Space News Digest 27 October 2026

This is SpaceEconomy's automated daily digest of the most interesting news related to our project. Published daily for your information and entertainment.

Tuesday 27 October 2026

1. Starship Flight 15 booster completes full 33-engine static fire
SpaceX targets November, and Musk says it will try the first tower catch of a Ship upper stage.
https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/spacex-ignites-giant-super-heavy-booster-engines-ahead-of-daring-starship-launch-video

2. Stoke Space gets a $150M conditional US government loan for a second launch pad
The Office of Strategic Capital loan would back a Cape Canaveral pad for the larger Nova Block 2 rocket.
https://www.war.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/4633729/department-of-wars-office-of-strategic-capital-signs-150-million-conditional-lo/

3. Finland and Japan sign pact on transferring defence equipment and technology
Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen signed it in Tokyo, where he is leading a Finnish defence and space industry delegation that includes ICEYE.
https://www.nippon.com/en/news/yjj2026102600807/japan-finland-ink-pact-on-transfer-of-defense-equipment-tech.html

4. Estonian MP: Russian satellite's approach to ICEYE-X36 was a deliberate provocation
Physicist Mario Kadastik says Kosmos 2612 parked a few dozen metres away and calls for a NATO response.
https://news.err.ee/1610172082/mp-russian-satellite-s-shadowing-of-finnish-satellite-a-deliberate-provocation

5. Finnish Meteorological Institute uses satellites to track open-pit mining activity
Sentinel-5P nitrogen oxide data mirrored coal output in Mongolia and even revealed little-known mines.
https://www.ilmatieteenlaitos.fi/uutinen/2LP88h7bvztHPsPhYVa5z9

Image: SpaceX via Space.com