Space News Digest 8 November 2026

1. NASA awards new Moon Base landers, a nuclear rover and cislunar transport
Eight companies, including SpaceX and Blue Origin, join a USD 10 billion, ten-year CLPS 2 cargo-lander contract; about USD 1.3 billion in launch and transfer flights went to Arrow Science, Blue Origin and Impulse Space, and Blue Origin will deliver the nuclear-powered PROMISE rover to the lunar south pole in late 2028.
https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-awards-moon-base-transportation-technology-science-projects/

2. Britain confirms its Titania military satellite is in orbit and starts Project Inaros
The Ministry of Defence said the Hampshire-built BAE and Dstl spacecraft, launched last month, is now operating, and it is trialling neuromorphic ground sensors in the UK, Australia and Cyprus to watch for threats to British satellites.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-military-satellite-titania-launches-into-orbit-following-3bn-space-investment-into-defence-of-space

3. ULA sets 13 November for Vulcan's return to flight with 40 Amazon Leo satellites
A Vulcan VC6L is due to lift off from Cape Canaveral at 18:54 CET, the first of 38 Vulcan missions for Amazon's broadband constellation after eight earlier Atlas V deployments.
https://www.ulalaunch.com/missions/next-launch/vulcan-leo-1

4. Varda's W-8 capsule returns safely from orbit as three vehicles operate in space
The W-8 capsule landed at Koonibba, South Australia, on 5 November at 14:58 CET after 35 days in orbit, while W-7 and W-9 remained on orbit, marking Varda's first three-vehicle operation.
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vardas-w-8-capsule-returns-safely-from-orbit-as-three-vehicles-operate-in-space-302931173.html

Image: NASA