Starfighters Space, Inc. (NYSE American: FJET) will conduct the first captive-carry flight test of its STARLAUNCH 1 suborbital development vehicle using a Lockheed F-104 Starfighter in December 2026. The mission marks the program’s transition from ground-based design to active flight testing, establishing operational procedures for future drop tests and powered launches.

In a press release issued on October 13, 2026, the company confirmed that the airframe design for STARLAUNCH 1 has been finalized and inert flight hardware has been ordered. The December 2026 flight will originate from the company’s base at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Kennedy Space Center and proceed to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) licensed Cecil Spaceport in Jacksonville, Florida.

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Transitioning to active flight testing

The upcoming captive-carry flight represents a critical milestone for the STARLAUNCH program. Inert flight hardware is expected to arrive at the Kennedy Space Center hangar in November 2026. Engineering teams will then begin assembly and testing of the rocket-aircraft interface to ensure the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter can safely carry the suborbital vehicle.

Tim Franta, CEO of Starfighters Space, stated that the planned captive-carry flight will move STARLAUNCH 1 from design and ground-based development directly into flight testing.

“Our approach is deliberately incremental: build the hardware, integrate it with the aircraft, fly it, collect data, and use those results to advance toward separation and powered flight. This work on STARLAUNCH 1 is also expected to generate engineering and operational experience to inform the future development of STARLAUNCH 2.”

The December 2026 mission is designed to test aircraft integration, evaluate aerodynamic behavior, and establish operational procedures. Piercarlo Ciacchi, Director of Flight Operations and Chief Pilot of Starfighters Space, noted that the flight will capture essential data for the FAA and the United States Space Force (USSF).

“December’s captive-carry mission would essentially be step one of a multi-flight campaign, building processes for our launch team while capturing data for the FAA and the Space Force as we move toward propulsive air launch.”

Following the December 2026 captive-carry mission, the company plans to conduct a drop test over the Atlantic Ocean. This will be followed by a demonstration of the integrated propulsion system.

Hardware integration and propulsion development

The December 2026 flight may also serve a dual purpose by incorporating hardware from the company’s Wind Tunnel in the Sky program. On October 8, 2026, Starfighters Space announced the completion of its first flight hardware for this initiative, manufactured by Italian engineering firm Robby Moto Engineering S.R.L. (RME). The assembled flight articles measure 3.65 meters in length and 178 millimeters in diameter.

During the STARLAUNCH 1 flight, the company may fly this newly completed Wind Tunnel in the Sky hardware under the opposite wing of the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter on a customer-funded rideshare mission. In this configuration, the hardware will simultaneously serve as an aerodynamic counterweight for the STARLAUNCH 1 vehicle.

Propulsion development is also advancing in parallel. On September 9, 2026, Starfighters Space signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Florida-based Vaya Defense & Space to evaluate the Vortex-Hybrid rocket engine for the STARLAUNCH system. Data collected during the December 2026 flight will support Vaya Defense & Space in developing a hybrid rocket motor aligned with the specific requirements of STARLAUNCH 1.

The STARLAUNCH development pathway

Starfighters Space operates the world’s only commercial fleet of flight-ready Mach 2+ supersonic aircraft. Based at the Kennedy Space Center, the company utilizes its fleet to provide pilot training, in-flight testing, and microgravity research, while actively developing air-launch capabilities for space payloads.

The STARLAUNCH program is the company’s primary air-launch initiative. STARLAUNCH 1 serves as the initial suborbital development vehicle, designed to pave the way for STARLAUNCH 2, a larger vehicle intended for orbital launches.

The program has met several technical milestones throughout the year. On January 21, 2026, the company announced the successful completion of subsonic and supersonic wind tunnel testing for STARLAUNCH 1. These tests demonstrated clean separation behavior at Mach 0.85 and Mach 1.3. Subsequently, on February 20, 2026, the program advanced to a Critical Design Review (CDR) with support from GE Aerospace to confirm design maturity.

Addressing the hypersonic testing bottleneck

The aerospace and defense industries are currently facing a significant bottleneck in hypersonic testing. Traditional ground-based wind tunnels are heavily oversubscribed and typically offer only seconds of test time per run. Airborne platforms like the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter fleet offer sustained testing at speeds exceeding Mach 2 in real atmospheric conditions.

This capability provides a complementary method to compress development timelines for defense primes and commercial space companies, allowing them to gather sustained aerodynamic data outside of traditional laboratory environments.

AirPro News analysis

We view the activation of the STARLAUNCH flight test campaign as a notable indicator of the shifting economics in high-speed aerospace testing. By utilizing legacy supersonic platforms to bypass the constraints of ground-based infrastructure, commercial operators are positioning themselves to capture overflow demand from defense primes and space launch developers. If the December 2026 captive-carry flight successfully validates the aerodynamic integration, it will likely accelerate the timeline for propulsive air-launch systems, offering a viable alternative to traditional vertical launch architectures for smaller payloads.

