NASA abandons ‘core module’ concept for commercial space station development

NASA said June 1 that it is dropping the ‘core module’ proposal it floated in March for the transition from the International Space Station to commercial successors. The concept would have had NASA procure a government-owned module to attach to the ISS as a bridge to privately operated stations, but commercial station developers sharply criticized the idea. By backing away from it, the agency is reverting to its earlier approach of supporting multiple private station efforts rather than inserting a new government-built element into the architecture. The decision resets a major part of NASA’s post-ISS strategy just as companies race to field replacement stations before the end of the decade.

Senators still hope for details on a deal to pause the war in Iran as talks falter

Lawmakers from both parties are pressing for more information on efforts to end the Iran war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz as negotiations show signs of strain. The Hill reported that a shaky ceasefire involving Israel and an Iran-backed proxy is complicating the administration’s diplomacy with Tehran. The story underscores how foreign-policy uncertainty is feeding directly into Capitol Hill oversight demands.

Cornyn: Paxton ‘absolutely’ endangers Texas Senate seat as GOP nominee

Sen. John Cornyn warned that former rival Ken Paxton would make it harder for Republicans to hold a Texas Senate seat in the general election if Paxton becomes the nominee. The Hill framed the comments as evidence that the bruising primary fight is carrying into the broader campaign, with intraparty divisions still unresolved. The dispute adds another pressure point to the GOP’s 2026 Senate map in a state that Republicans usually treat as secure territory.

Impulse Space raises $500 million

Impulse Space closed a $500 million Series D round to expand production of its orbital transfer vehicles and related spacecraft. SpaceNews reported that the company has now raised more than $1 billion and plans to scale vehicles including the Mira spacecraft and the Helios high-energy kick stage. The financing signals continued investor appetite for in-space mobility companies serving both commercial and government missions.

Voyager to acquire lunar lander developer Astrobotic

Voyager Technologies agreed to acquire Astrobotic in a deal worth up to $300 million as it builds out a broader lunar infrastructure portfolio. SpaceNews said Voyager will pay $162 million in cash and stock, assume $9 million in debt, and could make additional earnout payments tied to performance milestones. The transaction would fold a lunar lander developer with active moon and suborbital programs into a larger space systems company pursuing deeper cislunar capabilities.

U.S. Will Sell 3 In-service Virginia Subs to Australia Instead of 1 New, 2 In-service

The United States, Australia and the United Kingdom announced that Canberra will now buy three in-service Virginia-class submarines rather than the previously planned mix of one new boat and two in-service hulls. USNI News reported that the change was unveiled during the AUKUS defense ministers meeting on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. The revision sharpens the alliance’s effort to accelerate Australia’s undersea capability while testing U.S. capacity to supply frontline submarines to a close partner.

Northrop Grumman partners with Apex on space-based interceptors for Golden Dome

Northrop Grumman and satellite-bus startup Apex are teaming to develop space-based interceptors for the Trump administration’s proposed Golden Dome missile defense architecture. SpaceNews reported that Northrop is one of a dozen firms selected by the Space Force to study interceptor concepts that would operate in orbit against ballistic, cruise and hypersonic threats. The partnership shows how a major prime and a newer spacecraft manufacturer are positioning for one of the Pentagon’s most ambitious missile-defense efforts.