Space Stakes: The Business of the New Space Race

NASA’s revised Artemis sequence makes Artemis III an orbital docking rehearsal and targets a crewed landing for Artemis IV in 2028. We also cover Rocket Lab’s Neutron delay, Musk’s statements about Starlink’s civilian role, an ESA Space Rider post, and the limits of comparing Rocket Lab with SpaceX by valuation.

• NASA Artemis moon landing plan targets 2028 with faster approach — Mashable
• Rocket Lab Just Postponed Its Neutron Launch. Again. — Yahoo Finance
• Musk: Starlink must remain civilian operation — Breakingthenews.net
• ESA downplays Space Rider test mishap — SpaceNews on X
• Rocket Lab vs SpaceX: $30B vs $2.2T Cap — Tech Insider

Chapters

00:00 Today's headlines

00:52 Neutron debut slips into 2027

02:01 Musk on Starlink in Ukraine

03:28 Rocket Lab comparison with SpaceX

04:34 NASA recast Artemis III as docking test

08:03 Whether speed buys real risk reduction

Source links

• nasa.gov
• spacenews.com
• spacepolicyonline.com

Space Stakes is an AI-voiced podcast, built and run by a real person. Nothing in this episode is financial advice.

Follow Space Stakes: subscribe on YouTube · Apple Podcasts · Spotify

More from Brian Lampert: Quickly Quantum, the daily quantum computing briefing, and Concrete Compute, the daily AI infrastructure briefing. Transcripts and every episode: space-stakes.kngoworld.chatgpt.site.

This week’s recap follows a Phobos sample-return launch, risky satellite maneuvers and Starship ambitions.

• Japan launching bold sample-return mission to Mars moon Phobos today: Watch it live — Space.com
• Russian satellite stalked ICEYE spacecraft in potentially dangerous on-orbit maneuvers — Breaking Defense
• SpaceX to attempt Starship catch on next flight, with eye on rapid cadence increase — Ars Technica

Chapters

00:00 Today's headlines

00:33 Japan's MMX Phobos sample-return mission

02:01 Cosmos 2612 maneuvers near ICEYE-X36

03:53 SpaceX plans Starship tower catches

Source links

• science.nasa.gov

Space Stakes is an AI-voiced podcast, built and run by a real person. Nothing in this episode is financial advice.

Follow Space Stakes: subscribe on YouTube · Apple Podcasts · Spotify

More from Brian Lampert: Quickly Quantum, the daily quantum computing briefing, and Concrete Compute, the daily AI infrastructure briefing. Transcripts and every episode: space-stakes.kngoworld.chatgpt.site.

• Electron launches HawkEye 360 satellites — Yahoo Finance
• Starship lunar refueling estimate — Ars Technica
• Xona Series D — Payload
• ICEYE and Nokia explore Ukraine satellite communications — Via Satellite
• Space Force cislunar RFIs — Breaking Defense

Chapters

00:00 Today's headlines

00:21 Artemis tanker and depot capacity risks

00:53 Xona $250M Series D for Pulsar GPS

02:24 ICEYE, Nokia letter of intent on Ukraine

03:37 Space Force RFIs for cislunar missions

04:48 Rocket Lab Electron launch for HawkEye 360

07:15 Hype Check: Rocket Lab's wider claims

Source links

• @elonmusk on X
• keeptrack.space
• space.com
• spacewatch.global

Space Stakes is an AI-voiced podcast, built and run by a real person. Nothing in this episode is financial advice.

Follow Space Stakes: subscribe on YouTube · Apple Podcasts · Spotify

More from Brian Lampert: Quickly Quantum, the daily quantum computing briefing, and Concrete Compute, the daily AI infrastructure briefing. Transcripts and every episode: space-stakes.kngoworld.chatgpt.site.

SpaceX is targeting a November Starship test flight with an attempt to catch both stages, while its weekly-launch ambition depends on flight results and FAA licensing. The episode also covers Canada’s standby launch-pad agreement, China’s developing cargo and reusable vehicles, a lunar-site study recommendation, and NASA’s RS-25 engine test.

• NordSpace gets $20 million DND deal for standby launch pad at Atlantic Spaceport Complex — SpaceQ Media Inc.
• China readies first commercial resupply craft, first booster reflight, and next landing attempt — NASASpaceFlight.com
• Study recommends four locations for human lunar missions beyond the south pole — SpaceNews on X
• NASA Conducts RS-25 Engine Test in Support of Future Artemis Missions — NASA
• SpaceX to attempt Starship catch on next flight, with eye on rapid cadence increase — Ars Technica

Chapters

00:00 Today's headlines

00:46 Canada pays for standby launch pad access

01:19 China's reusable rocket and spaceplane steps

02:26 NASA fires RS-25 engine No. 10001 at Stennis

03:14 Starship catch of both stages

05:01 Catches versus a weekly launch schedule

Source links

• spacenews.com

Space Stakes is an AI-voiced podcast, built and run by a real person. Nothing in this episode is financial advice.

