SpaceX has landed a $9.9 million Pentagon contract to study its laser technology for use in US missile warning and tracking systems. The deal, awarded through the Space Development Agency, includes a risk-reduction study, delivery of representative hardware and support for integrating the technology into military systems. The work is expected to be completed by October 2027.

SpaceX's Starlink is getting significantly faster across the U.S., while also attracting more customers from traditional DSL, cable, and fixed wireless providers, according to a new Ookla report. Highlights: • Starlink urban users are also growing faster than rural users. • Median upload speeds surged 42% year-over-year, from 14.63 Mbps in 1H 2025 to 20.73 Mbps in 1H 2026, and improved in all 50 states and D.C., with gains ranging from 25% to 70%. • The number of Starlink Speedtest users testing in urban areas grew at more than twice the rate of rural users from 1H 2025 to 1H 2026. Urban users grew faster than rural users in every state but Alaska and Hawaii. • Starlink latency improved in nearly every state. Median multi-server latency improved year-over-year in 49 states and Washington, D.C. SpaceX's next-gen Starlink V3 sats will help improve speeds and latency significantly. Full report:

SpaceX pulled heat shield tiles off a Starship that had already flown to space and put them on the next ship to fly again. Two tiles from Ship 40 came back from the Indian Ocean after Flight 13 and flew again on Ship 41 in September. A Starship heat shield carries about 20,000 of them. On Friday, Flight 15 is set to try catching the ship at the tower, with the goal of bringing the whole heat shield home.

SpaceX has just announced that it has signed a major deal with SINGULUS to manufacture advanced, high-efficiency solar cells for its Starmind satellites at its facility in Bastrop, Texas. The first production line is expected to be delivered in the first half of 2027, with plans to scale to more than 100 GW of solar cell production equipment. “We have signed a supply contract with SpaceX for a turnkey production line for the manufacture of heterojunction solar cells.” The agreement is part of a broader strategic partnership that could include multiple additional production lines as SpaceX rapidly expands its satellite manufacturing capabilities. More info:

SPACEX SIGNS SOLAR EQUIPMENT DEAL WITH SINGULUS Singulus will supply a turnkey line to make heterojunction (HJT) solar cells for $SPCX's Starmind satellites in Bastrop, Texas. First line due H1 2027. More lines planned to support over 100 GW of solar manufacturing equipment.

SpaceX has just officially unveiled its next-generation @Starlink Mini 2, which now comes with a built-in battery for the first time. • Up to 4.5 hours of connectivity on a single charge with the quick-swap battery (or plug in USB-C). • Weight: 3.53 Ibs (1.6 kg) including battery and kickstand • Dimensions: 10.35 × 12.36 × 0.91 inches (263 × 314 × 23.1 mm) • Field of view: 55° • Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6 • Environmental rating: IP67 • Wi-Fi coverage: Up to 1,800 sq ft (167 m2) • Battery: Removable, rechargeable 71 Wh battery • Battery weight: 1.08 Ibs (490g) • Battery attachment: Quick-release mechanism • Charging: USB-C, 60W • Battery power output: USB-C, up to 60W • Power button: Built-in physical power button • Battery indicators: LED status lights • Kickstand: Integrated, foldable kickstand • Tripod mount: Standard 1/4"-20 camera thread • Charger: Included 60W USB-C wall charger • Cable: Included 3-meter (10-foot) USB-C to USB-C cable Starlink is now taking preorders in the U.S.: