2nd International Conference on Gravitation, Astrophysics and Cosmology

https://astrophysics2026.conplusmeetings.com/

The conference brings together global researchers who share an interest in gravitation, astrophysics and cosmology as a challenge to explore the structure of space and time, as well as how coherence, order, and complexity emerge across all systems. The featured SpaceLand Workshop “Weightless Visions” gathers participants to engage with cutting-edge scientific perspectives and hands-on microgravity research experiences. $199-$1099. Paris, France. April 16-18, 2026.

2026 Lunar Surface Innovation Consortium (LSIC) Spring Meeting

https://lsic.jhuapl.edu/Events/Agenda/index.php?id=63600020

Explore ways to accelerate operational objectives for securing a lasting human presence on the Moon. Speakers include NASA Moon Base Program Executive Carlos Garcia-Galan, NASA STMD Acting Associate Administrator Greg Stover, and Redwire Space President Mike Gold. $0-$220. Washngton DC and Laurel, MD. April 28-30, 2026.

Arizona Space Congress

https://spacerising.org/

Space Rising aligns government, industry, and academic leaders through live discussions, collaborative ideations, hands-on exhibits, and experiential programming to guide statewide coordination for greater growth, investment, and industrial base development to shape the future of space. Speakers include XRDNA CEO Charles Adelman and Blue Origin RFC Systems Engineer Omar Alam. $125-$225. Phoenix, AZ. April 29, 2026.

NASA SmallSat LEARN Forum

https://www.nasa.gov/smallsat-institute/learn/upcoming-session/

Participation in the SmallSat LEARN Forum is by invitation only. If you are affiliated with a NASA-funded SmallSat mission and are interested in participating, please connect with SmallSat LEARN Forum. April 29, 2026 and June 24, 2026.

Small Satellites Systems and Services Symposium

https://atpi.eventsair.com/4s-symposium-2026/

4S Symposium, Europe's main small satellite technical forum for almost 30 years, opens under the theme, "Swarming the Skies, Soaring Beyond: from VLEO to Deep Space," with a special session dedicated to swarm missions. A CubeSat workshop will be held in parallel to the symposium. €550-€1100. Sardinia, Italy. May 4-8, 2026.

USGIF GEOINT Symposium 2026

https://usgif.org/geoint-symposium-2026/

Explore the critical role of geospatial intelligence in building a secure future through discussions  with industry experts, government leaders, and innovators on the intersection of technology and security and challenges and opportunities in today’s complex geopolitical landscape. Aurora, CO. May 3-6, 2026.

ASCEND 2026

https://www.ascend.events/

Key themes for this year's ASCEND conference include shaping space policy and law for long-term activity, sustainable cislunar and lunar exploration, the Moon-to-Mars pathway, strengthening national security, and new horizons in space infrastructure and services. Washington, DC. May 19-21, 2026.

CYSAT Europe  

https://cysat.eu/

Billed as the world's biggest space cybersecurity event, CYSAT Europe welcomes attendees for discussions around the latest innovations, challenges, upcoming regulations, and technical demonstrations. €50-€500. Paris. May 20-21, 2026.

Space Tech Expo USA

https://www.spacetechexpo.com/anaheim

Space Tech's 14th expo explores key issues and opportunities within the US and international space industry, with 350+ exhibitors. Speakers include Nicholas Cialdella, CTO of Varda, and Brian Taylor, CEO of Lux Aeterna. $0-$79. Anaheim, CA. June 2-4, 2026.

International Space Development Conference 2026

https://isdc.nss.org/

The National Space Society's 44th annual conference theme is "Space for us all," bringing together NASA astronauts, visionaries in spaceflight, industry executives, researchers and engineers for discussions and insights around the NewSpace economy, AI and space settlement. $80-$750. McLean, VA. June 4-7, 2026.

2026 IEEE International MTT Symposia (IMS)

https://ims-ieee.org/register-2026

Four symposia in an inaugural unified experience covering the full breadth of RF challenges and solutions for the global RF and microwave community. Workshops, technical sessions and exhibitions focused on systems-level integration, applications and measurement. $65-$$2,625. Boston, MA. June 7-12, 2026.

MILSATCOM USA 2026

https://www.smgconferences.com/defence/northamerica/conference/MilSatCom-USA

MILSATCOM, in its 10th year, is dedicated to advancing military satellite communications across the US and allied nations. Explore developments in policy, resilient networks, cybersecurity solutions for space systems, and next-generation SATCOM solutions for warfighter advantage. $0-$2698. Arlington, VA. June 8-10, 2026.

248th American Astronomical Society Meeting

https://aas.org/meetings/aas248

The 248th AAS meeting, joint with the High Energy Astrophysics and Laboratory Astrophysics Divisions will offer a comprehensive scientific program including  talks and networking sessions focused on the future of space and ground-based astronomy. $0-$1,963. Pasadena, CA. June 14-18, 2026.

