FROM THE INSTITUTE
The biological research onboard the International Space Station (ISS) over the last 26 years hasn’t only benefited astronauts; it’s driven new understanding of human health on the ground.
Tag: aerospace engineering
SpaceX Targets 10,000 Launches a Year within Five Years
Reuters reports, “SpaceX aims to reach 10,000 launches annually within five years, but government officials will need to see improved reliability before approving such an expansion, the head of the Federal Aviation Administration said on Wednesday. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said hemet with SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell, who told him about the company’s ambitious goal. SpaceX conducted 170 launches in 2025 deploying about 2,500 satellites.”
Full Story (Reuters)
New Silicon Battery Partnership Targets Longer-Range Drone Delivery
Unmanned Systems Technology reports, “Amprius Technologies and Matternet have entered a strategic collaboration to integrate high-energy density silicon anode lithium-ion batteries into autonomous aerial delivery platforms. The partnership has already deployed Amprius cells into Matternet’s M2 aircraft, a platform operating within urban drone delivery networks.”
Full Story (Unmanned Systems Technology)
Pushing the Envelope: Licensing Process for Space Launches Catching Up to Demand but More Resources, Flexibility Needed
FROM THE INSTITUTE
The FAA’s approval process for regulating space launches is steadily improving due to recent streamlining efforts, but it must continue to evolve to sustain the dynamic ramp-up in activity in the coming years, government and industry leaders told ASCEND 2026.
Space Force Seeks More Innovations to Characterize Space Threats, General Says
FROM THE INSTITUTE
The Space Force, which is anticipating its biggest budget ever, must improve its “space domain awareness” as low Earth orbit becomes more crowded and adversaries pursue greater means to attack satellites and other assets, a top Space Force general told the ASCEND 2026 audience.
Experts Warn: Without Nuclear Power and National Will, America’s Lunar Future at Risk
FROM THE INSTITUTE
Policy and research experts from the University of Central Florida joined Arizona’s first space commissioner in a lively debate on America’s drive to the moon. The session explored what needs to happen from policy and technical perspectives to bring America’s lunar ambitions to fruition.
Isaacman Predicts Chinese Crewed Lunar Flyby by 2027
Space News reports, “The head of NASA says he expects China to perform a crewed flight around the moon in 2027, ratcheting up perceptions of a space race between China and the United States. In a May 19 keynote at the ASCEND conference here, Jared Isaacman warned a space industry audience that the next people to fly around the moon would be Chinese.”
Full Story (Space News)
Navy Clears MQ-25 Stingray for Initial Production Phase
Defense One reports, “The Navy’s drone tanker, the MQ-25A Stingray, is cleared for low-rate initial production—just weeks after a production-ready model took its first flight. “MQ-25 reached Milestone C, which is huge because now we have inflight refueling that is unmanned…it’s a great capability,” Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao said at the end of an hourslong Senate Armed Services Committee hearing Tuesday.”
Full Story (Defense One)
NASA Administrator Calls on Space Industry to Move with Urgency
FROM THE INSTITUTE
Jared Isaacman took the stage at ASCEND 2026’s opening plenary with a singular message: NASA is a fundamentally different agency – one that will act with urgency to return to the moon, build a permanent base there, and realize the economic potential of operating on the lunar surface.
SGx Delivered Real-World Insights for Rising Space Professionals
FROM THE INSTITUTE
Co-located for the first time with ASCEND, SGAC’s annual SGx event brought together students and young professionals from around the world for engaging, collaborative content. Attendees delved into current industry trends and worked to hone skills that will support them for a lifetime.