Author: starpathwp-production
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SpaceX Targets May 21 for First Flight of Starship V3, Its Heaviest Rocket Yet
SpaceX has set May 21, 2026, for the maiden flight of Starship V3 from its Starbase facility in Texas. The 124-meter-tall vehicle represents the first operational variant of the megarocket designed to support NASA’s Artemis lunar program and eventual crewed missions to Mars. The announcement came with a one-day slip from the original May 20…
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Benchmark Space Systems Expands In-Space Mobility Solutions with Modular Orbital Logistics
Benchmark Space Systems, a U.S-based space propulsion company focused on in-space mobility and logistics technologies, is developing a portfolio of propulsion and transportation solutions designed to support orbital maneuvering, spacecraft transfer, controlled reentry and responsive space logistics operations. The company’s mobility architecture combines chemical, electric and hybrid propulsion technologies intended for missions spanning Low Earth…
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Northrop Grumman’s First MRV Readies for Summer Launch to Expand the Space Servicing Toolkit
STERLING, Va. — Northrop Grumman’s SpaceLogistics is scheduled to launch its next-generation space vehicle for on-orbit refueling and satellite life extension this summer, program leaders told reporters Tuesday. The company said it secured a dedicated SpaceX launch for its Mission Robotic Vehicle (MRV), which is in testing at the company’s satellite manufacturing facility in Virginia.…
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TerraByte raises the curtain on its campaign to use AI to unleash the power of geospatial data
A screenshot of TerraByte’s software platform pinpoints cargo ships, warehouses, solar farms, mining sites and areas of deforestation. One complex query generated more than 2,000 results that can be further filtered. Click on the image for a larger version. (Credit: TerraByte AI) A stealthy Seattle startup called TerraByte AI is unveiling a software platform that…
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Launch Preview: Falcon 9, Electron, and Vega C launch missions alongside Starship Flight 12
Six launches are scheduled worldwide during the next week, with the 12th flight of SpaceX’s Starship serving as the headline. Outside of Starship, SpaceX is scheduled to launch three Starlink missions on Falcon 9 from the company’s launch facilities in California and Florida. Internationally, Avio launched the joint European and Chinese SMILE mission atop a…
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One Mars spacecraft, two senators, and a cloud of questions
NASA released a much-anticipated contract solicitation for a Mars-orbiting spacecraft late last week, kicking off what is sure to be a hotly contested and potentially controversial procurement. At issue is $700 million, already appropriated by Congress, to build a spacecraft, launch it to Mars, and once there to serve as a vehicle to relay communications…
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Eutelsat Network Solutions Adds Get SAT Aero Blade Terminal to Lineup
Eutelsat’s U.S. government service provider Eutelsat Network Solutions has added the Get SAT Aero Blade terminal to its lineup, to give more multi-orbit options to government and defense customers. Aero Blade is a low profile military aviation satcom terminal that can support both Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) and Geostationary (GEO) connectivity. It can be used for…
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Commercial Space Station Builder Vast Expands Into Satellite Buses
Vast, a company known for developing the Haven commercial space stations, is now diversifying its business with a move into high-power satellite buses. Vast announced the expansion on Tuesday, along with an agreement with a confidential customer for four satellites. The deal could grow up to 200 additional satellites. The company is targeting a first…
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Matt Anderson Confirmed as NASA Deputy Administrator
What Does Matt Anderson’s Confirmation Mean for NASA’s Commercial Space Strategy? The U.S. Senate confirmed Matt Anderson as NASA’s deputy administrator on May 18, 2026, installing the agency’s second-in-command at a critical juncture for American space policy. Anderson steps into the role as NASA manages a $25 billion annual budget while accelerating the Artemis Program,…
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ESA-China SMILE Mission Launches to Map Earth’s Magnetosphere
How Will SMILE Transform Space Weather Monitoring? The Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE) mission launched successfully from Kourou, French Guiana today, marking the culmination of over a decade of ESA-China collaboration. The 2,300-kilogram spacecraft will operate from a highly elliptical orbit (HEO) with a 19.6-hour period, reaching distances of 121,000 kilometers to capture…