New Glenn failure worsens constrained launch market

Blue Origin's New Glenn exploded during a May 28 static-fire test at Cape Canaveral while being prepared for the NG-4 mission carrying 48 Amazon Leo satellites. Photos taken after the blast showed heavy pad damage, including a collapsed lightning tower and a destroyed transporter-erector, while Blue Origin said it has regained limited site access and begun its investigation. SpaceNews reported that the company has not offered a rebuild timeline and that some industry observers believe the vehicle could be grounded for at least a year. With no alternate pad available for New Glenn, the setback tightens an already constrained launch market for commercial and government customers.

Schumer: Democrats to make all-out effort to kill Trump ‘slush fund’

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said Democrats will mount a coordinated push to eliminate the Trump administration's $1.776 billion anti-weaponization fund. The Hill reported that Schumer plans to force Republicans to vote on killing the fund, which he characterized as a slush fund. The fight turns the spending line into a broader test of congressional oversight and executive power.

US bombs radar, drone sites in Iran

The U.S. military struck radar and drone command-and-control sites in Iran over the weekend, according to U.S. Central Command. The Hill reported that the targets were in Goruk and on Qeshm Island and that CENTCOM described the action as self-defense strikes. The episode adds another point of tension to the administration's already volatile Iran posture.

Spaceport facility bonds are now law – and they fundamentally change space infrastructure finance

A new provision in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act makes tax-exempt private activity bonds available for qualifying spaceport facilities and nearby industrial infrastructure. SpaceNews argued that the change could lower financing costs, extend repayment timelines and support full private use of bond-financed assets. The measure could make it easier for launch sites and surrounding manufacturing clusters to expand capacity as demand grows.

HII, Saronic Included in First MUSV Navy Prototype Tests

The Navy identified seven companies supporting the first round of medium unmanned surface vessel prototype work, with HII and Saronic among the named participants. USNI News reported that the concepts combine hull design, engineering systems and autonomy software for crewless operations, and that Saronic launched its first Marauder hull as the program moves forward. The selections show how defense contractors and startups are positioning themselves for a larger unmanned maritime market.

U.S. Coast Guard Patrols Near Scarborough Shoal with Philippine Forces Amid Concerns of Potential Chinese Build-Up

The United States and the Philippines carried out a joint patrol near Scarborough Shoal from May 26 to 30, marking the first time a U.S. Coast Guard cutter joined a maritime cooperative activity in the disputed area. USNI News said the patrol focused on law-enforcement drills and took place as Manila warned about possible new Chinese structures at the shoal. Beijing responded with its own exercises, underscoring the continuing pressure around one of the South China Sea's most sensitive flashpoints.

Japan’s defense minister rebuffs ‘militarism’ allegation, defends defense policies

At the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Japan's defense minister rejected Chinese claims that Tokyo's expanding regional defense role amounts to new militarism. Breaking Defense reported that he defended higher spending, looser arms export rules and deeper cooperation with partners as tools for deterrence and regional stability. The remarks highlight how Indo-Pacific security competition is increasingly shaping alliance building and defense industrial ties.