SpaceNews

SpaceNews is a publication available in both print and online formats that focuses on the latest developments in the space and satellite sectors. It offers news, insights, and analysis on a wide range of topics relevant to its audience, which includes government representatives, policymakers, and leaders in the space industry. SpaceNews covers various subjects, including civil, military, and commercial space operations, as well as the satellite communications industry.

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China conducts pad abort test for crew spacecraft, advancing moon landing plans

1 week ago | spacenews.com | Andrew Jones

HELSINKI — China carried out a successful pad abort test early Tuesday for its next-generation crew spacecraft for moon and low Earth orbit missions. China conducted the zero-altitude, or pad abort, test June 17 at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert.
FCC highlights national security role in satellite licensing reforms

1 week ago | spacenews.com | Sandra Erwin

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Federal Communications Commission is reshaping how it regulates space systems, with national security emerging as a central driver alongside commercial innovation, a top agency official said June 16. Speaking at the SAE Media Group’s Milsatcom USA conference, Jay Schwarz, chief of the FCC’s space bureau, outlined a series of ongoing reforms aimed at modernizing satellite licensing and opening new spectrum bands.
China lays foundation for cislunar infrastructure with spacecraft in novel lunar orbits

1 week ago | spacenews.com | Andrew Jones

HELSINKI — China has sent several small spacecraft into specialized lunar and cislunar orbits to test communications, navigation and orbital dynamics for planned Earth-moon infrastructure. China’s DRO-A and B spacecraft, launched in March 2024 and rescued via a series of maneuvers following an upper stage failure, entered their intended lunar distant retrograde orbits (DRO) in August that year.
BlackSky unveils wide-area imaging satellite

1 week ago | spacenews.com | Sandra Erwin

WASHINGTON — BlackSky, a provider of satellite imagery and analytics, announced plans to develop a new type of Earth observation satellite designed to capture large areas of the planet. This new satellite will target applications requiring broad geographical coverage, including country-scale mapping, maritime monitoring and the creation of virtual replicas of physical locations.
The administration’s anti-consensus Mars plan will fail

1 week ago | spacenews.com | Casey Dreier

The White House’s FY 2026 budget request for NASA proposes a radical shift in the agency’s direction, proposing extinction-level cuts to space science, severe cuts in other program areas and a dramatic pivot of human spaceflight focus to Mars. I don’t know if the cuts will ultimately occur, but I am confident in the following: As proposed, the new humans-to-Mars initiative will fail.
China’s Cangyu plans mixed-orbit commercial data relay satellite system

1 week ago | spacenews.com | Andrew Jones

HELSINKI — Private firm Cangyu Space Technology is planning a commercial data relay constellation using a novel mix of orbits, signaling continued expansion of China’s commercial ecosystem. Cangyu Space Technology presented its plans at the third Meishan Satellite Application Industry Development Conference in Meishan City, Sichuan Province, which ran June 9-10.
Ursa Major secures $32.9 million contract to supply engines for U.S. military hypersonic tests

1 week ago | spacenews.com | Sandra Erwin

WASHINGTON— Rocket engine maker Ursa Major landed a $32.9 million deal to supply 16 advanced propulsion systems to Stratolaunch for hypersonic flight tests. Under the contract announced June 16, Colorado-based Ursa Major will deliver an upgraded variant of its Hadley engine for use in Stratolaunch’s reusable hypersonic vehicle called Talon-A. Stratolaunch has a contract with the Pentagon to provide testing vehicles and infrastructure for military systems.
China launches new seismo-electromagnetic satellite with European partners

1 week ago | spacenews.com | Andrew Jones

HELSINKI — China launched a second collaborative seismo-electromagnetic satellite early Saturday, aimed at detecting electromagnetic precursors to natural disasters such as earthquakes. A Long March 2D rocket lifted off at 3:56 a.m. Eastern (0756 UTC) June 14 from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China. Launch footage showed insulation tiles falling away from the rocket as it climbed into a clear blue sky above the spaceport, with hypergolic exhaust also visible.
CAS Space performs Kinetica-2 first stage hot fire test ahead of first launch and cargo demo

2 weeks ago | spacenews.com | Andrew Jones

HELSINKI — China’s CAS Space has completed a hot fire test of the first stage of its Kinetica-2 kerosene rocket as it targets a first orbital launch in the second half of the year. CAS Space conducted the Kinetica-2 (Lijian-2) first stage hot fire test June 11, marking a big step towards the launch of the Qingzhou-1 prototype cargo spacecraft later in the year, the company said in a June 12 statement. “The test duration covered the flight mission profile.
House appropriators advance defense bill, slam White House for budget delay

2 weeks ago | spacenews.com | Sandra Erwin

WASHINGTON — The House Appropriations Committee on June 12 approved a $831.5 billion defense spending bill for fiscal year 2026 in a 36-27 vote, advancing it to the House floor for further consideration. The vote was marked by partisan divisions, with Democrats opposing the bill due to concerns about the lack of detailed budget justification from the administration and disagreements over specific provisions.