Indian hyperspectral imaging startup Pixxel plans to test orbital data center technology on a pathfinder satellite designed to deliver geospatial intelligence directly from space. Source: https://spacenews.com/pixxel-pushes-into-orbital-data-centers-for-faster-geospatial-intelligence/

Every generation reshapes how civilization moves goods. Container ships revolutionized the mid-20th century, computing the late 20th century, and as we entered the new millennium so did the internet, and now reusable rockets. Each unlocked new levels of speed, and capability and markets. The next logistics layer isn’t yet

Director Stephen Winchell says the agency is eyeing a cislunar navigation challenge and is exploring asteroid resource concepts Source: https://spacenews.com/darpa-chief-says-agency-must-harness-commercial-space-boom/

Interlune, a startup with plans to harvest helium-3 from the moon, has won a NASA contract to develop a payload to test ways to extract the isotope from lunar regolith. Source: https://spacenews.com/interlune-wins-nasa-contract-for-helium-3-extraction-payload/

Paris, France – May 2026 – The 11th edition of Novaspace’s Prospects for the Small Satellite Market report forecasts 16,900 small satellites (under 500 kg) to be launched between 2026 and 2035. This equates to an […] The post Global Smallsat Deployment Accelerates, with 16,900 Satellites Projected Through 2035 appeared

KRAKOW — Four OroraTech satellites that are part of the Hellenic Fire System launched and deployed on May 3, the Munich-based company announced. The mission makes Greece the first country to deploy a sovereign operational constellation dedicated specifically to wildfire detection. The satellites, named Forest-16, 17, 18 and 19, were launched

SAN FRANCISCO – Vantor will operate and enhance the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency’s Global Enhanced GEOINT Delivery (GEGD) platform, an unclassified web-based system, under a $70 million award announced May 4. Under the one-year contract option, Vantor will continue to upgrade the latest version of the platform, GEGD Pro, which provides

SAN FRANCISCO – The first global dataset showing the boundaries of agricultural fields was released in late April, after an 18-month campaign by geospatial experts in industry and academia. The initiative, led by the nonprofit Taylor Geospatial and Microsoft AI for Good Lab, produced an open and publicly available dataset with

Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar, or InSAR, enables automated detection of surface changes The post IonQ to offer ground-movement monitoring via Capella radar satellites appeared first on SpaceNews. Source: https://spacenews.com/ionq-to-offer-ground-movement-monitoring-via-capella-radar-satellites/

As SpaceX prepares for the first flight of version 3 of Starship, the company is facing a new legal challenge from local residents who claim launches damage their homes. The post Lawsuit claims Starship launches damage homes appeared first on SpaceNews. Source: https://spacenews.com/lawsuit-claims-starship-launches-damage-homes/

A Falcon 9 launched a South Korean imaging satellite and dozens of secondary payloads May 3, illustrating the continued demand for SpaceX rideshare launches. The post Falcon 9 launches South Korean satellite and 45 rideshare payloads appeared first on SpaceNews. Source: https://spacenews.com/falcon-9-launches-south-korean-satellite-and-45-rideshare-payloads/

To accelerate adoption of commercial technology, NGA has established a Rapid Capabilities Office The post National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency to open programs to more vendors appeared first on SpaceNews. Source: https://spacenews.com/national-geospatial-intelligence-agency-to-open-programs-to-more-vendors/

Rather than treating automation as a solution in itself, the agency is using it to reduce latency and narrow uncertainty The post NGA pushes AI adoption as demand grows for ‘always-on’ intelligence  appeared first on SpaceNews. Source: https://spacenews.com/nga-pushes-ai-adoption-as-demand-grows-for-always-on-intelligence/

More than two months after NASA announced revised plans for the Artemis 3 mission, the agency has provided few details about the mission amid signs its schedule may be slipping. The post Artemis 3 plans remain uncertain as schedule slips appeared first on SpaceNews. Source: https://spacenews.com/artemis-3-plans-remain-uncertain-as-schedule-slips/

NASA is planning to increase the total value of a contract for robotic lunar lander missions to support a proposed surge in flights for the agency’s moon base plans. The post NASA to increase value of CLPS contract to support surge of lunar lander missions appeared first on SpaceNews.

Investor attention is starting to shift toward ventures that could be enabled by orbital data centers, even as the massive computing networks proposed by SpaceX and others remain years from reality. The post The opportunity beyond orbital data centers appeared first on SpaceNews. Source: https://spacenews.com/the-opportunity-beyond-orbital-data-centers/

A pair of launches this week pushed the number of Amazon Leo satellites deployed to more than 300, but the company is still far short of a looming FCC milestone. The post Amazon Leo passes 300 satellites with Atlas and Ariane launches appeared first on SpaceNews. Source: https://spacenews.com/

Career space operator would succeed Gen. Chance Saltzman atop military space branch The post Trump nominates Schiess as next Space Force chief appeared first on SpaceNews. Source: https://spacenews.com/trump-nominates-schiess-as-next-space-force-chief/

Starcloud is looking to raise at least $200 million in a deal that would double the two-year-old orbital data center startup’s valuation to about $2.2 billion, a source close to the situation confirmed. The post Starcloud seeks more orbital data center funding shortly after unicorn status appeared first

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has awarded contracts to three companies to study concepts for a lunar mission to search for water ice in very low orbits. The post DARPA selects three companies for lunar orbiter studies appeared first on SpaceNews. Source: https://spacenews.com/darpa-selects-three-companies-for-lunar-orbiter-studies/

Experiments will attempt to establish crosslinks from medium Earth orbit satellites The post Space Force taps K2 satellites to test laser communications for missile-defense appeared first on SpaceNews. Source: https://spacenews.com/space-force-taps-k2-satellites-to-test-laser-communications-for-missile-defense/

SAN FRANCISCO — SpaceComputer, a Singapore-based startup developing distributed computing infrastructure, is preparing to test its hardware and software in orbit later this year. The startup’s first product, Space Fabric, is a hardware and software architecture with secure and physically isolated computing elements to link ground stations with satellites and

The Next-Generation OPIR Polar satellite procurement faces ax as Pentagon cites alternatives in low and medium Earth orbit to replace coverage The post Northrop Grumman delivers sensor for missile-warning satellite as Pentagon cancels program appeared first on SpaceNews. Source: https://spacenews.com/northrop-grumman-delivers-sensor-for-missile-warning-satellite-as-pentagon-cancels-program/

While European space startups are attracting more venture capital, their private-led growth rounds remain anchored by U.S. investors rather than regional investment firms. The post U.S. investors dominate Europe’s private-led space scale-up rounds appeared first on SpaceNews. Source: https://spacenews.com/u-s-investors-dominate-europes-private-led-space-scale-up-rounds/

A House appropriations subcommittee advanced a spending bill April 30 that would keep overall NASA funding at 2026 levels, rejecting a 23% cut proposed by the White House. The post House appropriators keep NASA funding flat appeared first on SpaceNews. Source: https://spacenews.com/house-appropriators-keep-nasa-funding-flat/