Satellogic — Montevideo, Uruguay
CONTRACT
- — Satellogic secured a defense-monitoring contract worth over $18 million to track military development and infrastructure using its Earth observation constellation. Source
SPACE.HAUS · WEEKLY INTEL BRIEFING
Space Industry Weekly Briefing — Tuesday, May 26, 2026
Weekly intelligence briefing for the commercial space industry, week ending Tuesday, May 26, 2026. 14 stories across 5 categories including Contracts, Awards & Government Activity, Mergers, Acquisitions & Partnerships, Launch Activity & Mission Milestones, Industry Context, Additional Updates. AI-curated by space.haus from 50+ industry sources.
- Sources scanned
- 50
- Companies with news
- 14
- Funding activity
- $0
- Top story
- SpaceX launches Starship V3 for first time
Contracts, Awards & Government Activity
Rocket Lab — Long Beach, CA
CONTRACT
- — The U.S. Space Force awarded Rocket Lab a $90 million contract to build two satellites that will host payloads designed to track objects in geosynchronous orbit. Source
Mergers, Acquisitions & Partnerships
Orbit Fab — Lafayette, CO
PARTNERSHIP
- — Orbit Fab and Thales Alenia Space (UK) announced a partnership to study refueling solutions for electric-propulsion satellites, aiming to extend satellite lifespans through in-orbit servicing. Source
Exolaunch — Berlin, Germany
PARTNERSHIP CONTRACT
- — Exolaunch and SEOPS purchased Falcon 9 launches from SpaceX for dedicated rideshare missions. SEOPS will begin its Waymaker LEO rideshare services in 2028. Source
Launch Activity & Mission Milestones
SpaceX — Hawthorne, CA
LAUNCH OPS UPDATE
- — SpaceX launched Starship V3 for the first time in its 12th flight test, with mixed results that advanced the program in some areas while encountering setbacks in others. Source
- — SpaceX launched its 60th Falcon 9 mission of 2026, deploying 24 Starlink satellites (mission Starlink 17-37) from Vandenberg Space Force Base. The company's IPO prospectus suggests ambitions to reach 10,000 launches annually. Source
- — Code in recent Starlink firmware suggests SpaceX may soon release a battery-powered version of its Starlink Mini dish, offering untethered portability for vanlifers, emergency responders, and users requiring fast internet from remote locations. Source
China National Space Administration — Beijing, China
LAUNCH
- — China launched the Shenzhou-23 mission carrying three astronauts to the Tiangong space station for a record year-long stay, marking a significant milestone in China's human spaceflight program. Source
Industry Context
European Smallsat Industry — Europe
OPS UPDATE
- — Regulations and access to capital continue to hinder Europe's smallsat industry, creating ongoing challenges for European space startups and manufacturers competing in the global market. Source
Canadian Space Agency — Longueuil, Canada
OPS UPDATE
- — The Canadian Space Agency is shifting to agile procurement practices and has reset its WildFireSat mission timeline, aiming to accelerate development cycles and improve responsiveness. Source
NASA — Washington, DC
OPS UPDATE
- — NASA released its 2026 Civil Space Shortfall Ranking list, consolidating input from over 450 responses from industry, government, and universities to identify technology development priorities for upcoming exploration and science missions. Source
China Space Debris — China
OPS UPDATE
- — China continues to leave rocket bodies in high low Earth orbit at an increasing rate, adding to space debris concerns despite international calls for responsible space operations. Source
Additional Updates
Mega Engine — China
OPS UPDATE
- — Chinese startup Mega Engine advanced its reusable staged-combustion rocket engine through successful testing, marking progress in China's commercial reusable launch vehicle development. Source
Viasat — Carlsbad, CA
OPS UPDATE
- — Viasat demonstrated Uzbekistan's first satellite-enabled smartphone messaging, showcasing direct-to-device connectivity capabilities in collaboration with local partners. Source
DARPA — Arlington, VA
LAUNCH
- — DARPA is preparing to launch its robotic deep-space repair satellite in summer 2026 to extend the operational life of geosynchronous satellites through in-orbit servicing. Source
ORBITInsure — N/A
OPS UPDATE
- — ORBITInsure launched Warren AI™, an AI-native underwriting engine designed specifically for the space economy to streamline insurance processes and risk assessment. Source