SPACEHAUS · Commercial space intelligence
Commercial space news and intelligence for the week ending 2026-04-27.
Week ending
Apr 26 — The U.S. Space Force awarded contracts totaling up to **$3.2 billion** to **12 companies** to prototype space-based interceptor technologies for the Golden Dome missile defense initiative. The awards were made through Space Force's Space Systems Command.
Apr 27 — The European Space Agency paid **€51.65 million** to launch the Sentinel-1C Earth observation satellite aboard a Vega-C rocket on December 5, 2024, marking the rocket's return to flight after a nearly two-year grounding following a December 2022 failure.
Apr 27 — Meta secured a contract with Overview Energy for space-based solar power capacity, marking Overview Energy's first commercial contract. The agreement represents a small step toward the future deployment of solar power beamed from space to Earth at night.
Apr 27 — GomSpace signed a satellite development agreement with Ukrainian company Stetman for the UASAT satellite program at the EU-Ukraine Business Summit in Brussels. The partnership was recognized by EU officials as a turning point in Ukraine's space development relationship.
Apr 27 — SpaceX's Falcon Heavy launch of the ViaSat-3 F3 satellite was scrubbed at the last minute due to bad weather, delaying the rocket's first flight in **18 months**. The mission will mark the **12th Falcon Heavy launch** to date and the first simultaneous use of Landing Zone 2 and Landing Zone 40. Rescheduled for April 28.
Apr 27 — A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled to launch **29 Amazon internet satellites** (Project Kuiper) to orbit. The mission is part of Amazon's effort to build its broadband constellation.
Apr 27 — China's Long March-6 rocket successfully launched Pakistan's EO-3 Earth observation satellite from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre, expanding Pakistan's remote sensing capabilities.
Apr 27 — Solstar confirmed successful on-orbit operation of its Deke Space Communicator following launch on SpaceX's Transporter-16 rideshare mission. The technology enables space-based communications services.
Apr 27 — NASA successfully completed the Artemis 2 crewed lunar flyby mission with the crew returning to Earth in triumph. The agency now faces the challenge of preparing for Artemis 3, the first crewed lunar landing mission.
Apr 27 — NASA announced Canadian astronaut Joshua Kutryk has been assigned to the Crew-13 mission to the International Space Station, representing continued international collaboration on ISS operations.
Apr 27 — The FAA will begin collecting user fees for commercial launches and reentries, marking a significant shift in the regulatory cost structure for the commercial space industry. The new fee structure aims to offset the agency's costs for licensing and oversight activities.
Apr 26 — China officially issued its first commercial space standard system to help develop and regulate its commercial space industry, establishing a framework for the rapidly growing sector.
Apr 23 — NASA welcomed the Kingdom of Jordan as the **63rd signatory** to the Artemis Accords, expanding international commitment to the principles of peaceful and transparent space exploration.
Apr 27 — Astrobotic successfully completed a record-breaking series of hot-fire tests of its rotating detonation rocket engine (RDRE) prototype, marking a key milestone for this experimental next-generation propulsion technology that promises improved efficiency.
Apr 27 — NASA's Dragonfly rotorcraft lander mission to Saturn's moon Titan is progressing from concept to hardware, with major components arriving and early environmental testing underway. The mission will explore Titan's chemistry, geology, and atmosphere.
Apr 27 — NASA plans the first-ever fire experiment on the Moon with the FM2 mission to study flame behavior in lunar gravity and improve safety protocols for Artemis crews during extended lunar surface operations.