https://spacewatch.global/tag/spacex/ AN INDEPENDENT PERSPECTIVE ON SPACE Fri, 16 Oct 2026 08:44:56 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.3 https://spacewatch.global/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/SpaceWatchGlobal-Sign-90x90.png https://spacewatch.global/tag/spacex/ 32 32 https://spacewatch.global/2026/10/nasa-to-host-media-briefing-outlining-artemis-mission-plans-ahead-of-2028s-lunar-landing-target/ Fri, 16 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=79042 NASA will outline the next steps in its Artemis lunar exploration campaign during a media briefing on October 23, as the agency works toward returning astronauts to the Moon by 2028. Scheduled for 2 p.m. EDT at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the briefing will cover the status of upcoming missions, including Artemis III, which is planned to send four astronauts into low Earth orbit in 2027 to test systems needed for future lunar landings.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/10/voyager-technologies-griffin-1-lunar-lander-ends-acceptance-testing-ahead-of-2026-launch/ Thu, 15 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=78997 Voyager Technologies’ Griffin-1 lunar lander has completed acceptance testing and returned to Pittsburgh for final assembly, ahead of a targeted late-2026 launch.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/10/starlinks-india-launch-faces-regulatory-delays-as-musk-challenges-local-telecom-giants/ Mon, 12 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=78859 SpaceX’s Starlink faces continued delay entering India after Musk accused business interests of obstruction; Delhi says Starlink and two other licensed operators remain subject to security reviews.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/10/eqt-completes-exolaunch-acquisition-as-the-latters-space-services-portfolio-expands/ Fri, 09 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=78783 EQT has completed its acquisition of German space services company Exolaunch, its first move into the space sector, following the deal announced in June.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/10/fccs-15000-satellite-spacex-approval-moves-starlink-mobile-closer-to-a-standalone-wireless-service/ Thu, 08 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=78751 The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has authorized SpaceX to deploy and operate a new constellation of up to 15,000 satellites as part of its plans to expand Starlink’s direct-to-device (D2D) connectivity services. The approval, issued more than a year after SpaceX filed its application, covers satellites operating in very low Earth orbit and authorizes SpaceX to provide mobile satellite services directly to compatible devices in areas without terrestrial coverage.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/10/spacex-launches-130-payloads-on-transporter-18-rideshare-mission/ Fri, 02 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=78438 SpaceX has successfully launched its 18th Transporter rideshare mission, sending 130 payloads into orbit aboard a Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The mission demonstrates the scale of SpaceX’s recurring rideshare program, which provides commercial and institutional customers with regular access to orbit without requiring dedicated launches for individual spacecraft.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/09/starship-reaches-orbit-for-the-first-time-deploys-26-starlink-v3-satellites/ Tue, 29 Sep 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=78297 Starship has reached Earth orbit for the first time on its 14th flight test, deploying 26 Starlink V3 satellites, though an early Raptor shutdown cut the orbital phase short before a controlled Pacific splashdown.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/09/star-catcher-google-and-blackwing-space-bring-new-orbital-technologies-to-transporter-18/ Tue, 29 Sep 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=78303 SpaceX’s Transporter-18 rideshare mission will carry 130 payloads to orbit, including Star Catcher’s Protostar orbital power demonstrator, Google’s Project Suncatcher AI-computing test and Blackwing Space’s Baby Bird nanosatellite. The diverse manifest highlights how a single rideshare mission is becoming a platform for testing new approaches to power, computing, Earth observation and commercial space infrastructure.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/09/indian-startup-takeme2space-to-launch-orbital-computing-satellite-on-spacex-transporter-18-mission/ Mon, 28 Sep 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=78271 Indian space startup TakeMe2Space is preparing to launch what it describes as India’s first orbital computing satellite aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9, as it seeks to process Earth observation data in orbit rather than send raw imagery back to Earth for processing.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/09/spacex-prepares-starship-for-its-first-orbital-flight-and-in-orbit-starlink-deployment/ Mon, 28 Sep 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=78278 SpaceX is preparing to launch Starship on its 14th flight test today, in what will be the rocket’s first attempt to reach Earth orbit after 13 deliberately suborbital missions. The mission will also mark Starship’s first deployment of satellites into orbit, with 26 next-generation Starlink V3 spacecraft scheduled for release during the orbital phase.