The Gist: Space News

Space News for Thursday, June 18, 2026


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In this episode, we aggregate and summarize today's top
space news stories. Enjoy!
(00:10) Podcast Introduction
(00:22) Relativity Space to privately develop Mars orbiter mission
(01:03) Dawn Aerospace raises $25 million
(01:46) Arianespace launches its heaviest payload to date with Amazon Leo flight
(02:34) Direct-to-Device Momentum: AST SpaceMobile Successfully Launches Giant Next-Gen BlueBird Satellites Atop SpaceX Falcon 9
(02:48) Space Weather Forecasting: Momentus Secures Commercial Payload Contract for Vigoride-9 OSV
(03:28) Sovereign Microgravity: Elethron and ATMOS Space Cargo Finalize Low-Earth Orbit Payload Engineering Campaign
(03:47) U.S. viewership of the 2026 World Cup via satellite television is strong and easily accessible
(04:17) Space-Quantum Convergence: INNOSPACE and Norma Partner for In-Orbit Quantum Computing Demonstrations
(04:54) NASA Announces Public-Private Partnership to Advance Mars Science
(05:10) Hubble Sees Swarm of Galaxies
(05:56) Terran R second stage heads to Stennis as Relativity advances toward 2026 debut
(06:36) Launch Preview: 10 launches scheduled from sites across the world
(07:13) Instinct Space Unveils Plans for Low-Cost Lunar Landers
(08:00) Katalyst Raises $12M to Extend Satellite Servicing to GEO
(08:40) One of these twin stars has likely been snacking on exoplanets
(09:19) James Webb Space Telescope discovers extreme exoplanet being roasted by its home star
(10:05) A volcanic eruption seen from space | Space photo of the day for June 17, 2026
(10:47) Was life delivered to Earth by asteroids with a helping hand from Jupiter?
(11:27) 'Best. Mars. Mission. Ever.' Scientists hail MAVEN's legacy as NASA retires Red Planet orbiter
...more
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The Gist: Space NewsBy Dr. Mason Nixon