Jeff Bezos, founder of Blue Origin, stated that the company is "working on" orbital data centres, and noted that “you get 8× more energy in space than on Earth for a given area of solar panel". The remarks suggest Blue Origin may be preparing to enter the in-orbit computing market, placing it alongside SpaceX and Google, both of which disclosed in the past week that they are developing space-based data-center initiatives leveraging orbital solar power and satellite connectivity for large-scale AI compute.

We appear to be entering a space data-center race, as major technology and aerospace companies converge on the same conclusion: one of the few sustainable long-term solutions to the AI energy bottleneck may lie beyond Earth.

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory confirmed that the 70-meter DSS-14 antenna at the Goldstone Deep Space Network site has been offline since Sept 16 after an over-rotation incident damaged its cabling and fire-suppression systems. A mishap board is assessing repairs, and no return date has been given. The loss further strains NASA’s Deep Space Network, already operating near capacity.

The outage introduces added risk for Artemis II, which depends on the DSN for Orion spacecraft communications in cislunar space. With only two other 70-meter antennas available, NASA may need to reprioritize bandwidth or contract commercial relays, highlighting the need for expanded deep-space communications capacity before sustained lunar operations begin.

AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ: ASTS) reported Q3 2025 revenue of $14.7 million, up 1,236 % year-over-year but below analyst estimates of $22 million, with EPS of –$0.45 missing expectations of –$0.27. The company narrowed its net loss by 46 % YoY to $122.9 million, while cash and liquidity rose to $3.2 billion pro forma following a $1.15 billion convertible-note issuance. Operating expenses increased 42 % YoY to $94.4 million as engineering and production ramped ahead of commercial service. Management reaffirmed H2 revenue guidance of $50–75 million and confirmed five orbital launches by Q1 2026 and a target of 45–60 operational satellites by year-end 2026. Major business developments included over $1 billion in contracted revenue commitments, a 10-year $175 million prepayment deal with Saudi Arabia’s stc Group, a new U.S. government contract, and an expanded Verizon partnership covering nationwide service.

For investors, the quarter reflects meaningful commercial de-risking despite headline revenue and EPS misses. The strengthened balance sheet, enlarged contract base, and visibility on launch cadence indicate that AST is transitioning from a development-stage venture toward a capital-intensive infrastructure operator. While near-term profitability remains distant given elevated cash burn and production costs, analyst upgrades and contract momentum suggest rising institutional confidence that AST’s technology and partnerships can support a global direct-to-device communications network at commercial scale.

According to industry sources cited by Space Development Agency (SDA) and the United States Space Force FY26 budget submission, about US$700 million of planned awards for the Tranche 3 missile‑tracking satellite layer (which was to cover ~54 satellites) have been diverted to troop‑pay obligations, delaying tranche milestones originally slated for Oct‑Dec.

This signals a postponement in growth trajectories for firms in the missile‑warning/space‑sensor value chain and potential contract award timing uncertainty. Companies expecting near‑term cash flows or backlog generation from Tranche 3 may see elongated timelines. The broader implication is increased pressure on suppliers and potential re‑prioritisation of programs within the national security space ecosystem.

Rocket Lab USA (NASDAQ: RKLB) reported Q3 2025 revenue of $155 million, up 48 % year-over-year and above consensus estimates of $151–152 million. EPS of –$0.03 beat expectations of –$0.10 to –$0.11, while GAAP gross margin reached a record 37 % (non-GAAP 41.9 %). The company ended the quarter with over $1 billion in liquidity, boosted by an ATM equity raise. Backlog rose to $1.1 billion, with 57 % expected to convert within 12 months and launch backlog climbing 56 % YoY to $509.7 million. Management guided Q4 revenue of $170–180 million, GAAP gross margin of 37–39 %, and a full-year outlook of $592–602 million in revenue. Key milestones included securing 17 new Electron launch contracts, completing the $325 million GEOST acquisition for national-security payloads, and opening Launch Complex 3 for the upcoming Neutron rocket.

The narrowing losses and backlog growth suggest improving visibility and customer diversification, particularly as government and defense demand deepens through the GEOST integration. While management subtly acknowledged that Neutron’s first launch has shifted to after Q1 2026, the program remains a central long-term value driver alongside expanding hypersonic (HASTE) testing and laser-communications work. 

Blue Origin announced on Sunday that its second New Glenn mission, carrying NASA’s EscaPADE Mars probes and a Viasat Inc. demo payload, has been postponed due to cumulus-cloud coverage and a ground-systems issue detected during the T-17-minute readiness poll. The new target date was today, Nov 12, but was scrubbed again due to solar storm activity. The company has emphasized the need for optimal recovery conditions as the mission includes an attempted booster landing, a key milestone for the New Glenn program.

Sentiment around Blue Origin remains focused less on timing precision and more on execution quality. Given the company’s historically slow development cadence, successfully completing this flight and demonstrating booster recovery are far more consequential than a three-day delay. A clean launch and recovery would validate New Glenn’s reusability and strengthen confidence in Blue Origin’s ability to compete for commercial and government missions. Conversely, any setback in booster recovery would extend the perception that the company still trails peers in operational maturity.

AST SpaceMobile and Vodafone Group PLC announced on Nov 7 the formation of a European joint venture (SatCo) headquartered in Germany to oversee regional operations and spectrum filings for direct-to-cell satellite services. The entity will manage European regulatory coordination, including a mid-band ITU filing via Germany, and host a Satellite Operations Centre near Munich or Hannover. Vodafone, already a ~2.17 % shareholder in AST, will serve as AST’s anchor telecom partner in Europe through this new structure.

The venture formalises AST’s European regulatory and operational presence, aligning with the EU’s digital sovereignty and secure-connectivity priorities. For investors, it signals a push to localise data handling, licensing, and compliance within Europe, potentially unlocking access to EU connectivity funding and government contracts. The partnership strengthens AST’s market credibility with a tier-one operator, but profitability will still hinge on scaling its global satellite network, navigating European licensing complexities, and converting regulatory advantages into sustained commercial uptake.

EchoStar Corporation announced a definitive amended agreement with SpaceX to sell its unpaired AWS-3 spectrum licences for approximately $2.6 billion in SpaceX stock, valued as of September 2025. The nationwide licences, part of 3GPP Band 70n (1695–1710 MHz uplink), are being divested as part of EchoStar’s broader spectrum monetisation strategy. The transaction builds on a prior agreement reached between the companies in September 2025 and consolidates SpaceX’s control of low- and mid-band spectrum assets relevant to future terrestrial and satellite-linked communications services.

This deal marks a strategic expansion of SpaceX’s spectrum footprint that could underpin both Starlink’s terrestrial backhaul integration and potential hybrid mobile-satellite network offerings. Acquiring nationwide AWS-3 uplink rights provides flexibility for direct-to-cell, enterprise mobility, and IoT connectivity, tightening SpaceX’s vertical control over infrastructure layers traditionally reliant on third-party carriers. For EchoStar, the all-stock transaction represents a liquidity and valuation play, monetising non-core assets while preserving exposure to SpaceX’s equity upside.