Follow Space Stakes: subscribe on YouTube · Apple Podcasts · Spotify

More from Brian Lampert: Quickly Quantum, the daily quantum computing briefing, and Concrete Compute, the daily AI infrastructure briefing. Transcripts and every episode: space-stakes.kngoworld.chatgpt.site.

SpaceX posted ~$14.6B in Q3 revenue with AI overtaking Starlink, Musk discussed a SpaceX-Tesla merger, plus Telesat and Eutelsat news.

• SpaceX’s AI Revenue Leads Q3 Earnings — Payload
• Merging SpaceX and Tesla would be a "good idea," Musk says — Space - Ars Technica
• Reuters (@Reuters) on X: PODCAST: SpaceX-Tesla merger, Witkoff in Russia and Kansas voters — X/@Reuters
• Telesat lenders offer $3.2B rescue ahead of December default — SpaceQ Media Inc.
• Eutelsat Signs New German Critical Infrastructure Deal — Via Satellite

Chapters

00:00 Today's headlines

00:45 Musk on SpaceX and Tesla merger

02:23 Telesat offered $3.2 billion rescue package

03:45 Eutelsat capacity deal with Amprion

04:38 SpaceX quarter: space, Starlink and AI

07:29 SpaceXSI AI compute, who pays for buildout

Source links

• eutelsat.com
• @business on X
• @SawyerMerritt on X

Space Stakes is an AI-voiced podcast, built and run by a real person. Nothing in this episode is financial advice.

Follow Space Stakes: subscribe on YouTube · Apple Podcasts · Spotify

More from Brian Lampert: Quickly Quantum, the daily quantum computing briefing, and Concrete Compute, the daily AI infrastructure briefing. Transcripts and every episode: space-stakes.kngoworld.chatgpt.site.

A Russian satellite’s maneuvers near ICEYE-X36 raise questions about commercial spacecraft and security in orbit. We also cover direct-to-device spectrum decisions, Amazon’s planned Germany investment and a Space Force autonomy award.

• Russian satellite stalked ICEYE spacecraft in potentially dangerous on-orbit maneuvers — Breaking Defense
• FCC Authorizes Globalstar’s C-3 Constellation for Direct-to-Device — Via Satellite
• European MNOs Team Up for MSS D2D Spectrum in Europe — Via Satellite
• Amazon announces plan to invest €16 billion in Germany in 2027 — Amazon
• Exclusive: EraDrive Lands $13M DoD Award For Autonomy Module — Payload

Chapters

00:00 Today's headlines

00:47 FCC authority for Globalstar C-3 system

02:18 Four operators explore joint bid for MSS

03:39 Amazon plans more than €16 billion in Germany

04:35 EraDrive won $13M Era-Node award

06:00 Cosmos 2612 maneuvers around ICEYE-X36

09:17 Unconfirmed interference near ICEYE-X36

Source links

• arstechnica.com
• globenewswire.com
• newsroom.orange.com
• satellitetoday.com

Space Stakes is an AI-voiced podcast, built and run by a real person. Nothing in this episode is financial advice.

Follow Space Stakes: subscribe on YouTube · Apple Podcasts · Spotify

More from Brian Lampert: Quickly Quantum, the daily quantum computing briefing, and Concrete Compute, the daily AI infrastructure briefing. Transcripts and every episode: space-stakes.kngoworld.chatgpt.site.

Japan's MMX mission is scheduled to launch toward Phobos, where it aims to collect material and return it to Earth in 2031. The episode also covers a reported close approach between Russian and commercial satellites and Elon Musk's pledge of SpaceX shares to American children.

• Russian Satellite Kosmos-2612 Closes to Within 26 Meters of ICEYE-X36 During Pursuit — Mіlіtarnyi
• Musk pledges 1 SpaceX share for every child in America — Axios reporting via Yahoo Finance
• Returning the first samples from a Martian moon: Inside the science of Japan's bold MMX mission to Mars — Space.com
• Japan launching bold sample-return mission to Mars moon Phobos today: Watch it live — Space.com

Chapters

00:00 Today's headlines

00:38 Kosmos-2612 approached ICEYE-X36

02:31 Musk's SpaceX share pledge for every kid

03:50 Japan's MMX mission to study Phobos

05:01 Japan's MMX mission to return Phobos sample

08:33 Hype Check on Japan's MMX mission

Source links

• @elonmusk on X
• @JAXA_jp on X

Space Stakes is an AI-voiced podcast, built and run by a real person. Nothing in this episode is financial advice.

