Tag: United States
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L3Harris Sees 2026 Growth as Space Business Moves Into New Defense Segment
L3Harris Technologies said it expects a return to stronger growth in 2026 following a largely flat performance in its Space and Airborne Systems segment last year, citing an internal reorganization and improving program execution after disruptions caused by a U.S. government shutdown. In 2025, revenue in the Space and Airborne Systems (SAS) segment rose 1%…
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NOAA Plans Multibillion-Dollar Expansion of Commercial Weather Data Purchases
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration plans to sharply increase its purchases of commercial weather data, potentially committing billions of dollars over the next decade, a senior U.S. Commerce Department official said on Tuesday. “We’re going to be looking at a high ceiling in billions of dollars over 10 years, which is going to show…
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Musk Weighs Options to Consolidate SpaceX With Tesla or xAI, Sources Say
Elon Musk has held internal discussions about potentially consolidating parts of his business empire, including exploring whether SpaceX could merge with Tesla or absorb his artificial intelligence startup xAI, according to company filings and sources cited by Reuters and Bloomberg. SpaceX has evaluated the feasibility of a combination with Tesla, an idea that some investors…
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GAO Warns SDA Missile-Tracking Satellite Program Faces Capability and Cost Risks
The Space Development Agency’s effort to deploy a constellation of low Earth orbit satellites for missile warning and tracking is at risk of falling short of its goals and operational requirements, according to a new report by the Government Accountability Office released on Thursday. The report, covering the period from October 2023 to January 2026,…
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China Eyes Space-Based AI Data Centres, Setting Up Rivalry With SpaceX
China plans to deploy space-based artificial intelligence data centres within the next five years, state media reported, as Beijing steps up efforts to combine space technology and advanced computing in a move that could directly challenge initiatives outlined by SpaceX. China’s main space contractor, China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), said it will work…
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NASA Activates Athena Supercomputer to Expand High-End Computing Capacity
NASA has placed its Athena supercomputer into service at the Modular Supercomputing Facility at the Ames Research Center, significantly increasing the agency’s high-end computing capacity for science and exploration missions. Athena delivers 20.13 petaflops of peak performance and replaces the Pleiades system, which offered 7.09 petaflops and was retired earlier this month. The new system…
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Space-Focused SPAC SAAC Prices $200 Million IPO, Targets Technology and Defense Deals
Space Asset Acquisition Corp. has priced its initial public offering at $200 million, positioning the newly formed blank-check company to pursue acquisitions in the global space economy, with a particular focus on technology and defense-related businesses. The special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC, sold 20 million units at $10 each and is set to begin…
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EU Still Reliant on U.S. for Space Security as IRIS² Years Away, Commissioner Says
The European Union remains dependent on the United States for critical defence and space services and cannot yet replace U.S. capabilities, despite ambitions to build its own satellite infrastructure, EU Defence and Space Commissioner Andrius Kubilius told Euronews. Kubilius said the EU’s Governmental Satellite Communications programme, known as GOVSATCOM, is intended as an interim solution…
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SpaceX Launches Jam-Resistant GPS III Satellite for U.S. Space Force
SpaceX on Tuesday night launched an advanced, jam-resistant GPS satellite for the U.S. Space Force, marking the company’s fastest turnaround to date for a national security mission. A Falcon 9 rocket carrying the GPS III-SV09 spacecraft lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 11:53 p.m. EST (0453 GMT on Jan. 28), following a…
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FAA Warns Airlines to Plan for Rising Risks From Space Launch Debris
Commercial airlines should plan for an increased risk from space launch and reentry activity, including rare but potentially serious debris events, the Federal Aviation Administration said in guidance issued earlier this month, as the pace of spaceflight accelerates. In a Safety Alert for Operators, SAFO 26001, the FAA advised carriers and flight crews to prepare…