The European Union is poised to increase its space budget and create a dedicated Directorate-General for Defense Industry and Space for the European Commission.

Inmarsat is gearing up for the Nov. 22 launch of its GX5 satellite, planned to bring a major capacity increase to serve commercial and business aircraft flying in Europe and the Middle East.

OHB is proceeding with its plan to design and operate a launcher for placing satellites up to 440 lb. in low Earth orbit.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) on Nov. 18 sustained a protest by Blue Origin of the U.S. Air Force’s National Security Space Launch procurement.

A test of abort thrusters destroyed the capsule that had returned from an unmanned test flight to the International Space Station.

Elon Musk achieved a major step toward his goal of lowering the cost of space launch March 30 with the successful relaunch and recovery of a “used” Falcon 9 first stage on a commercial orbital mission.

SpaceX has two paying customers for a lunar flyaround, and will try to send them on their way before the end of 2018, founder Elon Musk said Feb. 27.

The launch marks a shift for the historic Launch Complex 39A at Cape Canaveral from government to commercial launches.