Space Stakes: The Business of the New Space Race

NASA’s revised Artemis sequence makes Artemis III an orbital docking rehearsal and targets a crewed landing for Artemis IV in 2028. We also cover Rocket Lab’s Neutron delay, Musk’s statements about Starlink’s civilian role, an ESA Space Rider post, and the limits of comparing Rocket Lab with SpaceX by valuation.NASA Artemis moon landing plan targets 2028 with faster approach — MashableRocket Lab Just Postponed Its Neutron Launch. Again. — Yahoo FinanceMusk: Starlink must remain civilian operation — Breakingthenews.netESA downplays Space Rider test mishap — SpaceNews on XRocket Lab vs SpaceX: $30B vs $2.2T Cap — Tech InsiderSource linksnasa.govs...

This week’s recap follows a Phobos sample-return launch, risky satellite maneuvers and Starship ambitions.Japan launching bold sample-return mission to Mars moon Phobos today: Watch it live — Space.comRussian satellite stalked ICEYE spacecraft in potentially dangerous on-orbit maneuvers — Breaking DefenseSpaceX to attempt Starship catch on next flight, with eye on rapid cadence increase — Ars TechnicaChapters00:00 Today's headlines00:33 Japan's MMX Phobos sample-return mission02:01 Cosmos 2612 maneuvers near ICEYE-X3603:53 SpaceX plans Starship tower catchesSource linksscience.nasa.govSpace Stakes is an AI-voiced podcast, built and run...

Electron launches HawkEye 360 satellites — Yahoo FinanceStarship lunar refueling estimate — Ars TechnicaXona Series D — PayloadICEYE and Nokia explore Ukraine satellite communications — Via SatelliteSpace Force cislunar RFIs — Breaking DefenseChapters00:00 Today's headlines00:21 Artemis tanker and depot capacity risks00:53 Xona $250M Series D for Pulsar GPS02:24 ICEYE, Nokia letter of intent on Ukraine03:37 Space Force RFIs for cislunar missions04:48 Rocket Lab Electron launch for HawkEye 36007:15 Hype Check: Rocket Lab's wider claimsSource links@elonmusk on Xkeeptrack.spacespace.comspacewatch.globalSpace Stakes is an AI-voiced podcast, b...

SpaceX is targeting a November Starship test flight with an attempt to catch both stages, while its weekly-launch ambition depends on flight results and FAA licensing. The episode also covers Canada’s standby launch-pad agreement, China’s developing cargo and reusable vehicles, a lunar-site study recommendation, and NASA’s RS-25 engine test.NordSpace gets $20 million DND deal for standby launch pad at Atlantic Spaceport Complex — SpaceQ Media Inc.China readies first commercial resupply craft, first booster reflight, and next landing attempt — NASASpaceFlight.comStudy recommends four locations for human lunar missions beyond the south pole — SpaceNews on XNASA Conducts RS-25 Engine...

SpaceX posted ~$14.6B in Q3 revenue with AI overtaking Starlink, Musk discussed a SpaceX-Tesla merger, plus Telesat and Eutelsat news.SpaceX’s AI Revenue Leads Q3 Earnings — PayloadMerging SpaceX and Tesla would be a "good idea," Musk says — Space - Ars TechnicaReuters (@Reuters) on X: PODCAST: SpaceX-Tesla merger, Witkoff in Russia and Kansas voters — X/@ReutersTelesat lenders offer $3.2B rescue ahead of December default — SpaceQ Media Inc.Eutelsat Signs New German Critical Infrastructure Deal — Via SatelliteChapters00:00 Today's headlines00:45 Musk on SpaceX and Tesla merger02:23 Telesat offered $3.2 billion rescue package03:45 Eute...

A Russian satellite’s maneuvers near ICEYE-X36 raise questions about commercial spacecraft and security in orbit. We also cover direct-to-device spectrum decisions, Amazon’s planned Germany investment and a Space Force autonomy award.Russian satellite stalked ICEYE spacecraft in potentially dangerous on-orbit maneuvers — Breaking DefenseFCC Authorizes Globalstar’s C-3 Constellation for Direct-to-Device — Via SatelliteEuropean MNOs Team Up for MSS D2D Spectrum in Europe — Via SatelliteAmazon announces plan to invest €16 billion in Germany in 2027 — AmazonExclusive: EraDrive Lands $13M DoD Award For Autonomy Module — PayloadChapters00:00 Today's headlines00:47 FCC authority for Globalstar C-3 system02:18 Four op...

