During its first earnings call since going public, SpaceX officials said today the next Starship test flight, IFT-14, will put operational Starlink Version 3 satellites into orbit. If they get regulatory approval, they also will try to catch the Starship upper stage back at the launch site for the first time.
NASA and SpaceX are getting ready to launch Crew-13 to the International Space Station in September. For the first time, if an emergency occurs on the launch pad and the crew needs to escape, Tesla Cybertrucks will be waiting for them instead of the usual Mine-Resistent Ambush Protected vehicles or MRAPs.
Here is SpacePolicyOnline.com’s list of space policy events for the week of August 2-8, 2026 and any insight we can offer about them. The Senate is in session this week. The House is on summer break, with only pro forma sessions between now and August 31.
NASA declined again today to indicate when the next Starliner flight will take place. The agency and Boeing agreed after problems encountered with the 2024 Crewed Flight Test that the next mission, Starliner 1, will carry cargo only, but the question remains as to when. Boeing said earlier this week they are working with NASA to resolve uncertainties about the date and additional cost impacts are possible. Boeing must absorb any cost increases under this fixed price contract.
Katalyst Space’s efforts to reboost NASA’s Swift observatory has encountered a setback. The LINK on-orbit servicing spacecraft is in a multi-axis spin. LINK must attach itself to Swift and raise the orbit to avoid reentering later this year. Other systems are working properly and Katalyst remains hopeful they can regain control of LINK and complete the mission.
The Department of Transportation wants to loosen environmental regulations for space launches and reentries. A proposed rule released today would allow DOT to waive “unnecessary environmental laws and regulations” to spur American innovation. The public has 30 days to comment. [Update, July 30: per the Federal Register, comments are due by August 31, 2026.]
Here is SpacePolicyOnline.com’s list of space policy events for the week of July 26-August 1, 2026 and any insight we can offer about them. The Senate is in session this week. The House is on summer recess, returning August 31 with only pro forma sessions until then.
NASA astronaut Chris Williams and two Russian cosmonauts, Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev, returned to Earth this morning after 8 months on the International Space Station.
The 13th Integrated Flight Test of SpaceX’s Starship system, IFT-13, was mostly a success. One week after the launch was scrubbed at the last moment because of engine failures, and a day after a weather delay, yesterday’s liftoff went perfectly as did the flight from Texas to the Indian Ocean. The only wrinkle was when the first stage made a hand landing in the Gulf after several engines did not fire for the landing burn.
Wildfires near Madrid, Spain forced the evacuation of NASA’s Deep Space Network facility there today. The agency reports that everyone is safe. The Madrid station is one of three around the world that communicate with spacecraft traveling throughout the solar system. NASA’s DSN in Goldstone, CA is taking over operations for now.