Author: starpathwp-production
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Europe Shelves ICARUS Upper Stage Upgrade to Prioritize Ariane 6 Output
The ICARUS program was intended to improve Ariane 6 performance and competitiveness. Its suspension redirects effort toward getting more Ariane 6 rockets built and flown. The upgrade has been paused rather than cancelled, but no restart timeline was provided. The decision lands as Europe’s launch sector faces pressure from SpaceX and a shortage of domestic…
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NASA Selects Gravitics for SBIR Award to Develop Orbital Sample Return System
Gravitics, Inc., an orbital infrastructure company, has announced that it was selected by NASA for a 2026 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I award. The award supports development of the Multiple-Downmass Hangar, a system for affordable and frequent commercial sample return from low Earth orbit. The Multiple-Downmass Hangar is designed to hold multiple return…
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Lockheed Martin’s Next Generation Interceptor Clears Two Tests Ahead of 2026 Design Review
The Next Generation Interceptor is intended to replace the existing Ground-Based Midcourse Defense system, placing it at the center of US homeland missile defense. The earlier 18-month delay, attributed to motor problems, represented a significant setback for a program of this importance. Lockheed Martin is developing the interceptor, which is built to destroy ICBMs. The…
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U.S. Space Force Selects Voyager Technologies for Space-to-Space Communications Development Award
Voyager Technologies will develop space-to-space communication capabilities for the U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command in a major new contract win announced late Monday. Under the contract, Voyager will develop a flight-ready waveform design capable of operating for a variety of orbits, with specific requirements for weight, power and design life. This requirement is one…
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Rocket Lab Margins Under the Microscope Following 2Q Earnings
Rocket Lab became the latest space company to experience earnings scrutiny from investors after it released its second quarter (2Q) earnings late Monday. All eyes were focused on the long term fiscal health of the New Zealand launch provider, which has quickly risen to become SpaceX’s top rival in the commercial launch sector. Despite posting…
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DamoTech Joins Space ISAC
DamoTech is the latest company to join the Space Information Sharing and Analysis Center (Space ISAC). The company specializes in advanced cybersecurity in the space sector. This significant development is set to have an immediate impact on collaboration in identifying and responding to threats, sharing information, and mitigating risks in the context of space missions…
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Galactic Energy Begins Construction of Chizhou Production Base for 24 Reusable Liquid Rockets per Year
August 10, 2026 — Galactic Energy has officially begun construction of a major industrialization project in Chizhou, Anhui Province, designed to support the production of 24 reusable liquid launch vehicles annually. The second-phase project, located in the Wanjiang Jiangnan Emerging Industries Concentration Zone, represents another major step in Galactic Energy’s expansion in Chizhou and marks…
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From Remote Sensing Satellites to Intelligent Satellites: A New Direction for China’s Commercial Space Industry
As the commercial space industry enters its second half, the satellite applications market is increasingly driven by cost efficiency and is, in turn, pushing upstream remote sensing satellite manufacturers toward a new paradigm of integrated sensing and computing. China has now entered the era of intelligent satellites. Why has onboard intelligence become a necessity for…
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China’s Rocket Launch Failures: A Historical Review of Major Mishaps, Root Causes and What They Reveal About Chinese Launch Reliability
China’s space program is often associated with a high launch tempo and a long record of successful missions. Yet the history of Chinese launch vehicles also includes a series of failures, partial failures and flight anomalies that have played an important role in shaping the country’s rocket technology. The latest example came on August 10,…
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Aphelion Orbitals Advances Dedicated Launch Vehicle Solutions for Nanosatellites
Aphelion Orbitals is developing a family of launch vehicles designed to expand access to space for the nanosatellite market through cost-effective launch services. The company focuses on addressing one of the industry’s longstanding challenges, the limited availability of responsive launch opportunities for small satellites by developing launch systems optimized specifically for nanosatellite missions. The portfolio…