Payload — The House Science, Space, and Technology Committee unanimously passed the NASA Reauthorization Act of 2026, which includes amendments to expand NASA’s space nuclear capabilities.

Aviation Week — The recently passed defense appropriations bill funded the U.S. Space Force’s commercial services budget line at nearly $169 million, compared with the Pentagon’s $36.6 million request. The amount marks a fourfold increase over 2025, says Sam Wilson, director for strategy and national security at Aerospace’s Center for Space Policy and Strategy.

Aerospace America — To mark the 100th anniversary of Robert Goddard’s first flight with a rocket using liquid propellants, the Aerospace Corporation plans to publish new Goddard-themed STEM lessons plans.

Gizmodo — “While Starlink is really kind of spread across all [customer segments], Amazon and TeraWave have chosen—at least initially—to position themselves towards the higher end,” said Kevin Bell, senior VP of the Engineering and Technology Group (ETG) at The Aerospace Corporation.

SpaceNews —  A little more than a year after dismissing the moon as a “distraction,” Elon Musk says SpaceX will focus on lunar settlement before sending humans to Mars.

SpaceNews — Launch companies are divided on how to compete with SpaceX in a market where demand outstrips supply, yet customers remain price sensitive.

Air and Space Forces Magazine — “[NASA and the Pentagon] don’t need to have three bespoke initiatives underway,” NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said. That could mean using a NASA-certified launch vehicle for defense applications or sharing technology developments in areas like navigation, communications, and nuclear propulsion.

Aerospace America — As the Pentagon pushes to accelerate acquisition, Lt. Gen. David Miller Jr. — the Space Force deputy chief of space operations for strategy, plans, programs and requirements — said the service wants to align its purchases with mission areas, rather than programs.

SpaceNews — An investor in two space companies that went public in the past year said an upcoming SpaceX initial public offering could generate new investor interest in the sector while also triggering a wave of consolidation.

Aviation Week — Congress injected $110-120 million for NASA to further nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP) research and development and $50 million for nuclear electric propulsion (NEP) efforts under the recently passed appropriations bill. New NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman has embraced nuclear propulsion and fission surface power as core to the agency’s mission.