Space News for Tuesday, August 18, 2026

In this episode, we aggregate and summarize today's top space news stories. Enjoy!
(00:10) Podcast Introduction
(00:21) New report takes closer look at the Space Force spending surge
(00:53) HEO to use Planet satellites for non-Earth imaging
(01:23) NASA Demonstrates GPS-Free Autonomous Spacecraft Navigation System on Starling Swarm
(02:01) Silicon Valley Space Week Speaker Focus: Janna Lewis, Astroscale U.S.
(02:33) Ukrainian Missile Strike Damages Russian Space Facility Producing Rassvet Broadband Rockets
(03:06) Lynk Global and Omnispace Complete Merger to Form Direct-to-Device Operator Elveo Mobile
(03:24) Space Energy Initiative Calls for UK Co-Funding of Orbital Solar Power Demonstrator
(04:06) Curiosity Blog, Sols 4975-4981: Happy 14th Landing Anniversary
(04:22) NASA Selects Companies to Provide Payload Processing Services
(05:08) NASA Mission Studies Air Pollution Over Ethiopia
(05:59) Next Generation of Planetary Scientists Learn Public Engagement Skills
(06:38) Colorful Collage of Tarantula Nebula
(07:02) Ship 40 arrives at Christmas Island, Plans Return to Starbase
(07:46) DIU, SDA Select Winners for Deorbit-as-a-Service Designs
(08:33) SEOPS Doubles Down on Waymaker Dedicated Rideshare Program
(09:22) On this day in space! Aug. 18, 1868: Total solar eclipse leads to discovery of helium
(10:01) Hubble, James Webb team up to capture the 'Black Eye Galaxy' | Space photo of the day for Aug. 18, 2026
(10:30) It's harder to poop in space. Scientists may finally know why
(11:14) Watch European astronaut make history during spacewalk today
(11:46) How an ancient collision with another galaxy transformed the Milky Way
(12:33) The Moon's shadow raced across the heart of Spain, and I was there to see it