Space News for Friday, April 17, 2026

In this episode, we aggregate and summarize today's top space news stories. Enjoy!(00:10) Podcast Introduction(00:21) Qingzhou prototype cargo spacecraft completes rendezvous tests in orbit(00:37) Taiwan floats shared satcom constellation amid calls for more space collaboration(01:09) Companies make the case for commercial space station markets(01:52) Blue Origin hot fires its first previously flown booster, prepares for weekend launch(02:28) SmallSat Europe Speaker Focus: Jaume Sanpera, Sateliot(03:24) NASA Targets Commercial Relays to Replace Aging TDRSS Infrastructure(03:59) Ericsson Initiates SEK 15 Billion Share Buyback Program(04:15) OQ Technology Awarded ESA Contract to Adapt 5G Beamforming for Space(04:34) Iridium Unveils Core Role in Artemis II and Next-Gen PNT at Space Symposium 2026(05:17) Spring Rains Saturate Michigan(05:36) NASA Invites Media to Latvia Artemis Accords Signing Ceremony(06:22) At the Edge of Light(06:45) Voyager Technologies Wins Its First Private ISS Mission(07:30) Seraphim Space Aims To Shape Strategy With New Advisory Council(07:44) Landing astronauts on the moon 'is absolutely doable, and it's doable soon,' NASA's Artemis 2 commander says(08:24) 'That was a wonderful toilet': Artemis 2 commander defends mission's lunar loo(08:57) This may be the daughter of one of our universe's 1st stars. Scientists call it an 'ancient immigrant'(09:26) After a saga of broken promises, a European rover finally has a ride to Mars