Space Industry: Latest News and Analysis
Space is now an industry with launch cadences, order books and supply chains, and AirPro News covers it the way we cover aviation: from the announcement, with the numbers.
That means SpaceX, ULA, Rocket Lab, Arianespace, Blue Origin and the launch start-ups; NASA, ESA, JAXA, ISRO and the other agencies; satellite operators and manufacturers; and the growing in-space services, station and lunar economies. This page gathers every AirPro News story on space, newest first.
What we watch
- Launch. Starship’s test campaign and its path to operational missions; Falcon 9 cadence; Vulcan, Ariane 6, New Glenn and Neutron entering service; and the small-launch companies fighting for the remaining market.
- Agencies and exploration. NASA’s Artemis lunar programme and commercial crew and cargo contracts, ESA’s launcher and science missions, and the national programmes in Japan, India, China and the Gulf.
- Satellites. Constellation build-outs and their launch contracts, Earth-observation and communications operators, and the manufacturers and component suppliers behind them.
- Defence space. Space Force and allied military procurement, missile-warning and communications satellites, and the industrial contracts that follow.
- The in-space economy. Commercial stations, life-extension and servicing vehicles, lunar landers, in-space manufacturing, and the funding rounds that decide which of them get built.
Latest space coverage
-
SABCA Secures 85 Million Euro Contract for Ariane 6 Thrust Vector Systems
Belgian SABCA signs €85M contract with ArianeGroup to supply critical thrust vector systems for Ariane 6, strengthening Europe’s space independence.
-
SpaceX Starship Flight 11 Key Test for NASA Artemis 2027 Moon Mission
SpaceX’s Starship Flight 11 on Oct 13 will test vital systems for NASA’s Artemis III lunar landing mission planned for 2027.
-
Firefly Aerospace Acquires SciTec to Enhance US Space Defense Capabilities
Firefly Aerospace’s $855M acquisition of SciTec integrates launch and defense analytics, supporting US missile defense and space situational awareness.
-
South Korea to Launch KPS Satellite with SpaceX Boosting Navigation Independence
South Korea plans to launch its first KPS satellite in 2029 with SpaceX, enhancing national security and tech with a $3.5B investment…
-
Orion Launch Abort System Ensures Astronaut Safety for Deep Space Missions
NASA’s Orion Launch Abort System provides rapid escape capability, protecting astronauts during critical launch phases of Artemis deep space missions.
-
Advanced Thermal Protection Systems Safeguard NASA SLS Fuel Tanks
NASA’s SLS thermal protection uses advanced foam coatings and robotics to protect fuel tanks, supporting Artemis lunar and deep space missions.
-
ESA and Avio Sign 40 Million Euro Contract for Reusable Upper Stage
ESA and Avio launch a 24-month €40M program to develop a reusable upper stage, boosting Europe’s space launch competitiveness and sustainability.
-
Metal 3D Printing Advances Transform Aerospace Manufacturing
Metal 3D printing drives cost and lead time reductions in aerospace, enabling complex, lightweight components for rockets and satellites.
-
Firefly Aerospace Alpha Rocket Explosion Delays Small Satellite Launches
Firefly Aerospace’s Alpha rocket exploded during preflight testing in Texas, causing delays and highlighting challenges in the commercial small satellite launch market.
-
NASA Selects Air Force Major Ross Elder to Lead Mars Simulation Mission
NASA appoints Air Force Major Ross Elder to command year-long Mars simulation, enhancing crew resilience and mission readiness for Mars exploration.
-
SpaceX Launches Three Space Weather Satellites for Solar Storm Monitoring
SpaceX launched NASA and NOAA spacecraft to Lagrange Point 1, enhancing solar storm prediction and protection of critical infrastructure.
-
Lockheed Martin Advances Small Satellite Production with New SPD Center
Lockheed Martin’s SPD Center accelerates small satellite manufacturing using automation and digital tech to meet growing defense and commercial needs.
Related topics
Commercial Space · Launch Activities · Space agencies · Launch · Startups · Investments
Get the week’s key announcements every Monday: join the AirPro News newsletter. Sending news on this topic? Here is how.
