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A few audits and reports this week in space governance and defense. Tech development, funding rounds and coalitions in space commerce. Having trouble with links? Click the link below to read the unclipped publication. ↓

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A recently published new modeling refines how scientists could identify potentially habitable exoplanets, narrowing the search to worlds large enough to retain long‑lived atmospheres. The Smaller Than Earth Habitability Model (STEHM), developed by Stanford postdoctoral researcher Michelle Hill and published June 4 in The Planetary Science Journal, uses interior‑structure simulations to assess atmospheric stability on rocky “stagnant‑lid” planets, that, unlike Earth’s shifting crust, have rigid surfaces, between 0.5 and 1.0 Earth radii (0.5 R⊕ and 1 R⊕).

A planet’s ability to hold an atmosphere depends on more than its mass. Surface gravity helps keep gases bound, but stellar radiation continually erodes them, while volcanic activity and the planet’s carbon and elemental makeup determine how well the atmosphere can be replenished. Hill’s model uses a planet’s radius and internal pressures to calculate its mass and internal characteristics. Hill created six different planet profiles of varying radii and included features like the density and thickness of the mantle, as well as the planet’s overall density.

The study finds that planets at least 0.8 R⊕ can preserve CO₂ atmospheres for 10 billion years if positioned at suitable distances from Sun‑like stars, while smaller planets lose atmospheres more quickly unless initial carbon content and heat‑producing elements are unusually high. STEHM also shows that early high internal temperatures shorten atmospheric lifetimes.

Hill validated the model using Venus and Mars, concluding Mars was unlikely to sustain a thick atmosphere even under favorable starting conditions. Future work will extend STEHM to tectonically active “mobile‑lid” planets.

22 June, 2026

NASA researchers are outlining a structured roadmap for evaluating whether Mars could be warmed enough to support long‑term human habitats, presenting the plan at the Space Resources Roundtable held June 2-5 at the Colorado School of Mines. University of Chicago scientist Edwin Kite detailed a mission‑concept prototype to test aerosol dispersal as an initial step toward atmospheric warming, part of a broader emerging field called Applied Astrobiology. He noted that moving forward will require new data on two key questions: whether Mars could sustain life in the future and whether any life exists there today.

The roadmap assesses multiple approaches, including solid‑state greenhouse membranes and strengthening Mars’ natural greenhouse effect, while emphasizing scientific and technical risks. Kite’s team is developing an automated payload to release and track less than about 1 kilogram / less than 2 pounds of sub‑micron particles on Mars at an altitude of roughly 1,500 feet / 500 meters, with early testing planned at NASA’s Planetary Aeolian Laboratory.

Researchers said progress depends on improved maps of subsurface ice, expanded climate monitoring, and access to Mars samples, including those targeted by China’s Tianwen‑3 mission. Early demonstrations could inform future large‑scale programs to evaluate long‑term habitability. The detailed roadmap can be found in a recent research paper.

23 June, 2026

China is moving ahead with a major expansion of its Tiangong space station, planning to grow the current three‑module, T‑shaped complex into a larger cross configuration and eventually a six‑module outpost. State media reports say the first phase will add a new 20‑ton multifunctional module to the Tianhe core, increasing docking ports, EVA access, storage and laboratory capacity. Officials cite rising research demand, more frequent crew and cargo missions, and the need to avoid bottlenecks at docking ports as key drivers. Tiangong has hosted 267 scientific projects to date, including 86 added in the past year, and returned 105 kilograms of samples.

Longer‑term plans call for two additional laboratory modules, doubling the station’s mass from 90 to 180 tons and enabling dedicated research sections and larger crews. The expansion also supports international participation and in‑orbit servicing.

China will first launch the Xuntian space telescope in 2027, a co‑orbiting observatory with a field of view 300 times larger than Hubble’s. Xuntian can dock with Tiangong for maintenance, positioning the station as a multifunctional orbital complex as the ISS approaches retirement.

24 June, 2026

NASA’s Perseverance rover has identified the most robust organic detections yet in Jezero Crater on Mars, strengthening evidence that the region once hosted conditions favorable for microbial life. A new study published June 24 in Science Advances reports that Perseverance’s SHERLOC (the Scanning Habitable Environments with Raman and Luminescence for Organics and Chemicals) instrument found hundreds of detections of complex macromolecular carbon inside two mudstones in the Bright Angel area. This also marked the first identification of such material on a natural rock surface outside Gale Crater, where earlier NASA’s Curiosity rover had uncovered extensive geological and chemical evidence of a freshwater lake capable of supporting microbial life. Researchers note that one mudstone contained carbon mixed with silicate minerals, while the other showed carbon associated with secondary carbonate and sulfate minerals, with both samples preserving relatively intact organic signatures.

