

Spanish startup FOSSA Systems is pushing into Japan’s defense market after securing a local partner to expand its reach, building on a shift beyond tiny picosatellites used to connect low-power monitoring devices toward more capable spacecraft for broader government applications. The post FOSSA targets Japan’s defense market as