Japan's MMX mission is scheduled to launch toward Phobos, where it aims to collect material and return it to Earth in 2031. The episode also covers a reported close approach between Russian and commercial satellites and Elon Musk's pledge of SpaceX shares to American children.Russian Satellite Kosmos-2612 Closes to Within 26 Meters of ICEYE-X36 During Pursuit — MіlіtarnyiMusk pledges 1 SpaceX share for every child in America — Axios reporting via Yahoo FinanceReturning the first samples from a Martian moon: Inside the science of Japan's bold MMX mission to Mars — Space.comJapan launching bold sample-return mission to Mars moon Phobos today: W...

Ukraine's Starlink slowdown prompts competing claims from Zelenskyy and Rubio, while the cause remains unresolved. Also: a planned Starfall demonstration, JAXA's MMX launch date, a Space Force jammer plan, and conditional Toronto Stock Exchange approvals.Rubio denies US role in Starlink slowdown in Ukraine — FirstpostSpaceX Starfall on Bandwagon-5 — Starlust.orgMMX aboard H3 Launch Vehicle No. 10 — JAXA on XSpace Force plans wider global deployment of satellite jammers — SpaceNewsTwo space companies receive conditional TSX approval — SpaceQChapters00:00 Today's headlines00:40 SpaceX Starfall capsule's second flight02:33 Space Force plans wider jammers03:05 NorthStar, Maritime conditiona...

This weekly recap follows the week's debate over control of military satellite communications, alongside tests and targets for launch and connectivity systems. It also looks at a UK contract for an active debris removal mission.Musk Says U.S. Government is in Control of Starlink Speeds for Ukraine's Military — Via SatelliteUS Army stress-tests Amazon Leo satellite network for high-speed battlefield connectivity — AmazonSpaceX wants 456 launches/year — Advanced TelevisionBlue Origin Advances LC-36 Rebuild for Year-End New Glenn Return to Flight — NASASpaceFlight.comCarbon Fibre Troubles Force Rocket Lab to Delay Neutron Debut to No Earlier Than 2027 — NASASpaceFlight.comClearSpace Wins Major UK Debris Rem...

Carbon Fibre Troubles Force Rocket Lab to Delay Neutron Debut — NASASpaceFlight.comRussian Offensive Campaign Assessment, October 15, 2026 — criticalthreats.orgSpaceX launches classified mission for the US Space Force — Space.comClearSpace Wins Major UK Debris Removal Contract — Via SatelliteArianespace Targets 23 Nov Ariane 6 Return — European SpaceflightChapters00:00 Today's headlines00:34 Starshield access reportedly restored01:40 Falcon 9 booster lands, cargo classified02:43 UK active debris removal with ClearSpace03:42 Ariane 6 launch no earlier than 23 November04:39 Neutron debut slips on carbon fibre06:04 Neutron tank ruptured in hydrostatic testingSource links@SpaceX on Xgov.uksat...

Ukraine’s reliance on satellite connectivity turns a reported Starlink speed restriction into a question of control, authority and operational alternatives. The episode also covers Amazon’s Army network test, Reflect Orbital’s Skyroot launches, Artemis III hardware progress and Spain’s PAZ 2 funding schedule.U.S. Army stress-tests Amazon satellite network — Aviation Week on XReflect Orbital buys two Skyroot launches — PayloadSkyroot Aerospace announcement — Skyroot Aerospace on XArtemis III short-stack preparation — NASASpaceFlight.comSpain approves early PAZ 2 funding release — European SpaceflightMusk says U.S. government controls Starshield speeds — Via SatelliteChapters00:00 Today's headlines00:41 Amazon's satellite network in...

SpaceX is seeking permission for a major increase in Starship operations at Starbase, while a recovered ship offers data about flown hardware. The episode also examines reported Starlink restrictions in Ukraine, CSG’s investment in MDA Space and a new PTS-G payload integration subcontract.Ship 40 Back At Starbase After Surprise Reentry Survival — SpacePolicyOnline.comZelenskyy adviser: Starlink operations restricted in Ukraine overnight — EuronewsEurope’s CSG Becomes Largest Shareholder of MDA Space — Via SatelliteSES Taps Lyntris for PTS-G Satellite Payload — Via SatelliteSpaceX wants 456 launches per year — Advanced TelevisionChapters00:00 Today's headlines00:45 Ship 40 is back at Starbase<p...

Norway Details Funding Allocation for Second Andøya Launch Pad — European SpaceflightYork Space Systems to Support Interoperability Demonstration for Space Data Network — Via SatelliteChapters00:00 Today's headlines00:54 Norway proposes funding for launch pad01:49 Two task orders for York Space Systems02:56 Cargo Dragon C211 making fourth flightSource linksscience.nasa.gov@SpaceX on X@YorkSpaceSystem on Xspace.comSpace Stakes is an AI-voiced podcast, built and run by a real person. Nothing in this episode is financial advice.Follow Space Stakes: subscribe on YouTube · Apple Podcas...