Follow Space Stakes: subscribe on YouTube · Apple Podcasts · Spotify

More from Brian Lampert: Quickly Quantum, the daily quantum computing briefing, and Concrete Compute, the daily AI infrastructure briefing. Transcripts and every episode: space-stakes.kngoworld.chatgpt.site.

Ukraine's Starlink slowdown prompts competing claims from Zelenskyy and Rubio, while the cause remains unresolved. Also: a planned Starfall demonstration, JAXA's MMX launch date, a Space Force jammer plan, and conditional Toronto Stock Exchange approvals.

• Rubio denies US role in Starlink slowdown in Ukraine — Firstpost
• SpaceX Starfall on Bandwagon-5 — Starlust.org
• MMX aboard H3 Launch Vehicle No. 10 — JAXA on X
• Space Force plans wider global deployment of satellite jammers — SpaceNews
• Two space companies receive conditional TSX approval — SpaceQ

Chapters

00:00 Today's headlines

00:40 SpaceX Starfall capsule's second flight

02:33 Space Force plans wider jammers

03:05 NorthStar, Maritime conditional approval

04:10 Rubio denies Washington ordered Starlink slowdown

07:13 Accountability for a commercial network

Source links

• @business on X
• @Gerashchenko_en on X
• @RSA_Observer on X
• @SpaceNews_Inc on X

Space Stakes is an AI-voiced podcast, built and run by a real person. Nothing in this episode is financial advice.

Follow Space Stakes: subscribe on YouTube · Apple Podcasts · Spotify

More from Brian Lampert: Quickly Quantum, the daily quantum computing briefing, and Concrete Compute, the daily AI infrastructure briefing. Transcripts and every episode: space-stakes.kngoworld.chatgpt.site.

This weekly recap follows the week's debate over control of military satellite communications, alongside tests and targets for launch and connectivity systems. It also looks at a UK contract for an active debris removal mission.

• Musk Says U.S. Government is in Control of Starlink Speeds for Ukraine's Military — Via Satellite
• US Army stress-tests Amazon Leo satellite network for high-speed battlefield connectivity — Amazon
• SpaceX wants 456 launches/year — Advanced Television
• Blue Origin Advances LC-36 Rebuild for Year-End New Glenn Return to Flight — NASASpaceFlight.com
• Carbon Fibre Troubles Force Rocket Lab to Delay Neutron Debut to No Earlier Than 2027 — NASASpaceFlight.com
• ClearSpace Wins Major UK Debris Removal Contract — Via Satellite
• Arianespace Targets 23 Nov Ariane 6 Return Following Reported Turbopump Fix — European Spaceflight

Chapters

00:00 Today's headlines

01:06 Starlink speed limit, Ukrainian drones

02:47 Army stress-tested Amazon Leo network

04:24 Starship launch request at Starbase

06:06 Blue Origin rebuilding Launch Complex 36

07:38 Neutron delayed to no earlier than 2027

09:21 ClearSpace for UK Active Debris Removal

10:48 Ariane 6 no earlier than November 23

Source links

• faa.gov

Space Stakes is an AI-voiced podcast, built and run by a real person. Nothing in this episode is financial advice.

Follow Space Stakes: subscribe on YouTube · Apple Podcasts · Spotify

More from Brian Lampert: Quickly Quantum, the daily quantum computing briefing, and Concrete Compute, the daily AI infrastructure briefing. Transcripts and every episode: space-stakes.kngoworld.chatgpt.site.

• Carbon Fibre Troubles Force Rocket Lab to Delay Neutron Debut — NASASpaceFlight.com
• Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, October 15, 2026 — criticalthreats.org
• SpaceX launches classified mission for the US Space Force — Space.com
• ClearSpace Wins Major UK Debris Removal Contract — Via Satellite
• Arianespace Targets 23 Nov Ariane 6 Return — European Spaceflight

Chapters

00:00 Today's headlines

00:34 Starshield access reportedly restored

01:40 Falcon 9 booster lands, cargo classified

02:43 UK active debris removal with ClearSpace

03:42 Ariane 6 launch no earlier than 23 November

04:39 Neutron debut slips on carbon fibre

06:04 Neutron tank ruptured in hydrostatic testing

Source links

• @SpaceX on X
• gov.uk
• satellitetoday.com
• spacenews.com

Space Stakes is an AI-voiced podcast, built and run by a real person. Nothing in this episode is financial advice.

Follow Space Stakes: subscribe on YouTube · Apple Podcasts · Spotify

More from Brian Lampert: Quickly Quantum, the daily quantum computing briefing, and Concrete Compute, the daily AI infrastructure briefing. Transcripts and every episode: space-stakes.kngoworld.chatgpt.site.