Lockheed Martin has selected Voyager Space to support the delivery of an advanced solid-propulsion subsystem for the U.S. Missile Defense Agency's (MDA) Next Generation Interceptor (NGI), the nation's new homeland missile defense capability. NGI, as part of the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system, will be a new, advanced interceptor to protect the US against limited long-range ballistic missile threats from rogue nations.

Airbus Defence and Space Limited and Astroscale Limited ("Astroscale UK") have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore collaborative opportunities in the field of in-orbit servicing and space debris removal. This strategic partnership aims to leverage the strengths and capabilities of both companies to address the growing challenges of space sustainability and satellite longevity, with a particular focus on advancing the UK’s efforts in the in-orbit servicing and manufacturing industry and building a circular economy in space.

Space Norway’s constellation of two large communication satellites have launched aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, at 04:02 AM Norwegian time, Monday morning, August 12. The Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission (ASBM) went swimmingly with everything going according to plan. Space Norway has also reported receiving the first, crucial signals from both satellites. 

HPS Germany with its SME consortium of cooperation partners has signed the multimillion Phase C/D contract with TAS-Italy to develop and manufacture "Internal Secondary Structures". These are lightweight panels, hinges and brackets, following Phase B2, which began in 2021 which will provide the central elements holding the interior of the habitable I-Hab together while it orbits the Earth’s satellite.

A Chinese rocket launch involving the Chinese rocket body, CZ-6A  from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, has reportedly resulted in a fragmentation that has subsequently created about 700 new debris objects in low earth orbit. The fragmentation followed the launch of CZ-6A on 6 August at ~06:42 UTC and the deployment of its 18 payloads. Several space outfits have independently reported the fragmentation, including LeoLabs, Slingshot Aerospace, and Okapi:Orbits. 

The UK Ministry of Defense has announced Plans to redevelop Cawdor Barracks in Pembrokeshire, Wales to host the the Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability (DARC) initiative. The DARC initiative aims to secure long-term jobs and help protect essential satellite communication and navigation networks.

The European Space Agency's (ESA) Gaia mission has spotted potential moons around more than 350 asteroids not known to have a companion. Previously, Gaia had explored asteroids with moons — so-called ‘binary asteroids’ — and confirmed that the telltale signs of these tiny moons show up in the telescope’s ultra-accurate astrometric data. But this new finding proves that Gaia can conduct ‘blind’ searches to discover completely new candidates, too.

NASA is seeking interest from U.S. communities for partnerships to conduct a Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) mission on the Moon The mission addresses some or all of NASA’s science objectives for VIPER, and potentially also includes other NASA exploration objectives, as well as any partner objectives.

NASA has selected Astrobotic for a Small Business Innovation Research award worth approximately $150k to develop an Extra Large Vertical Solar Array Technology (VSAT-XL) for the Moon. VSAT-XL will consequently be the largest planned lunar power infrastructure technology to date to meet the growing energy demands on the lunar surface. This new array will build on the 10kW lunar VSAT already in development at Astrobotic under an existing NASA contract.

Astroscale France SAS, a subsidiary of Astroscale Holdings Inc. ("Astroscale") celebrated its first anniversary this month, marking a year of significant achievements. These include team growth and the conclusion of a feasibility study contract with the French national space agency, Centre National D’Etudes Spatiales ("CNES"), for active debris removal (ADR), setting the stage for continued innovation and growth in the on-orbit servicing market.