Space News for Saturday, May 02, 2026

In this episode, we aggregate and summarize today's top space news stories. Enjoy!(00:10) Podcast Introduction(00:22) NASA to increase value of CLPS contract to support surge of lunar lander missions(00:37) The opportunity beyond orbital data centers(01:12) Starcloud seeks more orbital data center funding shortly after unicorn status(01:41) Trump nominates Schiess as next Space Force chief(02:19) Amazon Leo passes 300 satellites with Atlas and Ariane launches(03:00) SpaceX marks May Day, National Space Day with Starlink mission on a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral(03:14) SmallSat Europe Speaker Focus: Jorge Ciccorossi, ITU Radiocommunications Bureau(03:39) NASA Kennedy Center Director Announces Plans to Retire(04:16) NASA Artemis II Crew Rings Nasdaq Closing Bell(04:49) Key Support Equipment Arrives at Kennedy for Roman Space Telescope(05:21) Space Out This Summer with Variety of NASA STEM Activities(06:12) SpaceX aims for mid-May Starship Flight 12 launch with revised trajectory(06:55) Space Nuclear Execs Cheer the FY27 Budget Proposal(07:54) House Subcommittee Approves $24.4B NASA Budget(08:39) Artemis 2 astronauts get the star treatment after historic moon trip(09:17) Drone radar could help spacecraft pinpoint where to drill for water on Mars, scientists say(09:57) Thinner than a hair and stretchy like rubber: New material could shield against radiation in next-gen space tech(10:49) Is it cake? No, it's a parachute! | Space photo of the day for May 1, 2026(11:26) NASA's Curiosity and Perseverance rovers capture sweeping Mars panoramas (video)(12:17) Rocket Report: Falcon Heavy is back; Russia's Soyuz-5 finally debuts