Space News Digest 29 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.

Thursday 29 October 2026

1. Kuva Space pilot shows hyperspectral data sharpens Europe's land-cover maps
In a Copernicus Contributing Missions pilot, combining Hyperfield-1 imagery with Sentinel-2 beat either source alone and ESA's WorldCover, at nearly 70% accuracy.
https://kuvaspace.com/en/resources/seeing-more-in-the-same-picture-what-our-copernicus-pilot-showed-about-europes-land-cover

2. ICEYE recommended for PLN 30.4m Polish grant to build an optical VHR minisatellite
Poland's NCBR picked ICEYE's very-high-resolution optical satellite project, a step beyond its SAR fleet, likely to be built at its Polish plant.
https://space24.pl/przemysl/sektor-krajowy/30-milionow-zlotych-dla-iceye-z-konkursu-ncbr

3. Finnish astronomers and Ursa urge MEPs to protect the dark sky in the EU Space Act
They object to the removal of quantitative limits on satellite brightness and radio emissions from the draft act.
https://www.avaruus.fi/uutiset/maa-ja-lahiavaruus/tutkijat-ja-ursa-vetoavat-suomalaismeppeihin-pimeaen-taivaan-suojelemiseksi.html

4. Blue Origin still aims to return New Glenn to flight this year
The rebuilt LC-36 pad at Cape Canaveral should be ready in the first half of December.
https://spacenews.com/blue-origin-still-pushing-for-return-to-flight-of-new-glenn-this-year/

5. Rendezvous Robotics raises $20M for self-assembling spacecraft
The MIT TESSERAE spin-off plans a 2028 demo in which seven tiles join into one satellite and then reconfigure.
https://payloadspace.com/exclusive-rendezvous-robotics-raises-20m-to-develop-self-assembling-spacecraft/

6. Virgin Galactic unveils Apeiron, its first Delta-class spaceship for space tourism
Named by public vote, the spaceplane was flown to Spaceport America for flight-test preparations, with commercial flights expected from early Q2 2027.
https://www.virgingalactic.com/news/virgin-galactics-spaceship-apeiron-arrives-home-to-spaceport-america

Image: Kuva Space