Space Tech Digest — 2026-03-29

Launch Roundup

• SpaceX Starlink / ULA Doubleheader (SpaceX & ULA) — Both SpaceX and ULA are scheduled to launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida on Sunday, March 29, marking a rare same-day doubleheader from the Space Coast. Full payload specifics were not yet confirmed at press time.

• CAS Space Kinetica 1 (CAS Space) — Chinese commercial launch provider CAS Space was scheduled to launch its Kinetica 1 rocket on Friday, March 27, at 04:10 UTC from Site 130 at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, following a southern trajectory to deploy its payload.

• Russia Soyuz-5 Debut (Roscosmos) — Russia's debut of the new Soyuz-5 rocket was listed among the week's notable launches in the period after March 22, representing a significant milestone for the Russian commercial launch program alongside Falcon 9 and Atlas V missions carrying internet satellites.

Commercial Space Business

• Xona Space Systems — $170M Series C — Satellite navigation startup Xona Space Systems raised $170 million in a Series C funding round to develop its "Pulsar" constellation — a high-power GPS alternative. The company plans to upgrade its satellite manufacturing plant in Burlingame, California and deploy 258 satellites within a few years, with first systems slated to launch by end of 2026.

• NASA Cancels Gateway, Pivots to Lunar Surface Base — In a major architectural shift announced in March 2026, NASA said it would no longer build the Gateway lunar orbital station and would instead focus resources on establishing a lunar surface base between 2029 and 2036, repurposing Gateway hardware and partner contributions where possible. The move reshapes billions of dollars in contracts and international partnerships.

• NASA Announces New Mars Mission — Alongside its lunar architecture update, NASA revealed a new Mars mission called "Ignition," adding a deep-space destination to its already packed manifest. The announcement was covered as part of a broader agency reshaping of goals across both the Moon and Mars.

Exploration & Science

• Artemis II Targeting April 2026 Launch — NASA's Artemis II mission — the first crewed lunar flyby in more than 50 years — is targeting a launch no later than April 2026 from Kennedy Space Center. The 10-day mission will carry four astronauts, including CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen, around the Moon and back to Earth, testing deep space systems ahead of future surface landings.

• NASA Reshapes Artemis Architecture — Gateway Cancelled — Published March 24, CNN reported that NASA announced it would scrap the lunar Gateway station and pivot to a direct surface base strategy between 2029–2036. The decision came alongside the new Mars mission announcement, signaling a major reallocation of NASA's exploration budget and timeline.

Space Economy Snapshot

• Most active launch provider this week: SpaceX (multiple Falcon 9 missions scheduled, including the March 29 doubleheader)
• Biggest funding/contract: Xona Space Systems — $170M Series C for GPS-alternative Pulsar satellite constellation
• Key upcoming launch: Artemis II crewed lunar flyby — no later than April 1, 2026 from Kennedy Space Center

What to Watch Next Week

1. Artemis II Launch (targeting ~April 1, 2026) — The most watched spaceflight event since the Apollo era. NASA's SLS rocket is being prepared at Launch Complex 39B to send four astronauts on a 10-day loop around the Moon. Every systems test and countdown update will be major news.

2. CAS Space Kinetica 1 Outcome — If the March 27 launch of China's Kinetica 1 proceeded as scheduled, post-launch analysis and payload deployment confirmation from CAS Space will be worth tracking early next week.

3. Xona Space Systems Constellation Roadmap — Following its $170M Series C close, watch for Xona to announce manufacturing expansion plans and potential launch partnerships for its first Pulsar navigation satellites, targeted for orbit by end of 2026.