China is developing a mission to send a pair of spacecraft to study the far reaches of the solar system and reach interstellar space by mid-century.  SpaceNews

NASA managers approved plans to launch a SpaceX commercial crew mission to the International Space Station next week, pending the resolution of one minor issue with the Falcon 9 rocket. SpaceNews

More than a year after selecting SpaceX to deliver cargo to the lunar Gateway, NASA has yet to formally start that contract as it performs a broader review of its Artemis program. SpaceNews

LeoLabs is adding more sensors and data processing capacity to its network in preparation for a surge in satellites launches. SpaceNews

Inmarsat’s competitors have vowed to continue pursuing legal action to block its hybrid satellite and cellular European Aviation Network (EAN), after the European Union’s highest court rejected their challenge. SpaceNews

A consortium led by the State of California, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Planet announced plans April 15 for a constellation of hyperspectral satellites to pinpoint, quantify and track point sources of methane and carbon dioxide. SpaceNews

Iceye has established a satellite manufacturing facility, research and development laboratory, and mission operations center for U.S.-licensed spacecraft at its new Iceye US headquarters in Irvine, California. SpaceNews

SpaceX has added more than $300 million to a fundraising round announced earlier this year to support continued work on its Starship launch system and Starlink satellite constellation. SpaceNews

The Space Development Agency is considering buying its next 150 satellites from three different vendors, SpaceNews

The Space Development Agency is less worried about missile strikes than it is about cyber attacks and intrusions into the supply chain.   SpaceNews

Blue Origin completed another test flight of its New Shepard vehicle April 14, putting the company on the verge of finally flying people. SpaceNews

Astranis, a startup developing small geostationary satellites, has raised $250 million in a funding round that values the company at $1.4 billion. SpaceNews

Canadian satellite operator Telesat plans to raise $500 million with a bond to help fund its $5 billion Lightspeed broadband constellation. SpaceNews

The winner of the "Destination: A Better Life on Earth" competition will win integration and launch services aboard a future Arianespace rideshare mission offering one of the two new services. SpaceNews

Sierra Nevada Corp. will spin off its space division into a separate company, a move reflecting the “historic growth” it foresees for that business in the next several years. SpaceNews

HawkEye 360 has raised $55 million in additional funding that the company says will allow it to complete its constellation of satellites that track ships and vehicles by their radio-frequency emissions. SpaceNews

Lockheed Martin announced a new line of "tactical ISR" satellites designed for space-based surveillance. SpaceNews

York Space Systems has learned a lot from operating its first production-model spacecraft in orbit for two years. The biggest takeaway, though, has been the need to automate satellite handling on the ground. SpaceNews

Space will command nearly 45 percent of the $1.9 billion Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has set aside for a broader five-year growth plan. SpaceNews

Astrobotic has signed a contract with SpaceX for the launch of its Griffin lunar lander, carrying a NASA lunar rover, on a Falcon Heavy in 2023. SpaceNews