The dual-use nature of the December 2026 flight, which tests the launch vehicle while simultaneously flying a commercial payload as a counterweight, demonstrates a highly efficient approach to flight test monetization. This strategy allows the operator to offset development costs while proving out multiple distinct business lines on a single sortie.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has granted Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) authorization to deploy and operate a new constellation of 15,000 non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) satellites designed for direct-to-device (D2D) mobile connectivity.

The regulatory approval, issued via Order DA 26-1078 on October 6, 2026, includes a waiver allowing the aerospace manufacturer to utilize its own spectrum rather than leasing capacity from terrestrial carriers. This decision establishes the regulatory foundation for SpaceX to launch an independent, space-based mobile network capable of competing directly with traditional telecommunications operators.

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Regulatory approval and network architecture

The FCC authorization permits SpaceX to operate the 15,000 satellites across nine low-altitude orbital shells, ranging from 326 kilometers to 335 kilometers above Earth. The Gen2 D2D constellation is distinct from the company’s existing broadband network, operating at much lower altitudes to improve the radio link to standard, unmodified smartphones.

Under the terms of the order, SpaceX faces strict deployment deadlines. The company must launch and operate 50 percent of the authorized constellation by October 7, 2032. Full deployment of all 15,000 satellites is required by October 7, 2035.

“This action allows SpaceX to improve the quality of D2D services, increase capacity, and advance broadband connectivity for consumers in the United States and worldwide.”

The FCC noted in the order that the planned deployments will reshape spectrum-based connectivity by improving competition and expanding consumer choice. SpaceX is targeting peak speeds of 150 Mbps per user for the new mobile network.

Spectrum acquisitions and infrastructure strategy

To support the independent network, SpaceX has aggressively acquired spectrum assets. On October 8, 2026, digital infrastructure investment firm Grain Management announced a definitive agreement to sell its entire nationwide 800 MHz spectrum portfolio to SpaceX. The transaction includes 14 MHz of paired 800 MHz spectrum.

Low-band spectrum is highly valued in telecommunications for its ability to travel long distances and penetrate physical barriers like buildings. This acquisition addresses a critical technical gap for the planned Starlink Mobile service, enabling robust indoor coverage without relying on terrestrial roaming partners.

“Our spectrum expertise allows us to connect the strategic value of these assets with the technologies and operators that can realize their potential. This agreement with SpaceX brings that capability to bear at extraordinary scale, with the potential to change where and how Americans connect.”

The Grain Management agreement follows a prior transaction approved by the FAA on May 12, 2026, in which SpaceX acquired 65 megahertz of spectrum from EchoStar Corporation. The EchoStar deal included 2 GHz mobile satellite service bands, providing the initial mid-band capacity for the D2D network.

Shifting from partner to direct competitor

SpaceX initially entered the direct-to-cell market through a partnership model. The company collaborated with T-Mobile US, Inc. to utilize a fleet of approximately 650 first-generation D2D satellites, aiming to eliminate mobile dead zones using T-Mobile’s PCS spectrum.

The broader D2D satellite market has historically relied on these supplementary partnerships. Competitors such as AST SpaceMobile and Lynk Global have developed space-based cellular networks designed to integrate with existing carriers, such as AST SpaceMobile’s partnership with AT&T Inc.

The October 2026 FCC waiver and subsequent spectrum acquisitions signal a strategic departure for SpaceX. By securing its own low-band and mid-band spectrum, the company is positioning Starlink Mobile as a standalone carrier. Following the regulatory approval and the Grain Management announcement, shares of major US telecom operators including AT&T, Verizon Communications Inc., and T-Mobile experienced significant declines as markets priced in the competitive threat.

SpaceX targets initial launches of the Gen2 D2D satellites in 2027. The company plans to launch its next-generation mobile service in the first half of 2028, pending FCC approval of the Grain Management spectrum transfer.

Technical challenges in very low Earth orbit

Operating a constellation at altitudes between 326 and 335 kilometers presents specific aerospace engineering challenges. Satellites in very low Earth orbit (VLEO) experience significant atmospheric drag, requiring frequent replacement. Industry experts note that maintaining a 15,000-satellite constellation at these altitudes will necessitate a high and sustained launch cadence to replace deorbited units.

Network capacity also remains a technical hurdle. While SpaceX targets peak speeds of 150 Mbps, telecommunications analysts caution that this capacity must be shared across all users within a single satellite’s beam. Consequently, while the space-based network will provide ubiquitous geographic coverage, it may struggle to match the data capacity of dense terrestrial cellular networks in urban environments.