The findings build on last year’s report of a potential biosignature in a nearby sedimentary rock known as Cheyava Falls, whose “leopard spot” features resemble textures formed by microbial activity on Earth. The new detections occur in the same ancient river‑valley system, suggesting organics may have been widespread across early Mars.

The study also identifies features in the mudstones consistent with possible biochemical interactions, though the authors emphasize that abiotic pathways, such as meteoritic delivery or hydrothermal processes, remain plausible. Perseverance’s payload cannot distinguish biological from non‑biological origins, and samples will require return to Earth for definitive testing.

22 June, 2026

The White House has issued two executive orders directing a coordinated national push on quantum technologies, including space‑based sensing, navigation and secure communications. The first order, “Ushering in the Next Frontier of Quantum Innovation,” instructs NASA to deliver a five‑year plan within 120 days for advancing civilian quantum sensing and networking for space applications, while the Department of War must identify three quantum sensor projects within 60 days for fielding by September 2028. The order also establishes the Quantum Computer for Application Development and Discovery Science, QC‑ADDS program to develop a quantum computer for scientific use at a Department of Energy facility.

A second order, “Securing the Nation Against Advanced Cryptographic Attacks,” directs agencies to strengthen cryptographic protections against future quantum computers.

The announcements follow Infleqtion’s launch of America’s Quantum Space Initiative, a coalition including Voyager Technologies, Armada, Monarch Quantum and the University of Colorado Boulder. Infleqtion, which has long collaborated with NASA and JPL, wants to deploy a quantum gravity gradiometer before 2030 and says quantum sensors could offer 10 to 1,000-fold precision improvements. The initiative seeks to integrate sensing, photonics, launch services and academic research to mature quantum systems for space operations.

NASA’s plan to retire the International Space Station is drawing scrutiny following a new U.S. Government Accountability Office report and objections from ocean‑health advocates. The GAO review outlines NASA’s current timeline: beginning in early to mid‑2028, the ISS would be gradually lowered using atmospheric drag and reentry maneuvers from the Russian segment. In mid‑2029, NASA intends to launch a SpaceX‑built U.S. Deorbit Vehicle, attach it to the station, and use its 46 Draco thrusters to guide the ISS to a controlled reentry in late 2030 or early 2031. The vehicle would target Point Nemo, a remote region of the Pacific Ocean designated for minimizing risk to populated areas.

The Ocean Foundation warns that directing the largest reentry in history toward the high seas exposes a gap in international law. Under the 1972 Space Liability Convention, nations must compensate for debris damage on land, but no equivalent protection exists for ocean ecosystems. The group warns that surviving ISS components, expected to include dense hardware, could reach the seafloor, with unknown ecological effects. It also cites the newly negotiated High Seas Treaty, which requires environmental impact assessments for activities with uncertain marine impacts.

The foundation calls for a full environmental review, impact assessment, disclosure of materials expected to survive reentry, and legal analysis under UNCLOS, the London Protocol, and the BBNJ Agreement (Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction).

The GAO report separately highlights NASA’s concern about a potential gap in continuous human presence in low Earth orbit as the agency transitions to commercial stations.

22 June, 2026

NASA’s launch infrastructure is nearing its limits as demand from government and commercial missions accelerates, according to a new report from the agency’s Office of Inspector General. The audit finds that Kennedy Space Center and Wallops Flight Facility, built decades ago for Apollo and shuttle‑era operations, are approaching capacity, with launch activity projected to rise sharply through 2030. Launches supported by Kennedy, including those from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, increased from 31 in 2020 to 109 in 2025 and could reach 268 by 2030. Wallops saw a 467% rise over the same period, from three launches to 17 and is expected to host 44 by 2030. The audit concludes that both sites are “dated and lack the capacity” to support projected activity,

The report warns that aging roads, electrical systems, and nitrogen and helium pipelines cannot support the projected cadence of heavy‑lift vehicles such as SpaceX’s Starship and Blue Origin’s New Glenn, where operations could exceed infrastructure limits and create months‑long gaseous nitrogen shortages. NASA estimates more than $1 billion in upgrades are needed, but only $250 million has been allocated. Infrastructure constraints could affect Artemis missions, including multi‑vehicle launch sequences requiring SLS, Starship, and New Glenn within days. The OIG recommends prioritizing common‑use infrastructure repairs, assessing roadway impacts from heavy‑vehicle traffic, and exploring new funding mechanisms to support future upgrades.

