OUTERSPACE TODAYNEWS
← All editionsThursday, September 24, 2026 / Issue 084
[ OST Daily ]

SpaceX Stacks Starship for Its First Orbital Attempt as Soon as September 28, the Space Force Gives SpaceX Exclusive Access to Its Most Detailed Tracking Catalog, and NASA Moves...

Outerspace Today5 min read / 2026-09-24
OST Daily September 24, 2026 — SpaceX lifted Ship 41 onto Super Heavy B21 at Starbase early Wednesday, assembling the 124-meter rocket for Starship Flight 14, which could launch as soon as 7:15 a.m. Central on September 28 once the FAA approves; the Space Force's Joint Commercial Operations Cell signed an agreement giving SpaceX exclusive access to the most detailed version of US Space Command's High Accuracy Catalog in exchange for Starlink star-tracker data; and NASA moved the far-infrared PRIMA telescope into Phase B as the first mission in a new Probe class, with project cost capped at $1.2 billion.
The daily pictureOST editorial illustration · 2026-09-24
[ 01 ]

The briefing

SpaceX lifted Ship 41 onto Super Heavy B21 at Starbase early Wednesday, assembling the 124-meter rocket for Starship Flight 14, its first orbital attempt, as soon as 7:15 a.m. Central on September 28. The flight still needs FAA approval, and a temporary flight restriction over Starbase runs through October 7. Separately, the Space Force's Joint Commercial Operations Cell signed an agreement giving SpaceX exclusive access to the most detailed version of US Space Command's High Accuracy Catalog in exchange for Starlink star-tracker data, which commercial tracking firms say could sharpen products SpaceX sells to other operators.

NASA moved PRIMA, a far-infrared observatory with a 5.9-foot telescope, into Phase B as the first mission in its new Probe class, with project cost capped at $1.2 billion and launch targeted for 2033. Voyager Technologies priced its $350 million of 0% convertible notes due 2032 at an initial conversion price of about $40.82, a 30% premium to its September 23 close, with settlement on September 28. NOAA gave Ethereal Space the first task order under its environmental monitoring program, worth about $27.4 million over 24 months.

Britain stood up No. 3 Space Effects Squadron to disrupt, degrade and deny hostile activity on orbit. European Defence and Space Commissioner Andrius Kubilius said EU governments will need 14 Ariane 6 missions in 2031 against a production rate of 10 a year. ESA added €2.7 million to Rocket Factory Augsburg's contract for test infrastructure at SaxaVord, where RFA is expected to resume static-fire preparations soon after destacking a replacement RFA ONE in July, and Vast set up a lunar programs division for NASA's Moon Base.

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The headlines

01

SpaceX stacks Starship for first orbital attempt as soon as September 28

SpaceX

SpaceX lifted Ship 41 onto Super Heavy booster B21 at Starbase's Pad 2 early Wednesday, about 5.5 hours after the 52-meter upper stage left the production site, assembling the 124-meter rocket for Starship Flight 14. The first orbital flight could launch as soon as 7:15 a.m. Central on September 28 on a nearly 10-hour mission to deploy 26 Version 3 Starlink satellites, but SpaceX first needs FAA approval. The FAA put a temporary flight restriction over Starbase from September 23 through October 7, and SpaceX may run a fueling test of the full vehicle before launch.

02

The Space Force gives SpaceX exclusive access to its most detailed space tracking catalog

SpaceX

The Space Force's Joint Commercial Operations Cell signed a contractual agreement giving SpaceX exclusive access to the most detailed version of US Space Command's High Accuracy Catalog of on-orbit objects, in exchange for data from Starlink's Stargaze star-tracking cameras, according to a dozen government and industry sources, one of them a Space Force official. The official said the data was provided for internal use only, but commercial space tracking firms said it is unclear whether it can help sharpen products SpaceX sells to non-military operators, a worry for a young commercial market.

03

NASA advances PRIMA far-infrared telescope as first Probe Explorer, capped at $1.2B

NASA selected PRIMA, the PRobe far-Infrared Mission for Astrophysics, to move into Phase B as the first mission in its new Probe Explorers class under the Explorers Program. The space telescope carries a 5.9-foot primary mirror for deep far-infrared surveys bridging Webb and radio observatories, with project cost capped at $1.2 billion excluding launch and a planned 2033 launch for a five-year mission. JPL will manage the mission, with Goddard and Marshall contributing and international partners including CNES, ASI, DLR, CSA, KASI/KASA, JAXA and the UK Space Agency.

04

UK stands up No. 3 Space Effects Squadron with offensive and defensive mandate

UK Chief of the Air Staff Harv Smyth announced at the UK Space Power Conference that Britain is standing up No. 3 Space Effects Squadron to "disrupt, degrade and deny" hostile activity on orbit, run by specialist personnel and handling both offensive and defensive missions. The move expands a space force structure that already includes No. 1 Space Operations and No. 2 Space Warning Squadrons, with planned future units covering tactics and training and the UK-US-Australia DARC deep-space radar sites, and comes days after senior US military officials acknowledged on-orbit US space control weapons.

05

Voyager prices its $350M convertible at a 30% conversion premium

VOYG

Voyager Technologies priced a Rule 144A offering of $350 million aggregate principal amount of 0% convertible senior notes due October 15, 2032, with initial purchasers holding a 13-day option for up to $52.5 million more. The initial conversion rate works out to roughly $40.82 per Class A share, a 30% premium to the September 23 close of $31.40, and Voyager said it will use capped call transactions, with an initial 150% cap, to offset dilution. Settlement is scheduled for September 28, with proceeds supporting organic growth and strategic acquisitions.

06

Kubilius says EU will need 14 Ariane 6 missions in 2031 against capacity of 10

European Defence and Space Commissioner Andrius Kubilius told the second Access to Space Conference in Brussels that EU government launch demand will outstrip Europe's current capacity within five years, pointing to a projected need for 14 Ariane 6 missions in 2031 against a current production rate of 10 per year. Kubilius said the Commission's 2028-2035 budget will include undefined funding for launches and called access to space "the most decisive issue in space today," sharpening the policy backdrop for Ariane 6 ramp decisions and alternative European launchers.

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Market pulse

Archived snapshot from this edition. Prices and moves are not live.

Gainers+31
Decliners-12
Big mover MTRN+5.5%

MDA: The Toronto Stock Exchange approved MDA Space's normal course issuer bid.

AssetSnapshotMoveTrend
MTRNMaterion$284.38+5.5%
GLWCorning$159.83+3.9%
RDWRedwire Space$10.81+3.5%
FJETStarfighters Space$1.755-4.1%
ASTSAST SpaceMobile$58.09-1.3%
MDAMDA SpaceC$41.66-1.2%
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Filings

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