Space News for Thursday, August 13, 2026

In this episode, we aggregate and summarize today's top space news stories. Enjoy!(00:10) Podcast Introduction(00:23) Virgin Galactic delays resumption of commercial flights to 2027(00:47) Space Force orders two more Impulse Space vehicles for maneuvering demonstrations(01:18) Pentagon missile buildup changing the factory floor(02:12) Golden Dome creates digital hub to expand commercial participation(03:07) SpaceX Finalizes Regulatory Procedures to Close $60 Billion Acquisition of AI Platform Cursor(03:44) Silicon Valley Space Week Speaker Focus: Ian Canning, Eutelsat Network Solutions(04:23) Redwire Partners with Kanematsu to Expand Space Infrastructure and Microgravity Technology Portfolio in Japan(05:04) Northrop Grumman and Aeronix Launch Strategic Joint Investment for Next-Generation Space Cryptography(05:42) NASA Data Helps Commercial Space Plan Living Off Our Moon(06:33) 2026 Total Solar Eclipse in Spain(07:11) NASA Upgrades Vertical Motion Simulator for Modern Mission Needs(07:50) NASA Astronaut Mike Fincke Leaves NASA, Career Includes 4 Spaceflights(08:31) Amid failure, Wenchang celebrates milestone as China launches AI satellites and prepares for lunar south pole mission(09:23) Astranis Unveils Perceptor, an SDA Product for GEO(09:52) Firefly Announces Record Q2 Results(10:23) New private 'Perceptor' probes will keep an eye on satellites high above Earth(11:18) Radiation-shielding vest aced Artemis I lunar test, could protect astronauts on moon and Mars missions(12:05) Farthest 'black hole star' ever found could help solve the James Webb Space Telescope's little red dot mystery(12:42) Green comet caught soaring over Namibia | Space photo of the day for Aug. 12, 2026(13:08) On this day in space! Aug. 12, 2005: Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter launched