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/09/noaa-selects-14-companies-for-new-commercial-environmental-data-supply-framework/ Mon, 14 Sep 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=77648 NOAA has selected 14 commercial providers for a new Space-Based Environmental Monitoring IDIQ, widening the role of commercial observations in US weather and space-weather forecasting.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/09/vast-greece-mission-advances-european-human-spaceflight-as-macron-calls-for-greater-autonomy/ Fri, 11 Sep 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=77560 ESA has signed with Vast for a Greek astronaut mission to the ISS under NASA's private astronaut framework, as Macron calls for Europe to establish its own crewed capability within a decade.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/09/amazon-leo-orders-six-more-ariane-64-launches-from-arianespace/ Thu, 10 Sep 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=77499 Amazon Leo and Arianespace have expanded their existing launch partnership at the International Space Summit in Paris, with Amazon Leo ordering six additional Ariane 64 missions and bringing the total number of Ariane 6 launches contracted with Arianespace to 24. Arianespace is one of several launch providers supporting Amazon Leo's constellation build-out, allowing the company to pursue a high launch cadence as it works to deploy its first-generation constellation of more than 3,000 satellites.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/09/spacewatchgl-opinion-governing-a-crowded-orbit-requires-more-than-regulatory-approval/ Tue, 08 Sep 2026 08:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=77348
Written by Masse Melvin
As Low Earth Orbit becomes increasingly crowded, regulatory approval alone is no longer enough. Masse Melvin argues that making orbital risks and trade-offs visible must become part of space governance.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/09/spacewatchgl-opinion-imagine-a-starbase-europa-would-that-even-make-sense/ Fri, 04 Sep 2026 08:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=77208
Written by Christophe Bosquillon
Could Europe ever build its own ‘Starbase’? Christophe Bosquillon examines the geography, infrastructure and regulatory constraints standing between Europe and reusable super-heavy launch.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/08/nasa-launches-nancy-grace-roman-space-telescope-to-map-the-universe-at-unprecedented-scale/ Mon, 31 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=77098 NASA launched the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope on 30 August on a Falcon Heavy from Kennedy, beginning a three-month journey to L2, from where its wide-field infrared surveys will map the Universe at unprecedented scale.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/08/nasas-roman-space-telescope-arrives-at-complex-39a-ahead-of-30-august-launch/ Thu, 27 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=77031 NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope has arrived at Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy ahead of its targeted 30 August launch, set to deliver an unprecedented panoramic view of the Universe.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/08/spacex-unveils-100-billion-starbase-louisiana-complex-to-scale-up-starship-launches/ Wed, 26 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=76988 SpaceX has announced plans to construct a new Starship processing and launch complex in Louisiana designed to support thousands of launches annually. Located in Vermilion Parish, the proposed Starbase Louisiana is expected to begin construction by the end of 2027, with SpaceX targeting the first launch from the site as soon as 2029.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/08/smallsat-2026-alex-drossler-on-seops-new-spacex-rideshare-missions-and-easing-the-wait-for-orbit/ Mon, 24 Aug 2026 18:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=76981 From the 40th SmallSat Conference in Salt Lake City, Alex Drossler, VP of Dedicated Launch Operations at SEOPS, joins Daniela Jovic to unveil the company's new Waymaker and Darkstar SpaceX rideshare missions for 2028 - and to share why founders should always define their market before falling for the tech.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/08/airtel-africa-has-launched-africas-first-commercial-direct-to-device-service-in-partnership-with-starlink/ Tue, 18 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=76693 Airtel Africa, in collaboration with Starlink, has launched commercial operations of a satellite-to-mobile service in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The first commercial rollout of its kind in Africa, the announcement follows the successful testing of data and messaging services with Starlink Mobile, Starlink's Direct-to-Cell network technology, in Kenya earlier in March.]]>