Gen. Shawn Bratton, the Space Force’s vice chief of space operations, spoke with SpaceNews’ Sandra Erwin as part of an event focused on the Space Force 2040 at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center on Jan. 21. Here are six takeaways from their conversation: Planning for 2040 means more

After helping place proliferated LEO constellations at the center of U.S. military space planning, the SmallSat Alliance is now tackling how these networks can be used together as a unified system. The post SmallSat Alliance shifts focus from proliferation to coordination appeared first on SpaceNews. Source: https://spacenews.com/

NASA officials defended their preparations for the Artemis 2 mission after a fueling test experienced the same type of hydrogen leaks that bedeviled Artemis 1 more than three years ago. The post NASA examining hydrogen leaks during Artemis 2 fueling test appeared first on SpaceNews. Source: https://spacenews.com/nasa-examining-hydrogen-leaks-during-artemis-2-fueling-test/

In space procurement, there are few phrases that carry more weight than “flight heritage.” Once a supplier claims it, the rest of the room can relax. The hardware has flown, goes the thinking. It worked. The risk of using such hardware is vanishingly small, even absent. This is understandable. Space

SpaceX is pausing Falcon 9 launches after an issue with the rocket’s upper stage encountered at the end of a launch Feb. 2. The post SpaceX pauses Falcon 9 launches after upper stage anomaly appeared first on SpaceNews. Source: https://spacenews.com/spacex-pauses-falcon-9-launches-after-upper-stage-anomaly/

Pentagon chief sharpens warnings to defense contractors over delivery, pay and buybacks The post At Blue Origin, Hegseth escalates criticism of legacy defense procurement appeared first on SpaceNews. Source: https://spacenews.com/at-blue-origin-hegseth-escalates-criticism-of-legacy-defense-procurement/

Paul Bate is stepping down as CEO of the UK Space Agency at the end of March as it transitions from a standalone body into the British government’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. The post UK Space Agency CEO stepping down as agency folds into government appeared first

A NASA authorization bill the House Science Committee is scheduled to take up this week would require closer scrutiny of lunar lander and spacesuit development for the Artemis program. The post House NASA bill seeks details on lunar lander and spacesuit development appeared first on SpaceNews. Source: https://spacenews.com/

In January 2026, Iranian authorities shut down landline and mobile telecommunications infrastructure in the country to clamp down on coordinated protests. Starlink terminals, which were discreetly mounted on rooftops, helped Iranian protesters bypass this internet blackout. The role played by Starlink in the recent Iranian protests challenges the notion of

SAN FRANCISCO – CesiumAstro is preparing for rapid expansion thanks to an influx of cash announced Feb. 2: $270 million in equity and $200 million in debt financing. CesiumAstro raised […] The post CesiumAstro to scale operations with $470 million in equity and debt financing appeared first on SpaceNews. Source: https://spacenews.

Amazon has purchased an additional 10 Falcon 9 launches from SpaceX as part of its efforts to accelerate deployment of its broadband satellite constellation. The post Amazon buys 10 more Falcon 9 launches appeared first on SpaceNews. Source: https://spacenews.com/amazon-buys-10-more-falcon-9-launches/

Transcelestial, a startup developing optical communications technologies, has signed an agreement with Gilmour Space Technologies to incorporate its technology on Gilmour Space spacecraft. The post Transcelestial to provide satellite laser communication terminals to Gilmour Space appeared first on SpaceNews. Source: https://spacenews.com/transcelestial-to-provide-satellite-laser-communication-terminals-to-gilmour-space/

The Saudi Space Agency announced on Tuesday the names of the winning teams of the global “DebriSolver” competition, one of the flagship initiatives accompanying the Space Debris Conference 2026. Launched […] The post Saudi Space Agency Announces Winners of Global ‘DebriSolver’ Competition at Space Debris Conference appeared first on SpaceNews. Source:

One of the biggest questions in the tech sector has been if AI is the future, where does all the infrastructure go? Some space industry leaders — including Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos — believe the answer could be in orbit, via space-based data centers. That idea has gained attention in recent

Varda Space Industries completed its latest reentry mission Jan. 29, completing an end-to-end demonstration of a new in-house spacecraft design. The post Varda’s W-5 mission lands in Australia appeared first on SpaceNews. Source: https://spacenews.com/vardas-w-5-mission-lands-in-australia/

SpaceX is seeking Federal Communications Commission approval for a satellite constellation of unprecedented scale intended to function as an orbital data center. The post SpaceX files plans for million-satellite orbital data center constellation appeared first on SpaceNews. Source: https://spacenews.com/spacex-files-plans-for-million-satellite-orbital-data-center-constellation/

NASA has selected Axiom Space for its fifth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, scheduled for 2027. The post Axiom wins fifth private astronaut mission to space station appeared first on SpaceNews. Source: https://spacenews.com/axiom-wins-fifth-private-astronaut-mission-to-space-station/

Blue Origin announced Jan. 30 that it will halt flights of its New Shepard suborbital vehicle for at least two years as it shifts its focus to human lunar exploration. The post Blue Origin halts New Shepard flights appeared first on SpaceNews. Source: https://spacenews.com/blue-origin-halts-new-shepard-flights/

In this episode of Space Minds, SpaceNews senior staff writer Sandra Erwin sits down with Gen. Shawn Bratton, vice chair of space operations for the U.S. Space Force for a […] The post A fireside chat with Space Force Gen. Shawn Bratton appeared first on SpaceNews. Source: https://spacenews.com/

Apolink has partnered with ground segment provider RBC Signals to resell the startup’s proposed in-orbit relay services, aiming to fill connectivity gaps when satellites are out of view of terrestrial command-and-control links. The post RBC Signals partners with in-orbit relay developer Apolink appeared first on SpaceNews. Source: https://spacenews.

The EU Space Act was formally proposed by the European Commission (EC) on June 25, 2025. While it doesn’t aim to codify all European Union (EU) space activities, it does address several key issues that EU officials have determined are increasingly important to the continent’s concerns: safety, through

A Rocket Lab Electron launched a South Korean imaging satellite Jan. 29 on the rocket’s second flight of the year. The post Rocket Lab launches South Korean satellite appeared first on SpaceNews. Source: https://spacenews.com/rocket-lab-launches-south-korean-satellite/

NASA is at a “crossroads” in deciding how to handle logistics for the lunar Gateway as it considers alternative approaches. The post NASA considering alternatives for Gateway logistics appeared first on SpaceNews. Source: https://spacenews.com/nasa-considering-alternatives-for-gateway-logistics/

Maj. Gen. Terry Grisham will oversee the move from Colorado Springs to Redstone Arsenal. The post Alabama National Guard general to manage Space Command headquarters transition appeared first on SpaceNews. Source: https://spacenews.com/alabama-national-guard-general-to-manage-space-command-headquarters-transition/

Paris, France [January 29, 2026] – The 12th edition of Novaspace’s Space Economy Report notes the global space economy is now on a significant growth trajectory, positioned to expand from […] The post Global Space Economy Reaches $626 Billion, Marking a New Phase of Growth appeared first on SpaceNews. Source: https: