Space News shares a conversation between David Ariosto and Varda CEO Will Bruey at AIAA’s ASCEND 2026. They discuss how Varda hopes to play a role bridging medicine and low Earth orbit.
Full Story (Space News)
Tag: low Earth orbit
SpaceX Launches 24 Starlink Satellites from California on Falcon 9
Spaceflight Now reports the Starlink 17-46 mission flew on the 77th Falcon 9 rocket launch of the year. “Liftoff from Space Launch Complex 4 East happened 7:57 p.m. PDT (10:57 p.m. EDT / 0257 UTC). The rocket flew on a south-southwesterly trajectory upon leaving the pad.”
Full Story (Spaceflight Now)
Video
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 24 Starlink satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base (Launch occurs at the 29:58 mark)
Spaceflight Now; YouTube
Report Links China’s Rocket Stage Abandonment to Rising Orbital Collision Risks
Breaking Defense reports, “China has been abandoning used launcher rocket stages in low Earth orbit (LEO) at an ever-increasing pace, putting both military and commercial satellites in that crowded orbital regime at greater risk of serious debris-creating collisions, according to a new report.”
Full Story (Breaking Defense)
SpaceX Continues Starlink Expansion with California Launch
SPACE reports a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 24 Starlink satellites lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Sunday, June 21, 2026. Launch took place “at 12:39 p.m. EDT (1639 GMT or 9:39 a.m. PDT local time) from Space Launch Complex 4 East … SpaceX confirmed deployment of the Starlink batch (Group 17-28) about an hour after their launch.”
Full Story (SPACE)
Video
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 24 Starlink satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base (Launch occurs at the 0:07 mark)
VideoFromSpace; YouTube
Low Earth Orbit Emerges as a New Frontier for Pharmaceutical Innovation
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)
Podcast: Axiom CEO Discusses the Next Wave of Commercial Activity in LEO
Space News reports, “In this episode of the Space News Space Minds podcast, host David Ariosto talks with Jonathan Cirtain, CEO and President of Axiom Space. They discuss the challenges — and wonders — of launching a career in an evolving space industry; a key financial sign that the space economy is maturing; and how a commercial presence in low Earth orbit can prepare humanity to explore farther into space.”
Full Story (Space News)
SpaceX Falcon 9 Launches 27 Starlink Satellites from West Coast
Spaceflight Now reports, “SpaceX closed out May with its 16th Falcon 9 launch of the month. The Saturday afternoon launch from the company’s West Coast launch pad carried 27 Starlink V2 Mini satellites to a low Earth orbit. Liftoff of the Starlink 11-18 mission from a foggy Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base occurred at 1:10 p.m. PDT (4:10 p.m. EDT, 2010 UTC).”
Full Story (Spaceflight Now)
Video
SpaceX Falcon 9 launches Starlink satellites from California, June 1, 2025 (Launch at 30:15 mark)
(Spaceflight Now; YouTube)
SpaceX Launches 250th Starlink Satellite Mission on Falcon 9
SPACE reports SpaceX launched its 250th dedicated Starlink mission on Sunday night (April 27), sending 23 of the broadband satellites to low Earth orbit. Liftoff took place “from Florida’s Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Sunday at 10:09 p.m. EDT (0209 GMT on Monday, April 28). It was the 250th time SpaceX had sent a batch of Starlink craft skyward, the company noted via X shortly after launch.”
Full Story (SPACE)
Video
SpaceX launches dedicated Starlink mission for 250th time (Launch occurs at 00:13)
(VideoFromSpace; YouTube)
AIAA Statement on the Axiom Space AX-3 Launch
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 18, 2024 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) CEO Dan Dumbacher made the following statement:
“On behalf of the 30,000 professional and student members of AIAA, we congratulate the entire Axiom Space team on its successful AX-3 launch onboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. We applaud this private mission to the International Space Station (ISS), showing how NASA and private industry are working together to extend the human neighborhood into low Earth orbit.
It is exciting to anticipate the AX-3 crew’s busy schedule onboard the ISS orbiting laboratory, conducting more than 30 scientific investigations into human health and well-being, radiation exposure, genetic expression, and Earth observations. This meaningful research in space is expanding our scientific knowledge as we witness the space economy growing. These explorers and innovators are working to improve life on Earth and accelerate our off-world future. We look forward to following their progress.
We recognize the countless aerospace industry professionals involved in making this mission a success. We salute AIAA Corporate Member Axiom Space, as they collaborate with NASA and SpaceX. They are shaping the future of aerospace.”
AIAA Media Contact: Rebecca Gray, [email protected], 804-397-5270 cell
About AIAA
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is the world’s largest aerospace technical society. With nearly 30,000 individual members from 91 countries, and 100 corporate members, AIAA brings together industry, academia, and government to advance engineering and science in aviation, space, and defense. For more information, visit aiaa.org or follow AIAA on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
Video
AX-3 launch onboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center at 4:49 p.m. EST on Thursday, January 18.
(Spaceflight Now; YouTube)