This Week in Space Tech: Sept. 15 to 21, 2025
A lively week with fresh launches, policy moves, and new money for orbital networks.
Launches and flight activity
Blue Origin is back on the pad: New Shepard flew its NS-35 mission on Sep 18, lofting more than 40 research payloads and pushing New Shepard past 200 payloads flown to date. Liftoff was 9:01 a.m. EDT from West Texas.
Starlink keeps building out: SpaceX launched another batch of 21 Starlink satellites on Sep 21, adding capacity ahead of a busy late-September manifest.
China tests internet-sat tech in orbit: A Long March 2C from Jiuquan on Sep 16 deployed a satellite-internet technology demonstrator with a Yuanzheng-1S upper stage.
ISS logistics steady after drama: Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus NG-23 completed a delayed approach and arrived at the station on Sep 18, two days after an initial close-approach abort.
Programs and policy
Space-weather trio set for the spotlight: NASA set broadcast details and timelines for the IMAP launch with Carruthers Geocorona Observatory and NOAA’s SWFO-L1, including prelaunch briefings starting Sunday Sep 21.
Court case clears a path for Boca Chica ops: A U.S. judge rejected a lawsuit challenging the FAA’s approval of expanded Starship activity in Texas, a ruling issued Sep 15 that removes a legal overhang for SpaceX.
Startup money and deals
Hubble Network raises for direct-to-device IoT: The Bluetooth-to-satellite startup closed a $70M Series B on Sep 17 to scale toward a 60-satellite constellation by 2028.
K2 Space adds fuel: Los Angeles bus maker K2 Space secured $15M from NewSpace Capital to advance multi-orbit platforms.
European propulsion bet: Spain’s Kreios Space raised €8M to industrialize its electric-sail-inspired in-space propulsion tech.
Industry and community notes
ESA opens its doors: For the first time, ESA headquarters in Paris hosted an Open Day on Sep 20, welcoming nearly 2,800 visitors and showcasing Europe’s decision hub.
Bus design win: Canada’s MDA Space landed a contract to design a next-generation satellite bus for a flagship mission, announced Sep 18 during the Paris business week.