Space News for Wednesday, July 22, 2026

In this episode, we aggregate and summarize today's top space news stories. Enjoy!
(00:10) Podcast Introduction
(00:23) Zenno Astronautics to relocate to the United States
(00:57) SpaceX launches Northrop mission to extend the life of aging satellites
(01:44) Northrop adds to charges on Vulcan solid rocket motor program
(02:35) UK and Florida commit $400,000 to joint space projects
(03:33) US Space Force Triples NSSL Phase 3 Lane 1 Capacity to $17B as Total Launch Budget Reaches $30B
(03:57) Contrivian Merges with Big Network to Build Vertically Integrated Multi-Modal Connectivity Platform
(04:31) Resolve Optics Develops Radiation-Resistant Athermalized 6mm Lens for Satellite Imaging Payloads
(05:17) IHI Corporation and Kuva Space Partner to Evaluate Japanese Sovereign Hyperspectral Constellation
(06:01) A Week of Smoky Skies Across North America
(06:16) NASA to Host Media Briefing on Roman Telescope, Launching Next Month
(06:55) FCC Eyes Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Bands for Satellites
(07:38) James Webb Space Telescope discovers the secrets of cosmic 'factories' that filled the early universe with stardust
(07:55) Alien life likely can't survive on exoplanets smaller than Mars, scientists say
(08:14) Space Force orders 36 more Golden Dome missile-tracking satellites, for $1.75 billion
(09:05) SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket sends Starlink satellites to orbit a day after rare launch abort
(09:23) Artemis III astronauts will beam 4k video from Orion to Earth using SpaceX Starlink lasers