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Space & Aerospace

Space & Aerospace

Launch, satellites, astronomy and aviation.

aerospaceJul 16, 20265 min

Clearing the Orbital Bottleneck: Why Space.com: NASA, Space Exploration and Astronomy News Will Depend on Laser Links

Ravee Optics raises a $6 million seed round to address LEO bandwidth constraints, a key challenge for space-based AI compute networks and aerospace technology.

aerospaceJul 16, 20264 min

Starship Flight 13 Cleared: SpaceX Ready for Next-Generation Payload Tests and Flight 12 Fixes

Following FAA clearance of SpaceX's Flight 12 investigation, Starship Flight 13 is targeting launch on Thursday, July 16, 2026. The mission will fly the second Version 3 configuration, carrying 20 functional Starlink V3 satellites, and attempt key engine relights and splashdowns.

aerospace program audits delaysJul 15, 20264 min

The Next Gap Is Already in the Sky: What Happens When Falcon 9 Rears Down

With SpaceX shifting focus to Starship and Boeing’s Starliner stuck in certification limbo, a new U.S. human spaceflight gap looms as the ISS nears retirement in 2030—leaving no reliable domestic ride to orbit.

aerospace program audits delaysJul 14, 20264 min

Smallsat Bottleneck: SpaceX Rideshare Crunch Opens a Canadian Pathway for Isar Aerospace

As SpaceX Transporter launch slots fill up through 2026, small satellite operators face a capability squeeze, driving German startup Isar Aerospace to secure a firm launch contract at Canada's Spaceport Nova Scotia.

aerospaceJul 13, 20263 min

It's Unclear How the Planet Avoided Its Star's Bloated Red Giant Stage

Astronomers have discovered a Jupiter-size exoplanet that appears to have survived its host star's evolution into a red giant — defying standard models of planetary fate during stellar death.

aerospace program audits delaysJul 12, 20265 min

Amazon's Space Internet Bet: 396 Satellites In, Starlink Still King

Amazon's Leo constellation hit 396 satellites after a July 2 Atlas V launch, but the company still faces a missed FCC deadline and a 26x gap versus Starlink's fleet. With an $11.5B Globalstar acquisition adding direct-to-device ambitions, Amazon is playing a longer game — but the broadband race is already halfway over.

aerospaceJul 12, 20265 min

The Star Trek Conundrum: Why High Definition Betrayed the Original Series

Anthony Caccese's 240-MP project captures the magic of retro TV viewing experience for Star Trek fans who find modern remasters fail to deliver the charm of original broadcasts.

aerospaceJul 11, 20263 min

Space.com: NASA, Space Exploration and Astronomy News: Satellites Find Targets Alone

In April 2026, Loft Orbital's YAM-9 satellite completed the first-ever autonomous identification of objects on orbit using Google Gemma 3 and NASA JPL's NAVI-Orbital software.

ai medical diagnostics remote healthcareJul 8, 20264 min

When Earth Is Hours Away: NASA’s AI Doc Hits Space

NASA is deploying CMO-DA, an offline AI clinical assistant for astronauts on deep-space missions where communication delays with Earth make real-time medical consultation impossible.

space explorationJul 6, 20263 min

Japan's Hayabusa2 Flies Within 800 Meters of Asteroid Torifune

JAXA's aging Hayabusa2 spacecraft executed a precision flyby within 800 meters of the sub-kilometer near-Earth asteroid Torifune, demonstrating guidance capabilities that could one day help deflect hazardous objects from Earth.

venture roll up private equity consolidationJul 6, 20264 min

From Prometheus to Cowboy Space: The Unlikely Cast of 2026's Unicorn Boom

TechCrunch report analyzing 2026 unicorn trends, incorporating data from Crunchbase and PitchBook.

cloud security incidentsJul 5, 20265 min

The $2.1 Trillion Orbital Hype: Why Retail Skeptics Fear SpaceX's AI Premium but Dare Not Short

An analysis of the retail skepticism surrounding SpaceX's (SPCX) post-IPO valuation of $2.12 trillion. While the market classifies the space giant as a 'computer software' AI firm, critics highlight capital-heavy physical realities, warning that the staggering price-to-sales multiple is primed for a correction that remains timing-impossible to trade.