AirPro News analysis

SpaceX is leveraging its near-monopoly in heavy-lift launch to build a telecommunications architecture that would be economically unviable for any other operator. The atmospheric drag in VLEO requires a replacement rate that only a vertically integrated launch provider can sustain. By accepting the high capital expenditure of constant launches, SpaceX gains the physics advantage of proximity, closing the link budget to standard smartphones without requiring massive, complex deployable antennas on the spacecraft.

The acquisition of the 800 MHz portfolio is the linchpin of this strategy. Without low-band spectrum, a satellite-only network is strictly an outdoor, rural solution. With it, Starlink Mobile can theoretically provide the indoor penetration necessary to serve as a primary mobile carrier. If SpaceX successfully executes the 2028 commercial rollout, traditional terrestrial carriers will face a competitor burdened by zero cell tower leases, zero fiber backhaul costs, and total geographic reach.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and SpaceX are targeting October 13, 2026, for the launch of the 35th Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-35) mission, delivering critical health research and the final set of solar array upgrades to the International Space Station (ISS).

In a press release detailing the mission, NASA confirmed the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Cargo Dragon spacecraft will lift off from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The mission carries more than 6,300 pounds of cargo, including four primary health investigations designed to protect astronauts during long-duration lunar and Martian missions, alongside hardware that will complete a multi-year modernization of the orbital outpost’s power generation system.

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Biological and physical sciences payload

The CRS-35 payload features four distinct investigations managed by NASA’s Biological and Physical Sciences division. These experiments focus on both human and plant health, with applications for future deep-space exploration and terrestrial medicine.

One key experiment involves 3D, lab-grown models of the human brain. These models will spend five weeks in microgravity to help researchers study how short-duration spaceflight affects brain tissue at the cellular level. A separate botanical investigation will compare molecular and structural changes between Earth-grown and space-grown plants infected with a disease-causing fungus, providing data to guide future space agriculture efforts.

The mission also carries a compact microplate reader developed under the Commercially Enabled Rapid Space Science initiative. This hardware allows astronauts to detect and measure biomarkers, such as antibodies and proteins, directly aboard the station. On-orbit analysis eliminates the traditional requirement to wait for sample return to Earth. The mission includes the fourth and final planned phase of a precision health investigation in which astronauts will sample station surfaces to study how drug-resistant bacteria survive and evolve in a microgravity environment.

Completing the orbital power upgrade

Alongside the scientific payload, the Cargo Dragon will deliver the final set of ISS Roll-Out Solar Arrays (iROSA). These advanced, compact solar panels are designed to unroll in space, augmenting the station’s aging rigid solar arrays.

The iROSA installation program began in June 2021 with the launch of the first pair aboard the SpaceX CRS-22 mission. Over a series of spacewalks conducted between 2021 and 2023, astronauts installed six arrays. The delivery of this final set on CRS-35 will complete the station’s power modernization program, which NASA states provides a 20% to 30% increase in overall power generation capability.

Station traffic and operational context

The arrival of CRS-35 occurs during a period of high traffic for the orbital laboratory. The SpaceX Cargo Dragon is scheduled for an autonomous docking at the space-facing port of the ISS Harmony module at 15:00 UTC (11:00 a.m. EDT) on Thursday, October 15, 2026.

To accommodate this arrival, NASA expedited the departure of the SpaceX Crew-12 mission. The Crew-12 spacecraft safely splashed down off the West Coast of the United States on October 8, 2026, concluding a 237-day mission. Clearing the Harmony module’s docking port was operationally necessary to allow the Cargo Dragon to dock and facilitate the extraction of the solar arrays before seasonal solar angles, known as beta angle cutouts, prevent astronauts from conducting the required installation spacewalks.

The Crew-13 astronauts, who arrived at the station on October 1, 2026, will be responsible for unpacking the Dragon spacecraft following its successful docking.

Commercial resupply framework

SpaceX operates the resupply flights under its second Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-2) contract with NASA. The Cargo Dragon vehicle remains a critical asset for the agency’s research objectives because it is currently the only operational resupply spacecraft capable of returning significant amounts of scientific cargo intact to Earth.

Following its stay at the orbital laboratory, the CRS-35 spacecraft is expected to undock and return to Earth in mid-November 2026, bringing back the completed biological samples and other research materials for terrestrial analysis.

AirPro News analysis

The timing of the CRS-35 mission highlights the complex logistical choreography required to maintain the International Space Station in its mature operational phase. Expediting the Crew-12 departure to secure the Harmony port before beta angle constraints take effect demonstrates how tightly interdependent crew rotations, cargo deliveries, and spacewalk schedules have become. The completion of the iROSA program also secures the station’s electrical baseline for its remaining operational life, ensuring sufficient power margins for the increasingly power-dense commercial and government research payloads flying on vehicles like the Cargo Dragon.