Blue Origin is rebuilding Launch Complex 36 after New Glenn's May pad explosion and is targeting a December return-to-flight mission. The episode also covers a warning about commercial satellite vulnerability, a Starship analysis shared on X, and NASA's Antarctic sea-ice observations.Blue Origin Advances LC-36 Rebuild for Year-End New Glenn Return to Flight — NASASpaceFlight.comGerman Space Command warning on commercial satellite networks — SpaceWatch.GLOBALAdam Jonas's Starship analysis — shared by @SawyerMerritt on XAntarctic Sea Ice Grows to Its 2026 Maximum — NASAChapters00:00 Today's headlines00:41 Germany's warning on Russian satellites02:03 Antarctic sea ice third-lowest maximum03...

Starlink is pitching affordability and consumer choice in India as it awaits final security clearance, while a U.S. military satellite launch and an ISS crew handover provide two concrete delivery updates. The key question is whether the service's customer case can move from a stated goal to a specific offer.Fourth Tranche 1 Transport orbital plane — Space Development AgencyCrew-12 departs as Dubrov takes command — SpaceQStarlink's India affordability pitch — Stocktwits reportingChapters00:00 Today's headlines00:42 Falcon 9 launched Tranche 1 satellites02:42 Crew-12 back on Earth after 237-day mission03:50 Starlink in India awaits security cleara...

This week's recap follows SpaceX's push into direct-to-device connectivity, NASA's proposed workforce shift, Kratos's space-intelligence contracts, Amazon's Leo manufacturing milestone and the FAA's review of proposed Starship operations.Across the stories, regulatory authorization, proposed transactions, contracts, manufactured hardware and operational service remain distinct milestones.FCC Grants SpaceX Approval for 15,000 Direct-to-Device Satellites in MSS Spectrum — Via SatelliteSpaceX Moves to Acquire Nationwide Low-Band Spectrum for Starlink Mobile — Via SatelliteWhy is NASA bringing 7,500 contractors back to work as civil servants? — Ars TechnicaKratos Reports More Than $100M in Contracts for Space Intelligence Data — Via SatelliteAmazon builds 1,000th satellite, will launch space in...

SpaceX Moves to Acquire Nationwide Low-Band Spectrum for Starlink Mobile — Via SatelliteSpaceX calls for better coordination in orbit after near-misses with Starlink — Ars TechnicaAmazon builds 1,000th satellite, will launch space internet service by end of year — Ars TechnicaFortastra Raises $30M Series A to Fund its Next Security Spacecraft — PayloadChapters00:00 Today's headlines00:41 Crew-12 is back on Earth after 237 days01:37 SpaceX calls for better data-sharing02:51 Amazon built its 1,000th Leo satellite04:10 Fortastra raised $30M in Series A05:24 SpaceX to acquire 14 megahertz spectrum08:02 Low-band spectrum as a coverage...

000-satellite direct-to-device system.FCC Grants SpaceX Approval for 15,000 Direct-to-Device Satellites in MSS Spectrum — Via SatelliteChapters00:00 Today's headlines00:20 FCC approved SpaceX's 15,000 satellites03:42 SpaceX trying to become the carrierSource linksspacewatch.globalSpace Stakes is an AI-voiced podcast, built and run by a real person. Nothing in this episode is financial advice.Follow Space Stakes: subscribe on YouTube · Apple Podcasts · SpotifyMore from Brian Lampert: Quickly Quantum, the daily quantum computing briefing, and Concrete Compute, the daily AI infrastructure briefing. Transcripts and every epis...

NASA's planned move of 7,500 contractor positions into civil service raises questions about expertise, accountability and taxpayer value. The episode also covers an EU space-security decision, progress on the Themis demonstrator and Dawn Aerospace's planned German expansion.EU deepens collective space security with mutual defense pact — Breaking DefenseArianeGroup Completes Second Themis Wet Dress Rehearsal — European SpaceflightDawn Aerospace Expands into Germany Amid Growing Space Defense Investment — SpaceWatch.GLOBALWhy is NASA bringing 7,500 contractors back to work as civil servants? — Ars TechnicaChapters00:00 Today's headlines00:31 EU approves collective satellite threat response02:23 Themis completes second wet dress re...

Kratos announced multiple contracts worth more than $100 million combined for space-intelligence and cyber prototype work, while the public details leave key questions about the awards' structure. The episode also covers Open Cosmos' constellation target, the Army's enlisted space specialty, York's GEO mission integration and this week's launch plans.Open Cosmos Targets 192 Satellites for ConnectedCosmos LEO Constellation — Via SatelliteKratos Reports More Than $100M in Contracts for Space Intelligence Data — Via SatelliteChapters00:00 Today's headlines00:20 Open Cosmos targets 192 satellites01:44 Army creates enlisted space specialty02:50 York moves into GEO integration03:43 Laun...