Space News for Wednesday, August 19, 2026

In this episode, we aggregate and summarize today's top space news stories. Enjoy!(00:10) Podcast Introduction(00:21) Space nuclear programs face near- and long-term challenges(00:51) Rocket Lab to test Space Force data network connection in orbit in 2027(01:34) SpaceX exceeds 11,000 satellites in low Earth orbit(02:01) Viasat Selects Rocket Lab to Build Small GEO Satellite Bus for Space Force PTS-G Program(02:41) All Points Awarded On-Ramp to NASA Spacecraft Processing and Operations Contract(03:05) Enterprise Sector Adopts Vertical Analytics Platforms and APIs to Replace Raw Satellite Imagery(03:19) NASA Mission Studies Air Pollution Over Ethiopia(03:35) Zhuque-3 Completes Second Flight with Successful First-Stage Landing(03:58) Deep Dive: FY27 Defense Space Budget(04:12) Touchdown! Private Chinese rocket aces landing on 2nd-ever flight(04:52) NASA astronaut and 1st female French spacewalker remove failed ISS antenna but run out of time for replacement(05:13) Starship lives! SpaceX craft arrives at Christmas Island after 24-day ocean ordeal(05:53) SpaceX launches its 100th mission of the year, sends Starlink satellites to orbit(06:34) Hydrogen-powered 'rocket car' tops 400 mph in record-breaking test (video)(07:10) Against all odds, SpaceX finally tugs Starship into port after 24 days at sea