Rocket Lab launches 8th iQPS satellite
Electron rocket deployed Japanese SAR satellite on August 6 mission named The Grain Goddess Provides.
Friday, August 7, 2026
Rocket Lab launches 8th iQPS satellite — Friday, August 7, 2026
Rocket Lab launched iQPS satellite; SpaceX deployed three BlueBird satellites; NASA completed ISS spacewalk 96 and Voyager 2 power adjustment. Recent activity centers on SpaceX milestones and debris events, with Starship advancing toward upper‑stage landing, Starlink expanding its constellation, and a Falcon 9 upper stage impacting the Moon, while Amazon and others push satellite‑broadband deployment and Blue Origin seeks major outside capital.
Biggest developments
SpaceX launches three BlueBird satellites
Falcon 9 carried BlueBird 11, 12 and 13 on August 5 from Cape Canaveral.
NASA completes Voyager 2 power swap
Engineers freed power on August 4 to extend remaining science instruments by at least one year.
Important posts & threads
ISS spacewalk 96 completed
Jessica Meir and Anil Menon installed hardware for future IROSA solar array on August 6.
SpaceX BlueBird launch success
71st Falcon 9 launch of 2026 lifted three AST SpaceMobile satellites.
Bullish takes
- Rocket Lab maintains launch cadence with iQPS mission
- AST SpaceMobile expands direct-to-cell constellation
- SpaceX's Starship test flight aims to land the upper stage for the first time, a major milestone in reusable rocket technology[4].
- SpaceX reported Q2 2026 revenue of $7.8 billion, up 92% year‑over‑year, signaling strong commercial momentum in launch and satellite services[10].
- Amazon states it has enough Project Kuiper satellites in orbit to begin initial broadband service at mid‑latitudes later this year, expanding global satellite‑internet competition[5].
Critical takes
- A SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage collided with the Moon, adding to orbital debris concerns and highlighting long‑term space‑junk risks[4][8].
- A Chinese rocket breakup near the Starlink constellation likely generated 100–150 new debris fragments, raising collision‑risk worries for operational satellites[5].
- A GAO report cites $11 billion in cost overruns and launch‑delivery bottlenecks in the U.S. Space Force portfolio, underscoring program‑execution risks[3].
Why this matters
Recent launches and station maintenance sustain operational momentum in satellite deployment and crewed infrastructure.