Blue Origin told NASA it anticipates more than 50 New Glenn launches annually by 2030 and over 120 by 2035, and has explored an additional KSC launch site located in protected wetlands. The findings echo warnings from major launch providers and a recent Commercial Space Federation report that U.S. spaceports risk being overwhelmed.

Meanwhile, an OIG memo released June 24 finds NASA spent $5.9 billion on components, originally contracted at a combined $2.9 billion, that were ultimately canceled. These included Boeing’s Exploration Upper Stage (EUS), Dynetics’ Universal Stage Adapter, Bechtel’s Mobile Launcher 2 (ML-2) and Northrop Grumman’s Gateway Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO) module, all of which had significantly exceeded original cost and schedule estimates.

The memo details persistent production issues, evolving mission requirements, supply chain shortages and contractor performance problems that pushed delivery dates far beyond NASA’s goal of a lunar landing before 2030. EUS, originally due in 2021, was projected to slip to late 2028; ML‑2 costs rose from $383 million to an estimated $2 billion; HALO’s contract grew from $187 million to $1.9 billion amid corrosion and unrealistic schedules.

NASA acknowledged the findings, stating that its Ignition Day restructuring, consolidating SLS variants, canceling Gateway and shifting the first landing to Artemis 4, was intended to impose greater discipline, affordability and speed.

NASA’s inspector general says the agency’s recent overhaul of its Artemis program avoided billions in additional costs and years of delays tied to hardware no longer needed under the revised lunar architecture.

24 June, 2026

Europe’s top space official is urging governments to accelerate efforts to build autonomous capabilities after recent U.S. program changes exposed vulnerabilities in Europe’s reliance on external partners. In a statement last month, European Space Agency Director General Josef Aschbacher said the U.S. pause of the lunar Gateway and cancellation of Mars Sample Return, both programs with major ESA contributions, highlight how decisions outside Europe can reshape its agenda. He argued Europe must strengthen its ability to act independently while maintaining diversified partnerships.

The issue is longstanding: Marco Aliberti of the European Space Policy Institute said Europe has developed world‑class technical capacity but lacks political autonomy, citing past cases such as the creation of Ariane after U.S. launch restrictions. He warned similar dynamics could emerge in lunar exploration.

Aschbacher pointed to upcoming ESA and EU budget cycles as opportunities to advance human spaceflight and broader autonomy. But he cautioned that member states may pursue bilateral deals, such as France’s recent astronaut agreement with Vast, if collective action lags.

22 June, 2026

Rocket Lab has launched the Space Force’s VICTUS HAZE spacecraft (Rocket Lab Pioneer spacecraft), beginning a rapid‑response demonstration aimed at proving the ability to quickly deploy and maneuver satellites during potential orbital threat scenarios. Space Force Space Systems Command’s (SSC) VICTUS HAZE Tactically Responsive Space (TacRS) mission is led by the SSC’s Space Safari Program Office in partnership with the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU).

The Electron mission lifted off June 19 from Mahia, New Zealand, just 16 hours and 42 minutes after the Space Safari program office issued a notice‑to‑launch, beating the previous TacRS record set by the Firefly Aerospace launched VICTUS NOX, by more than 10 hours. The Rocket Lab‑built Pioneer spacecraft entered a sun‑synchronous orbit and completed commissioning in 37 hours, enabling early rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO) with True Anomaly’s Jackal‑004, launched in May on a Falcon 9 rideshare.

Victus Haze is the fourth TacRS demonstration and the first executed entirely by a single prime contractor providing the spacecraft, launch vehicle and on‑orbit operations. The mission expands responsive‑launch objectives beyond rapid liftoff to include maneuvering, inspection and characterization of other spacecraft. Space Systems Command said both vehicles will conduct dynamic engagements to demonstrate space‑domain awareness and threat‑response capabilities. Pioneer was developed under a $32 million contract awarded by the Space Force in 2024, one of two spacecraft participating in the VICTUS HAZE mission and True Anomaly received a $30 million contract.

