Private American space company led by Jeff Bezos
The Artemis II crew has returned to Earth after a record-breaking lunar flyby, and NASA is pivoting to surface-based lunar exploration. Axiom Space and Northrop Grumman acknowledge corrosion issues in habitat modules, while agencies push toward a 2028 lunar landing and a 2030 Moon base timeline, despite ongoing technical hurdles.
Golden Dome's space-based interceptors are advancing with 12 awardees under OTA deals totaling up to $3.2 billion. Space Force officials claim initial capability by 2028, while critics warn on affordability and scale. The plan includes Space-Based Interceptors, ground systems, and AI integration; analysts debate price tags said to run into trillions.
NASA has selected Lunar Outpost and AstroLab to build lunar terrain vehicles for a moon base program and announced private partners will lead the first uncrewed lunar landers and cargo missions this year, with iterative demonstrations planned toward a permanent lunar outpost.
A wave of space-based data-center startups and defense-aligned ventures are racing to deploy orbital computing. Companies plan test satellites, funding rounds, and government programs to scale AI workloads in orbit, while observers caution about the cost, heat management, and regulatory hurdles.
Blue Origin has lost a New Glenn rocket in a catastrophic engine test at Cape Canaveral, producing a fireball that damaged the LC‑36A pad and generated seismic waves. Jeff Bezos and CEO Dave Limp have said key propellant tanks and some hardware survived and the company has begun a pad rebuild, while NASA is offering technical support for Artemis-related schedules.
Prada has unveiled a body-hugging Liquid Cooling and Ventilation Garment, created with Axiom Space, featuring ventilation tubes woven into the fabric. The collaboration links luxury fashion with space exploration as brands seek fresh relevance amid market softness. Artemis-era space initiatives loom in the background.
NASA has named Randy Bresnik, Luca Parmitano, Frank Rubio and Andre Douglas as the Artemis III crew for a mid‑2027, two‑week Earth‑orbit test flight to practice docking with prototype lunar landers from Blue Origin and SpaceX. The all‑male selection has drawn online criticism and questions about whether Blue Origin’s May New Glenn explosion will delay the program.
Bezos has launched Prometheus to build an “artificial general engineer” that could accelerate invention, with funding surpassing $12 billion and 150 employees. He asserts AI will raise productivity and create opportunities, countering fears of widespread job losses. The company is pursuing AI models for engineering, manufacturing and design, while exploring regulation debates.
Micron has reported blockbuster fiscal third-quarter results — $41.46bn revenue and $28.24bn net income — and has forecast roughly $50bn for the current quarter. The results have pushed Micron above a $1tn market value, restarted buying in memory stocks and have sharpened concerns that soaring AI data‑centre demand is forcing consumer electronics makers, including Apple, to prepare price increases.
OpenAI and Anthropic prepare to list as other tech ventures eye public debuts, amid warnings about IPO pricing. History shows many listings underperform in the long run, but investors remain hopeful as market chatter intensifies.
Amazon has reached a milestone with a satellite constellation of over 390 satellites, enabling initial Leo internet service later this year. The launch cadence faces delays from recent rocket setbacks, but the company plans broader coverage as more satellites go online.
Space companies announce a $50 million deal to use Starship for lunar cargo, with ispace combining its Moon landers and Starship for broad access to the Moon. A 2030 launch is eyed, pending Starship readiness, as Artemis missions advance.
China has achieved the first vertical recovery of a booster from an orbital-class rocket, recovering the Long March 10B’s first stage on an offshore platform. The test marks a step toward reusable launch systems and could lower future costs, with CASC aiming to reuse the booster by year’s end. Multiple outlets report similar milestones and context.