Space News for Wednesday, September 02, 2026

In this episode, we aggregate and summarize today's top space news stories. Enjoy!
(00:10) Podcast Introduction
(00:23) SpaceX to launches Starlink mission from West Coast
(01:00) CycloKinetics and Venus Aerospace Complete Initial Hot-Fire Testing of CycloRP Fuel in Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine
(01:28) MDA Space Targets Direct-to-Device Satellite Market with Software-Defined Payload Architecture
(01:55) Seraphim Space Launches New Space ETF with Initial 23-Company Portfolio
(02:37) GomSpace Secures 6.3 MSEK Power Systems Contract from D-Orbit for ION Space Logistics Missions
(03:13) Defense Innovation Unit Awards Other Transaction Agreement to ALL.SPACE for Scaled Space Manufacturing
(03:50) Historic Engines Take Their Place on Artemis III
(04:32) Launch Site and Facility Progress ahead of East Coast Starship debut
(04:59) The Commercial-First Shift in National Security Space
(05:49) Trump Orders Study To Establish US Space Academy
(06:17) Exclusive: Helogen Plans Two In-Orbit Manufacturing Missions in October
(06:33) Fermi Explorer Wants to Reach Another Star for $15M
(07:21) Two astronauts replace ISS camera and docking aid on 6th-ever all-female spacewalk (video)
(08:02) Nonprofit wants to launch 80,000-year mission to Alpha Centauri in 2029 (video)
(08:44) On this day in space! Sept. 1, 1979: NASA's Pioneer 11 probe becomes 1st spacecraft to visit Saturn
(09:25) Why do black hole flares die out? It may be down to how stars spin
(09:56) NASA's Roman Space Telescope is just one of a few missions named after real-life women
(10:29) Research roundup: 7 cool science stories we almost missed
(11:10) Without new landers or rovers, it's helicopters or bust for NASA's Mars program