22 June, 2026

China’s Shenlong reusable spaceplane has released a new object into orbit during its fourth mission, according to commercial tracking firm LeoLabs. The Long March 2F‑launched vehicle, which lifted off February 6 from Jiuquan, raised its orbit to roughly 593 kilometers before LeoLabs’ Kiwi Space Radar detected an uncatalogued object near the spacecraft on June 22. The firm stated it independently assessed with high confidence that the object was deployed from Shenlong, consistent with subsatellite releases seen on earlier missions. The object has since been cataloged by the U.S. Space Force.

Shenlong has previously conducted rendezvous and proximity operations with deployed objects, though China has disclosed few details beyond describing the mission as reusable‑spacecraft technology verification. Imagery suggests a wingspan exceeding the Long March 2F fairing diameter and a design comparable to the U.S. X‑37B. The program is part of China’s broader push toward reusability, including development of a two‑stage‑to‑orbit system and new recoverable launch vehicles such as the Long March 12A, 12B and 10B.

Rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO) can support tasks such as inspection, repair or refueling, but they also enable close approaches that could be used to interfere with other satellites. Recent Russian activity, including two satellites maneuvering within about 3 meters of each other in May, reflects continued testing of such “inspector” capabilities. The U.S. is also developing RPO technologies.

23 June, 2026

A new report from the U.S.-based aerospace focused think-tank Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies warns that the United States lacks clear policies, response options and escalation frameworks for countering increasingly aggressive Chinese and Russian behavior in space. The study, based on a January workshop with more than 50 military, government, industry, academic and allied experts, concludes that space is no longer a peaceful domain and that adversaries are conducting jamming, cyberattacks, directed‑energy interference and close‑proximity operations below the threshold of armed conflict. Participants found no consensus on when competition becomes conflict, complicating attribution and decision‑making.

The report arrives as the Space Force shifts from operating satellites to preparing for potential conflict in orbit and as China fields systems designed to counter U.S. space advantages. It recommends broader response options, clearer rules for addressing hostile acts, and increased investment in resilience, rapid reconstitution and systems to disrupt adversary capabilities. The Pentagon’s proposed fiscal 2027 budget would raise Space Force funding from $31 billion to $71 billion, though the report cautions that sustained growth will be required.

China, on the other hand, had previously argued that its counterspace activities are defensive responses to U.S. military space initiatives, a position outlined in multiple official white papers that frame U.S. space posture as coercive and destabilizing.

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies draws its primary funding from defense contractors and weapons manufacturers based in the U.S. and allied nations.

24 June, 2026

The U.S. House Appropriations Committee advanced a fiscal 2027 defense spending bill that provides $1.07 trillion for the Pentagon, including $55.5 billion for the Space Force. The measure aligns with earlier subcommittee recommendations and omits roughly $12 billion the White House proposed through a separate reconciliation package intended to raise the service’s total budget above $71 billion.

In an accompanying report, lawmakers said the Space Force has “made remarkable progress” in maturing into a warfighting service and backed investments in launch, missile warning, satellite communications and GPS. They endorsed the service’s shift to Portfolio Acquisition Executives (senior leaders given broad authority to manage groups of related Space Force programs so decisions can be made faster and closer to where the work happens) but cited persistent cost growth, schedule delays and execution problems across major programs. Lawmakers also criticized the Pentagon's over-secrecy, ordering the Defense Department to declassify Space Force operations. Industry groups have long warned that excessive red tape slows down teamwork and deters private companies from participating.

The committee criticized the absence of funding for the Tranche 3 Transport Layer of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (a proliferated, low Earth orbit or pLEO mega-constellation designed to transport tactical defense data) and directed continued development with Link‑16 compatibility (a compatibility that ensures a space system can directly pass mission‑critical data to aircraft, ships and ground units using the standard NATO tactical data link). The administration's proposal to fund the Golden Dome missile-defense through reconciliation was dismissed, with calls for transparent discretionary funding and comprehensive congressional oversight.

Funding through budget reconciliation bypasses the Senate filibuster, requiring only a simple majority (51 votes) to pass. In contrast, discretionary funding requires a three-fifths supermajority (60 votes) to pass the Senate.

