CNBC reports, “The highly anticipated SpaceX mega-IPO is part of a space frenzy that is moving beyond satellite connectivity, launch vehicles, and aerospace defense to the pharmaceutical sector. A growing number of companies are heading to lower Earth orbit to make medicines in microgravity.”
Full Story (CNBC)
Tag: Astronautics
Users, Not Hardware, Will Drive Growth for the Next Era of Space Healthcare
FROM THE INSTITUTE
The center of gravity in the space economy is shifting from hardware to users. That was the message from Voyager Technologies’ Manwei Chan during a recent ASCEND 2026 panel exploring the strategic pillars for in-space R&D expansion.
SpaceX Sets New Reusability Record with Falcon 9 Booster’s 35th Flight
Spaceflight Now reports, “SpaceX continued to push its Falcon 9 rocket fleet to the next level by flying its flight leader, tail number B1067, on a record-breaking 35th flight Monday morning. It launched SpaceX’s latest batch of Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station shortly before sunrise.”
Full Story (Spaceflight Now)
Video
VideoFromSpace; YouTube
SpaceX launches on booster’s record-breaking 35th flight (Launch at 00:13 mark)
China’s Qianfan Constellation Reaches 200 Satellites in Orbit
Space News reports, “Construction of the Shanghai-led Qianfan constellation continued to accelerate this week with a pair of Long March launches, following on from two recent experimental flights. China launched Long March 6A and Long March 8 rockets Thursday and Friday respectively, adding 36 satellites to the project led by Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology (SSST), or Spacesail.”
Full Story (Space News)
Podcast: Space Competition: AIAA’s Clay Mowry on What The Commercial Sector Wants
The Downlink Podcast reports, “Citing China’s possible mission to send Taikonauts around the moon, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman told AIAA’s ASCEND conference attendees that the launch cadence to the moon must increase. Laura Winter speaks with Clay Mowry, CEO of AIAA and immediate past president of IAF.”
Full Story (The Downlink Podcast)
NASA Retires MAVEN After More Than a Decade Studying Mars’ Atmosphere
The New York Times reports, “On Wednesday, NASA announced the end of a more than 11-year mission aimed at solving a key mystery about Mars: What happened to the air that once made the planet habitable? The NASA spacecraft MAVEN, short for Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution, had been orbiting around the Red Planet since 2014. NASA last received a signal from MAVEN on Dec. 6, shortly before the spacecraft passed behind Mars.”
Full Story (New York Times – subscription publication)
After Launch Pad Setback, Blue Origin Eyes New Glenn Return in 2026
Spaceflight Now reports, “Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp, in an overnight post on the social media platform X, said propellant tanks at launch pad 36 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station made it through the blast in good shape, as did a nearby processing hangar. The main support gantry, while damaged, can be repaired in place.”
Full Story (Spaceflight Now)
Recognize an Emerging Aerospace Leader
FROM THE INSTITUTE
AIAA’s new 30/30 Program honors 30 exceptional early-career aerospace professionals in their 30s who are redefining what’s possible. Honorees will represent the best and brightest from across the aerospace sector. Nominations are open through 15 June 2026.
Isaacman Says Blue Origin Launch Complex May Not Return to Service Until 2028
CNBC reports, “NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman on Monday told CNBC that it will ‘take some serious time’ to restore the launchpad damaged last week by a Blue Origin rocket explosion. Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin was conducting a hot-fire test of its massive New Glenn rocket on Thursday at a Space Force launch facility in Cape Canaveral, Florida, when the rocket erupted into a fireball. Bezos confirmed that all Blue Origin personnel were safe following the incident, and pledged to rebuild, while calling it a ‘very rough day.'”
Full Story (CNBC)
AIAA AVIATION Forum 2026 Looks Toward the Future of Aviation
FROM THE INSTITUTE
The AIAA AVIATION Forum 2026 will open on 8 June, in San Diego, with five days spanning commercial aviation, defense, academia, and emerging technology. More than 300 speakers will appear throughout the forum, drawn from leading aviation companies, defense and civil government agencies, and top research universities around the world. One of the key differentiators of AIAA events is the deep technical content, with more than 800 technical papers to be presented throughout the week.