The 2026 Humans to the Moon & Mars Summit

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-2026-humans-to-the-moon-mars-summit-registration-1972668527669?aff=oddtdtcreator&mc_cid=b41e57470e

Workshops and plenary sessions around the goal of achieving a permanent human presence on the Moon in this decade and Mars in the next. Topics to include Moon and Mars architecture and systems, science, human health, policy, STEM education, and more. From $160.94. Houston, TX. July 21-23, 2026.

NASA Space to Soil Challenge

https://nasa-space-to-soil.org/

Prizes up to $400,000 await participants able to develop or describe improvements in how SmallSats sense, process and deliver information to enable adaptive sensing or onboard processing on missions advancing regenerative agriculture, forestry or a similar land resilience objectives. Submission Deadline: May 4, 2026.

2026 Deep Space Food Challenge: Mars to Table

https://deepspacefood.org/marstotable

This international competition administered by the Methuselah Foundation invites multidisciplinary teams to design complete, nutritionally sufficient integrated food systems for long-duration human missions. Solutions must operate as end-to-end systems that minimize inputs while maximizing resilience and reuse for closed-loop or near closed-loop operation. Solution summary due: May 22, 2026.

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https://jobs.spacenews.com/

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https://spacecrew.com/

Accelerate your space career with email alerts for key space industry insights and over 4000 space company jobs.

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https://www.spacetalent.org/

Space Talent is a resource for careers at the intersection of space and tech. They match employers with top talent while providing insights and resources to grow your career.

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Space analytics firm HawkEye's revenue jumped 74% in 2025, US IPO filing shows

https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/geospatial-analytics-firm-hawkeye-360-files-us-ipo-2026-04-10/

Space analytics firm HawkEye 360 filed for a US IPO after reporting 74% revenue growth to $117.7 million and a pivot to profitability in 2025. HawkEye, which operates a constellation of over 30 radio-frequency geolocation satellites, seeks to capitalize on growing demand for its radio-frequency data used in defense and intelligence. The company plans to list on the NYSE under the ticker "HAWK".

Starcloud Raises $170M to Fund Orbital Data Center Plans

https://www.satellitetoday.com/finance/2026/03/30/starcloud-raises-170m-to-fund-orbital-data-center-plans/

Starcloud raised $170 million in a Series A round to support manufacturing capacity and development of Starcloud-3 satellites, as part of its goal of deploying an up to 88,000-satellite distributed orbital data center. The initial tranche of the round was led by Benchmark with participation from EQT Ventures, who both also co-led an extension round with participation from NFX, Nebular, Y Combinator and others. The round makes Starcloud the fastest Y Combinator graduate to reach unicorn status with a $1.1 billion valuation.

Aetherflux reportedly raising Series B at $2 billion valuation

https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/27/aetherflux-reportedly-raising-series-b-at-2-billion-valuation/

Space solar power startup Aetherflux is in talks to raise $250-$350 million for a Series B round that would value the company at $2 billion. Index Ventures is reportedly leading the deal to finance the shift in focus from power-generating technology toward delivering its first space data center satellite in 2027.

Spain’s Xoople raises $130 million Series B to map the Earth for AI

https://techcrunch.com/2026/04/06/spains-xoople-raises-130-million-series-b-to-map-the-earth-for-ai/

Spanish startup Xoople closed a $130 million Series B led by Nazca Capital to develop a satellite constellation for precise data collection for deep learning models. Other investors include MCH Private Equity, CDTI, Buenavista Equity Partners, and Endeavor Catalyst.

Otter Pup Mission by Starfish Space. Image Credits: Jmthompson2020

On-Orbit Services Startup Starfish Space Raises $110M to Execute Missions, Boost Production

https://www.satellitetoday.com/finance/2026/04/07/on-orbit-services-startup-starfish-space-raises-110m-to-execute-missions-boost-production/

Starfish Space raised about $110 million in a Series B round led by Point72 Ventures to boost production of its Otter service spacecraft. The company will also execute five contracted orbital servicing missions starting with its first operational Otter mission this year. The round was co-led by Activate Capital and Shield Capital with participation from Industrious Ventures, Night Dragonas, NFX, Munich Re Ventures, and others.

Portal Space Systems has raised $50 million to Build a Fighter Jet for Orbit

https://techcrunch.com/2026/04/09/portal-raises-50-million-to-build-a-new-kind-of-high-power-rocket-engine/

Portal Space Systems announced a $50 million Series A round valuing the company at $250 million, led by Geodesic Capital and Mach33, alongside Booz Allen Ventures, ARK Invest, AlleyCorp and FUSE. Portal is working on improving the NASA solar thermal propulsion technology to turn it into a high-powered propulsion for the next generation of spacecraft.

