Space News Digest 31 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.

Saturday 31 October 2026

1. ICEYE to invest EUR 11.1 million in its Valencia satellite plant
The Finnish SAR company gets EUR 1.95 million in regional aid to add complete SIGINT satellite manufacturing in Paterna, with 36 jobs open.
https://www.eleconomista.es/tecnologia/noticias/14023991/10/26/iceye-potencia-sus-componentes-valencianos-de-satelites-con-11-millones-de-inversion-hasta-2028.html

2. Google's Suncatcher AI satellite sends its first reply via Svalbard
The prototype ran a Gemma model on a data-centre TPU in orbit and downlinked its first answer, a haiku, over Svalbard, Norway.
https://blog.google/innovation-and-ai/models-and-research/google-research/project-suncatcher-satellite-response/

3. ULA sets 13 November for Vulcan's return to flight
Vulcan returns with a redesigned booster nozzle, six solid boosters and its first Amazon Leo batch.
https://spacenews.com/vulcan-to-return-to-flight-in-mid-november-with-first-amazon-leo-mission/

4. Falcon 9 flies for the 700th time
Starlink 15-18 closed October from Vandenberg as SpaceX's launch rate falls while it winds Falcon down for Starship.
https://spaceflightnow.com/2026/10/30/live-coverage-spacex-to-close-out-october-with-halloween-eve-falcon-9-launch/

5. Analysts: the looming launch crunch is worse than expected
Forecasts show about 150 launches missing outside China by 2030, and little sign Starship will carry traditional satellites soon.
https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/10/analysts-find-looming-launch-crisis-is-more-severe-than-anticipated/

Image: ICEYE