Space News for Friday, May 01, 2026

In this episode, we aggregate and summarize today's top space news stories. Enjoy!(00:10) Podcast Introduction(00:24) Space Force taps K2 satellites to test laser communications for missile-defense(00:41) SpaceComputer to conduct on-orbit test of secure computing infrastructure(01:17) Northrop Grumman delivers sensor for missile-warning satellite as Pentagon cancels program(01:53) House appropriators keep NASA funding flat(02:34) SmallSat Europe Speaker Focus: Koen Willems, ST Engineering iDirect Europe(03:08) FAA Grounds Blue Origin Following New Glenn Upper Stage Failure and Facility Anomaly(03:21) Viasat Completes ViaSat-3 Constellation with Successful Flight 3 Launch(03:37) Cyclone Rains Spur Papua New Guinea Landslides(04:00) NASA Invites Media to Ireland Artemis Accords Signing(04:46) Odyssey Team Celebrates on a Global Map of Mars(05:15) Artemis III Moon Rocket Core Stage on the Move(05:48) Russia debuts new rocket with maiden Soyuz-5 launch(06:23) Next NASA ISS astronaut, doctor discusses upcoming mission(06:40) CATALYST Unveils its Sat Product for City Skylines(07:16) York Space Systems to Acquire ALL.SPACE for $355M(07:53) Orbital Data Center Competitive Landscape(08:17) Russia's new homegrown Soyuz 5 rocket aces debut launch(08:55) Artemis 3 has been pushed to late 2027. Can NASA still land astronauts on the moon in 2028?(09:36) US Space Force wants space-based missile interceptors for Golden Dome ready by 2028(09:54) Is Venus volcanically active? Big Hawaiian eruption in 2022 could help scientists find out(10:38) This SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket launch looks amazing from space in these wild satellite photos