Space Tech Digest — 2026-07-27

Launch & Mission Updates

Starship Flight 13

• Vehicle: SpaceX Starship megarocket
• Status: Successfully launched July 24, 2026
• Details: Starship achieved its most advanced test flight to date, deploying the first operational Starlink V3 satellites to orbit. Both booster and ship stages executed controlled landings, with the ship achieving what SpaceX described as the "softest splashdown ever"—a major milestone for landing precision and reusability. This flight demonstrated Starship's payload capability for the next-generation Starlink constellation.

Northrop Grumman MRV-MEP Satellite Servicing Mission

• Vehicle: SpaceX Falcon 9
• Status: Launched July 21, 2026
• Details: SpaceX successfully orbited Northrop Grumman's MRV-MEP satellite repair drone, equipped with 10-foot robotic arms capable of servicing and extending the life of operational satellites in Earth orbit. This mission represents a breakthrough in on-orbit servicing technology and marks growing demand for satellite maintenance capabilities.

NASA Psyche Mars Gravity Assist

• Vehicle: NASA Psyche spacecraft
• Status: Mars flyby completed May 15, 2026; data released July 17
• Details: NASA's Psyche mission successfully conducted a gravity assist maneuver at Mars, collecting imaging data and a time-lapse video of the encounter. The flyby allowed the mission team to test instruments and prepare for science operations when Psyche reaches the metal-rich asteroid in 2029. This Mars encounter was a critical stepping stone in the spacecraft's journey.

Commercial Space

• NASA Reassigns SunRISE to SpaceX Falcon Heavy: NASA's SunRISE space weather mission has been reassigned from a United Launch Alliance Vulcan Centaur to a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket, marking another shift in NASA's launch vehicle procurement strategy. The change reflects growing confidence in Falcon Heavy's heavy-lift capability and competitive pricing for science missions.

• U.S. Air Force Expands National Security Launch Contracts: The Air Force has added two California-based startups—Impulse Space and Relativity Federal—to the National Security Space Launch Phase 3 Lane 1 contract, reserved for accessible, lower-risk military missions. This expansion broadens the Air Force's provider base beyond traditional contractors, supporting emerging commercial launch capabilities.

Science & Discovery

• James Webb Views Ancient Galaxies 4.4 Billion Years Old: The James Webb Space Telescope captured images of a young cluster of galaxies whose light has traveled 4.4 billion years to reach us, allowing astronomers to study galactic formation in the early universe. These observations demonstrate JWST's unprecedented sensitivity to distant, dusty star-forming regions and provide new insights into how galaxies assembled billions of years ago.

• Webb Discovers Hidden Planet in Famous Star System: Astronomers using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope have detected a previously unknown exoplanet hidden within a well-studied star system. This discovery highlights JWST's capability to reveal planets that remain invisible to other telescopes and expands our census of worlds around nearby stars.

Upcoming Launch Schedule

What to Watch This Week

• Starship Follow-Up Flight: SpaceX is expected to begin preparations for Starship Flight 14, with launch likely in August or September 2026. Watch for announcements on booster and vehicle readiness at Starbase.
• Commercial Satellite Servicing Expansion: Following the MRV-MEP success, monitor announcements from Northrop Grumman and other companies planning in-space servicing missions scheduled for late 2026.
• NASA Launch Vehicle Announcements: Expect additional reassignments or contract changes as NASA continues optimizing its launch manifest across multiple providers.

Sources compiled from SpaceNews, NASASpaceflight.com, Spaceflight Now, NASA.gov, Space.com, and Defense One.