Phantom Space buys thermal specialist to support orbital data center push

https://spacenews.com/phantom-space-buys-thermal-specialist-to-support-orbital-data-center-push/

Satellite and rocket company Phantom Space acquired satellite thermal hardware provider Thermal Management Technologies (TMT) for heat management expertise to increase performance and reliability for its planned Phantom Cloud orbital data center constellation. The acquisition is part of Phantom's broader effort to build integrated space infrastructure and ultimately, an ecosystem connecting satellite operators and customers to process and monetize data directly in space.

EIC Accelerator backs Arkadia Space’s €14.5M round to commercialise green satellite fuel

https://techfundingnews.com/eic-accelerator-backs-arkadia-spaces-e14-5m-round-to-commercialise-green-satellite-fuel/

Arkadia Space secured €14.5 million from the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator, which includes a €2.5 million grant, €6 million in equity from the EIC Fund, and an additional €6 million from private investors. Arkadia produces efficient and environmentally responsible satellite and space vehicle propulsion systems.

Arinna raises $4M seed round to solve the space power problem

https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/25/arinna-4-million-seed-round-solar-energy-space-power-problem/

Startup Arinna raised a $4 million seed round to build ultrathin solar panels from a new material developed by its Stanford PhD founders. The capital raise was led by Spacecadet Ventures, with participation from Anorak Ventures and Breakthrough Energy Foundation. Arinna expects to test its first products in orbit by year-end and build a megawatt scale mass-production facility by 2028. Arinna uses atomically thin semiconductors that are touted as cheaper and more durable than legacy space solar panels.

Can Multi-Domain ISR Fuel ONDS' Growth Engine After World View Buyout?

https://qz.com/can-multi-domain-isr-fuel-onds-growth-engine-after-world-view-buyout

Ondas acquired stratospheric intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance specialist World View Enterprises to support plans for an integrated, layered ISR stack that spans the stratosphere, air and ground. This will enable faster decision-making and continuous and persistent surveillance for modern defense and security operations. 

Artemis II leaving Earth. Image Credits: NASA

Relive Artemis 2's epic moon flyby with these amazing photos

https://www.space.com/space-exploration/artemis/relive-artemis-2s-epic-moon-flyby-with-these-amazing-photos

NASA's Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen captured their journey in photos as they flew around the far side of the moon on April 6th. The Artemis 2 mission captured imagery of the moon's far side, a modern "Earthset," and a total solar eclipse. The crew set a new spaceflight distance record, surpassing Apollo 13, before successfully splashing down in the Pacific Ocean. 

Trump 2027 Budget Request Targets Cuts for NASA, Boost for Golden Dome

https://www.satellitetoday.com/government-military/2026/04/06/trump-2027-budget-request-targets-cuts-for-nasa-boost-for-golden-dome/

President Trump’s fiscal year 2027 budget request proposes a $1.5 trillion defense plan, a 44% increase that boosts space-based military initiatives, including $17.5 billion for Golden Dome missile defense. Conversely, the proposal cuts NASA's total budget by 23% to $18.8 billion, slashing science funding while increasing support for the Artemis moon program. 

Rocket Lab’s next step

https://aerospaceamerica.aiaa.org/features/rocket-labs-next-step/

Rocket Lab is developing the Neutron medium-lift vehicle to enter the competitive market for satellite constellations and national security launches. The 40-meter, reusable rocket, designed to lift 13,000 kilograms, aims for its debut flight in late 2026 and features a unique soft water landing strategy. Rocket Lab already has half a dozen contracts for Neutron.

If Life Exists in Venus' Atmosphere, It Could Have Come From Earth

https://www.universetoday.com/articles/if-life-exists-in-venus-atmosphere-it-could-have-come-from-space

New research suggests that if microbial life exists in Venus’s clouds, it may have originated from Earth via panspermia, the transfer of life through space on meteorites. Modeling indicates that impacts could have ejected Earth material carrying microbes, with some surviving the journey and dispersing in Venus’s atmosphere, potentially delivering billions of cells over time.

These 45 exoplanets may be the best places to search for alien life

https://www.space.com/astronomy/exoplanets/these-45-exoplanets-may-be-the-best-places-to-search-for-alien-life

A team of astronomers from Cornell's Carl Sagan Institute have identified 45 nearby rocky exoplanets as the most promising places to search for life from over 6,000 known worlds, based on their location in the habitable zone where liquid water could exist. The list, including planets such as TRAPPIST-1 worlds, LHS 1140 b and Proxima Centauri b, is designed to guide future observations with telescopes such as the James Webb Space Telescope, prioritizing targets where atmospheric signs of life are most detectable.