22 June, 2026

Japanese on-orbit servicing startup Astroscale reported 11.5 billion yen / $71.1 million in project income for fiscal year 2026, nearly doubling the previous year as the company moves from technology demonstrations toward repeatable satellite‑servicing missions. The firm posted a 10 billion‑yen operating loss, an improvement from 2025, and forecasts 12.5–17 billion yen in project income for fiscal year 2027 with losses remaining steady. CEO Nobu Okada said the company is expanding talent, development and production capacity to support growing demand, particularly from defense customers seeking refueling and space‑domain‑awareness services.

Astroscale raised 30.6 billion yen in May through equity and convertible bonds, with funds allocated to facility expansion and manufacturing of its LEXI‑P life‑extension spacecraft. Missions in Japan, the U.K. and the U.S., including a Space Force refueling mission and end‑of‑life disposal demonstrations, are scheduled to launch within two years. The company aims to establish repeatable commercial servicing and make on‑orbit operations routine by 2030.

23 June, 2026

OHB, the German aerospace company, will raise €490.2 million through a “re-IPO," a public sale of 1.7 million shares at €300 each, expanding its free‑float from 5% to nearly 20% while the Fuchs family retains a 60% stake and KKR holds 20%. The company says the capital will support a planned €500-€600 million investment program spanning new production facilities, launch‑vehicle development, selective acquisitions, lunar exploration work and continued funding for Rocket Factory Augsburg, where OHB is a majority stakeholder.

RFA is preparing its first orbital launch of the expendable RFA ONE Block 1 from SaxaVord later this year, with Block 2 upgrades planned for 2028 to enable first‑stage reuse. The company targets 25 Block 2 launches annually after 2029 and is studying a larger reusable RFA TWO heavy‑lift vehicle powered by a 100‑ton‑thrust Helix X engine.

Irish AI focused space startup Ubotica Technologies has raised $11 million to scale commercial deployment of its Live Maritime Intelligence platform, an onboard‑AI system designed to let satellites analyze data and autonomously task sensors in orbit. The round was backed by Act Venture Capital, Greencode Ventures and Atlantic Bridge. Ubotica says LMI can provide real‑time detection of maritime risks and support security operations across large ocean regions.

The company’s AI has flown on more than 30 Earth‑observation satellites, including a demonstration with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Open Cosmos showing predictive, in‑orbit analysis. Ubotica plans to use the new funding to expand production and bring LMI to market at scale.

26 June, 2026

Spanish space tech company, FOSSA Systems has raised €9.25 million / $10.5 million to expand its low‑Earth‑orbit connectivity constellation, adding backing from Spain’s government‑supported Spanish Society for Technological Transformation (SETT) fund alongside lead investor Kibo Ventures. The round brings total funding to nearly €20 million as the company shifts from picosatellites to larger cubesats to support sovereign communications and space‑based intelligence services.

FOSSA, which joined NATO’s innovation accelerator in December and recently opened a Tokyo office, has launched 25 satellites to date and plans a 140‑spacecraft network for global IoT links. Its next satellite is slated to deploy in the coming weeks. Additional investors in FOSSA’s round include Japan’s SPARX Asset Management, Indico Capital and a WISeKey subsidiary.

23 June, 2026

SpaceX conducted the first test flight of its Starfall reentry capsule on June 23 in the company’s public debut of a program long developed in secrecy. A Falcon 9 launched the Starfall Demo mission from Cape Canaveral, with SpaceX confirming deployment more than three hours later but providing no details on reentry or recovery. The FAA’s environmental assessment describes Starfall as a 2,100‑kilogram, disk‑shaped vehicle with a detachable heat shield, cold‑gas attitude control and a 1,000‑kilogram payload capacity, designed for microgravity research and point‑to‑point cargo delivery.

The mission was treated like a classified launch, with no upper‑stage video and an abbreviated webcast. Starfall enters a growing market of commercial return vehicles that includes Varda Space’s W‑series spacecraft and Outpost’s CarryAll system. Despite SpaceX’s entry, competitors continue advancing: Japan’s ElevationSpace announced a $40 million Series B on June 19 to support development of its own microgravity‑research return craft.

23 June, 2026

China appears to be developing a new class of 7‑meter‑diameter reusable rockets, based on recent state procurement activity, industrial deliveries and launch‑site planning according to SpaceNews. A China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) tender for a 7‑meter tank‑dome welding system and a June 4 announcement from Wuxi Parker New Materials that it shipped a 7.5‑meter stainless‑steel ring for an unnamed CASC’s China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT)‑linked “important model” point to work on an intermediate vehicle between the 5‑meter Long March 10 series and the 10.6‑meter Long March 9.

