Op-ed: Mars Sample Return May Be Canceled, But the Legal Questions It Leaves Behind Continue
With Mars Sample Return canceled, the question is no longer how to bring samples home—but how far existing space law can stretch before its gaps become consequential.
Exclusive: Orbital Paradigm Emerges as the Lone Survivor of Failed PSLV Launch
Despite ISRO’s PSLV failing during launch, Orbital Paradigm’s KID reentry vehicle survived long enough to transmit valuable data.
Quantum Imaging Startup Diffraqtion Emerges from Stealth
Diffraqtion is looking to see farther in space, and to understand its environment faster. The MA-based startup emerged from stealth today with a $4.2M pre-seed round.
GRU Space Opens Bookings for Planned Lunar Hotel
Aspiring lunar tourists can place a $1M deposit to reserve a spot in the company’s planned lunar hotel, which aims to open its airlocks in 2032.
Portuguese Agency Buys Two EO Sats for $18M from Satellogic
This morning, Satellogic ($SATL) announced that it is building two satellites for a Portuguese engineering firm, the Centre of Engineering and Product Development (CEiiA, to use its Portuguese acronym). CEiiA paid $18M for a speedy delivery on its new tech.
Canadian Companies Pitch Faster Pathway for the Defense Market
Space Canada, the country’s space industry advocacy group, released a 17-page position paper Wednesday suggesting ways in which Canada can speed up procurement, in line with global trends.
Former Google Chief Building Private Space Telescopes
Billionaire backers have already taken the launch sector by storm. Now, one is getting into the space-science game.
Viasat’s HaloNet: Eliminating Launch Telemetry Blackouts
For decades, space launch providers have faced the same persistent challenge: intermittent loss of telemetry data when rockets travel out of range of ground stations. These “blackouts” can last for minutes—leaving long and critical periods when vehicle health, performance, and safety information go dark. Viasat’s HaloNet Launch Telemetry Data Relay Service (DRS)aims to change that, by providing continuous, global coverage from ascent through early orbit.
ESA Outlines a Busy Year Ahead
In a press conference at ESA HQ in Paris, ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher laid out the agency’s plan for 2026.
Op-Ed: Space Trends to Watch in 2026
2026 has a chance to become an inflection point where commercial expansion, AI integration, and sovereign partnerships could collide to redefine what the next decade of space looks like.
House Minibus Bill Would Kill Mars Sample Return
The dozens of tubes of Martian dust collected so far by the Perseverance rover are waiting for a ride that may never come.
Op-ed: Golden Dome Will Stand or Fall on Its Sensors. Here’s How to Make Them Endure
Golden Dome’s first fight will be won or lost on its ability to see.
