Launch sovereignty is national security. Germany is considering building a dedicated launch facility for its armed forces to ensure military satellites can be deployed without having to compete for capacity with commercial payloads. Minister Boris Pistorius said that existing European launch capacity, including capacity available through existing facilities in Norway and the United Kingdom, would not be sufficient to meet future demand. Germany therefore needed to consider whether the Bundeswehr, the country’s armed forces, required guaranteed access to its own launch infrastructure. "That is why we are currently also considering a Bundeswehr-owned launch site, because our national security must not be stuck in the traffic jam of commercial launch queues," Pistorius said.

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In the coming months, Japan will develop the FY2027 budget and three new documents: the National Security Strategy, National Defense Strategy and Defense Buildup Plan (DBP). Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae has said that these documents "will determine our country’s fate". It will be interesting to watch Japan’s decision and any potential U.S. space sensors or propulsion subcontract announcements.

$VOYG: SES Space & Defense and Starlab have agreed to collaborate on communication architecture to deliver continuous, resilient, low-latency connectivity services supporting the full lifecycle of Starlab’s commercial space station via its LEO Relay Services (27/07). The integrated architecture will provide Starlab customers with a seamless path to scale as additional relay capabilities and next-generation terminals come online. SES Space & Defense’s communication services will be available at Starlab’s launch and expand throughout the station’s operational lifecycle.

$MNTS: Momentus today announced the successful completion of the Spacecraft Critical Design Review (CDR) for its Vigoride 8 mission, transporting two hosted payloads under contracts with NASA. Successful completion of this key program milestone formally concludes the design and analysis phase of the preparation of the spacecraft.

$ASTS / $SPCX: "On July 22, 2026, the FCC adopted the auction rules for 160MHz of upper C-band at 3.98 to 4.14GHz, with the auction to follow by July 2027. TD Cowen puts the take at $30 billion to $75 billion. Joined to the lower C-band the carriers already hold, it forms a 440MHz stretch from 3.7 to 4.14GHz, the most valuable midband spectrum left in the country. Every national carrier will be in the room."

$KTOS: Kratos today announced that construction of its Indiana Payload Integration Facility (IPIF) for Hypersonic Systems located in Crane, Indiana, has been completed ahead of schedule. The 68,000-square-foot facility is fully equipped to perform advanced manufacturing, integration and testing of experimental hypersonic payloads. The IPIF engineering team will utilize enhanced workflows to simultaneously integrate, test and prepare up to six experimental payloads for critical hypersonic vehicles supporting programs like the Multi-Service Advanced Capabilities Hypersonic Testbed (MACH-TB). This new facility demonstrates Kratos’ steadfast commitment to advancing hypersonic system development and expanding the industrial base needed to accelerate Mach 5+ flight testing. The facility is expected to create over 100 high-tech jobs, with an estimated average annual wage of $80,000+, with significant hiring underway.

$VOYG: Starlab announced that Ecuador Space Society (ESS), a nonprofit organization focused on expanding Ecuador’s participation in the global space economy through education, research, and commercial engagement, will serve as Starlab’s channel partner in Ecuador.   ESS will identify and connect Ecuadorian researchers, universities, institutions and businesses with options to conduct scientific research, technology development and entrepreneurial initiatives aboard Starlab’s commercial space station.

$RKLB / $IRDM: Iridium today announced a strategic partnership with SKYWAVE, a global leader in industrial IoT connectivity, devices and enablement solutions for mission-critical assets, to help heavy equipment manufacturers build and scale more resilient connected equipment services across global operating environments. The integrated solution supports a wide range of connected equipment applications for OEMs, including remote monitoring, diagnostics, predictive maintenance, service support, and the modernization of existing connected equipment fleets. The partnership initially focuses on heavy equipment manufacturers, with the underlying architecture designed to support additional industrial verticals where assets operate globally, remotely, or beyond the reach of terrestrial networks.

$RKLB: Citizens analyst Trevor Walsh, Reiterates Market Outperform Rating on Rocket Lab, keeps a $130 PT. "We view Rocket Lab as one of the best-positioned names in our coverage".

$ASTS: AST SpaceMobile today announced that the launch of BlueBird 11, 12, and 13 satellites is currently scheduled for Wednesday, August 5, 2026, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, aboard a Falcon 9 rocket. Liftoff is targeted for 3:42 a.m. EDT with an additional opportunity available at 5:10 a.m.

Check out how the @SecretService is deploying our Stalker uncrewed aircraft as their "eye in the sky." The Secret Service's #UAS# program highlights how cutting-edge technology can protect our elected officials, the public, and critical locations nationwide. Redwire is proud that Stalker is providing security professionals with the tactical advantage that helps them stay ahead of evolving threats.