A 2023 CALT recommendation outlined 5, 7 and 10‑meter families using clustered 130-metric-ton-thrust YF-100K kerolox, 130-metric-ton-thrust YF-100K methalox and a 200-ton methalox engine (for LEO payloads 15,000 kilograms, 25,000 kg, 50,000 kg and 100,000 kg), with the 7‑meter class supporting 25‑ to 50‑ton LEO payloads. CALT and the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST) have separately signaled interest in stainless‑steel, large‑diameter reusable vehicles, and Hainan’s commercial launch site is planning pads for 7 and 10‑meter rockets.

The emerging 7‑meter line would expand China’s launch capacity as it pursues higher cadence, megaconstellations and large‑scale space infrastructure. For comparison, SpaceX’s Starship is 9‑meter in diameter, exceeding China’s emerging 7‑meter reusable rocket class and Blue Origin’s 7‑meter New Glenn. Starship is designed to lift 100–150 metric tons to low Earth orbit in reusable mode, compared with New Glenn’s roughly 13‑ton LEO capacity.

23 June, 2026

Sophia Space has selected Apex’s Nova bus for its first orbital computing mission, planning a 2027 demonstration of its Thermal Integrated LEO Edge (TILE) module. The company said the choice followed a broad platform assessment and positions Apex as its strategic bus supplier. Sophia is also finalizing a $7 million SAFE (Simple Agreements for Future Equity) round, bringing total funding to $22 million, to accelerate the mission originally slated for early 2028.

TILE modules are thin, meter-by-meter compute slabs that integrate solar panels, enterprise-grade servers, and a passive thermal management system that radiates heat directly into space. Sophia Space is also developing an orbital operating system called SOOS (Sophia Orbital Operating System) to manage process scheduling, heat distribution, and hardware failures without human intervention.

CEO Rob DeMillo said customer interest in testing applications on TILE is driving the schedule shift. Since its 2023 founding, Sophia has seen rising demand for space‑based edge computing across civil, commercial and defense sectors, including interest tied to the Pentagon’s Golden Dome initiative. The company plans to expand engineering and product development and build partnerships to support deployment in government and international markets.

Founder Leon Alkalai said the Apex collaboration will enable satellites to operate as autonomous orbital computing nodes capable of acting on data immediately.

24 June, 2026

SpaceConnect, a new Washington‑based trade association representing non‑geostationary satellite operators (NGSO), launched June 24 with Amazon, Globalstar, Iridium and Telesat as founding members, notably without SpaceX despite its dominant NGSO footprint. Former U.S. NTIA (National Telecommunications and Information Administration) administrator David Redl will serve as executive director, with former FCC Space Bureau chief Julie Kearney as general counsel. The group aims to advocate for updated licensing processes, spectrum access and industry‑led best practices as NGSO systems expand globally.

Redl said SpaceConnect remains open to SpaceX participation but will focus on issues where NGSO operators diverge from the broader satellite industry, including power‑limit debates and international regulatory frameworks. The association plans to engage on next year’s World Radiocommunication Conference and Europe’s proposed EU Space Act, which Redl characterized as protectionist.

Amazon has deployed 367 satellites toward its planned 3,200‑satellite constellation, while Iridium and Globalstar continue operating mobile‑services fleets. Telesat’s Lightspeed broadband satellites are slated to begin serial launches next year on SpaceX rockets.

24 June, 2026

Vast has expanded its commercial microgravity research network, signing memoranda of understanding with the Sanford Stem Cell Institute (at the University of California San Diego), Auxilium Biotechnologies, LambdaVision and BioOrbit for future use of its Haven stations. The agreements aim to continue biomedical and manufacturing work conducted on the ISS as it nears retirement. LambdaVision, which has flown nine ISS missions to develop protein‑based artificial retinas, plans to advance toward preclinical trials while also maintaining access to Starlab. Vast signs additional partners for commercial space station microgravity research Auxilium previously produced implantable medical devices on the ISS via microgravity bioprinting, and BioOrbit is developing systems for large‑scale protein drug production.

The Sanford Stem Cell Institute’s research has shown accelerated cellular aging in microgravity, enabling rapid disease modeling. Vast said Haven stations will provide dedicated infrastructure and higher experiment cadence to support continued biomedical research and commercial manufacturing after the ISS retires.

Despatch Out. 👽🛸