E44 - The FCC Opens Spectrum—and Rewrites Space’s Environmental Review — October 1, 2026

The FCC voted to open satellite spectrum and change its environmental-review approach for certain space activities; the practical effects depend on final rules. Varda, Crew-13, and Astranis also feature in today's episode.

Varda Raises $251M Series D — PayloadCrew-13 astronauts set for launch to ISS after weeks of delays — NASASpaceFlight.comAstranis lands $468M financing to boost MicroGEO satellite manufacturing — SpaceQFCC Continues Deregulation Push with Environmental Regulations and More Spectrum — Via Satellite

Chapters

00:00 Today's headlines

00:30 Varda has closed a $251M Series D

01:57 Astronauts scheduled to launch on repaired Dragon

03:07 Astranis gets credit f...