Space Stakes: The Business of the New Space Race

Brian Lampert
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The money, missions, and power shaping space. Space Stakes is a daily briefing on the business of the new space race — launches, contracts, constellations, and the capital behind them. Every episode cuts through the industry's hype: signed contracts vs. paper constellations, funded orders vs. "up to" ceilings, launch dates vs. track records. Who pays, who profits, and who actually delivers — told so both aerospace insiders and curious newcomers finish feeling it was made for them. Space Stakes is an AI-voiced podcast, created and built by a real human, Brian Lampert. Nothing on this show is financial advice. Also from Brian Lampert: Quickly Quantum and Concrete Compute.

  1. 1d ago

    Xona Raises Series D for Pulsar Navigation Network — October 23, 2026

    Electron launches HawkEye 360 satellites — Yahoo FinanceStarship lunar refueling estimate — Ars TechnicaXona Series D — PayloadICEYE and Nokia explore Ukraine satellite communications — Via SatelliteSpace Force cislunar RFIs — Breaking DefenseChapters 00:00 Today's headlines 00:21 Artemis tanker and depot capacity risks 00:53 Xona $250M Series D for Pulsar GPS 02:24 ICEYE, Nokia letter of intent on Ukraine 03:37 Space Force RFIs for cislunar missions 04:48 Rocket Lab Electron launch for HawkEye 360 07:15 Hype Check: Rocket Lab's wider claims Source links @elonmusk on Xkeeptrack.spacespace.comspacewatch.globalSpace Stakes is an AI-voiced podcast, built and run by a real person. Nothing in this episode is financial advice. Follow Space Stakes: subscribe on YouTube · Apple Podcasts · Spotify More from Brian Lampert: Quickly Quantum, the daily quantum computing briefing, and Concrete Compute, the daily AI infrastructure briefing. Transcripts and every episode: space-stakes.kngoworld.chatgpt.site.

    Xona Raises Series D for Pulsar Navigation Network — October 23, 2026

  2. 2d ago

    Starship's Next Catch and the Price of Readiness — October 22, 2026

    SpaceX is targeting a November Starship test flight with an attempt to catch both stages, while its weekly-launch ambition depends on flight results and FAA licensing. The episode also covers Canada’s standby launch-pad agreement, China’s developing cargo and reusable vehicles, a lunar-site study recommendation, and NASA’s RS-25 engine test. NordSpace gets $20 million DND deal for standby launch pad at Atlantic Spaceport Complex — SpaceQ Media Inc.China readies first commercial resupply craft, first booster reflight, and next landing attempt — NASASpaceFlight.comStudy recommends four locations for human lunar missions beyond the south pole — SpaceNews on XNASA Conducts RS-25 Engine Test in Support of Future Artemis Missions — NASASpaceX to attempt Starship catch on next flight, with eye on rapid cadence increase — Ars TechnicaChapters 00:00 Today's headlines 00:46 Canada pays for standby launch pad access 01:19 China's reusable rocket and spaceplane steps 02:26 NASA fires RS-25 engine No. 10001 at Stennis 03:14 Starship catch of both stages 05:01 Catches versus a weekly launch schedule Source links spacenews.comSpace Stakes is an AI-voiced podcast, built and run by a real person. Nothing in this episode is financial advice. Follow Space Stakes: subscribe on YouTube · Apple Podcasts · Spotify More from Brian Lampert: Quickly Quantum, the daily quantum computing briefing, and Concrete Compute, the daily AI infrastructure briefing. Transcripts and every episode: space-stakes.kngoworld.chatgpt.site.

    Starship's Next Catch and the Price of Readiness — October 22, 2026

  3. 2d ago

    SpaceX's $14.6B Quarter: AI Passes Starlink — October 21, 2026

    SpaceX posted ~$14.6B in Q3 revenue with AI overtaking Starlink, Musk discussed a SpaceX-Tesla merger, plus Telesat and Eutelsat news. SpaceX’s AI Revenue Leads Q3 Earnings — PayloadMerging SpaceX and Tesla would be a "good idea," Musk says — Space - Ars TechnicaReuters (@Reuters) on X: PODCAST: SpaceX-Tesla merger, Witkoff in Russia and Kansas voters — X/@ReutersTelesat lenders offer $3.2B rescue ahead of December default — SpaceQ Media Inc.Eutelsat Signs New German Critical Infrastructure Deal — Via SatelliteChapters 00:00 Today's headlines 00:45 Musk on SpaceX and Tesla merger 02:23 Telesat offered $3.2 billion rescue package 03:45 Eutelsat capacity deal with Amprion 04:38 SpaceX quarter: space, Starlink and AI 07:29 SpaceXSI AI compute, who pays for buildout Source links eutelsat.com@business on X@SawyerMerritt on XSpace Stakes is an AI-voiced podcast, built and run by a real person. Nothing in this episode is financial advice. Follow Space Stakes: subscribe on YouTube · Apple Podcasts · Spotify More from Brian Lampert: Quickly Quantum, the daily quantum computing briefing, and Concrete Compute, the daily AI infrastructure briefing. Transcripts and every episode: space-stakes.kngoworld.chatgpt.site.

    SpaceX's $14.6B Quarter: AI Passes Starlink — October 21, 2026

  4. 4d ago

    A Satellite Shadow, and the Stakes of Sharing Orbit — October 20, 2026

    A Russian satellite’s maneuvers near ICEYE-X36 raise questions about commercial spacecraft and security in orbit. We also cover direct-to-device spectrum decisions, Amazon’s planned Germany investment and a Space Force autonomy award. Russian satellite stalked ICEYE spacecraft in potentially dangerous on-orbit maneuvers — Breaking DefenseFCC Authorizes Globalstar’s C-3 Constellation for Direct-to-Device — Via SatelliteEuropean MNOs Team Up for MSS D2D Spectrum in Europe — Via SatelliteAmazon announces plan to invest €16 billion in Germany in 2027 — AmazonExclusive: EraDrive Lands $13M DoD Award For Autonomy Module — PayloadChapters 00:00 Today's headlines 00:47 FCC authority for Globalstar C-3 system 02:18 Four operators explore joint bid for MSS 03:39 Amazon plans more than €16 billion in Germany 04:35 EraDrive won $13M Era-Node award 06:00 Cosmos 2612 maneuvers around ICEYE-X36 09:17 Unconfirmed interference near ICEYE-X36 Source links arstechnica.comglobenewswire.comnewsroom.orange.comsatellitetoday.comSpace Stakes is an AI-voiced podcast, built and run by a real person. Nothing in this episode is financial advice. Follow Space Stakes: subscribe on YouTube · Apple Podcasts · Spotify More from Brian Lampert: Quickly Quantum, the daily quantum computing briefing, and Concrete Compute, the daily AI infrastructure briefing. Transcripts and every episode: space-stakes.kngoworld.chatgpt.site.

    A Satellite Shadow, and the Stakes of Sharing Orbit — October 20, 2026

  5. 5d ago

    Japan’s Phobos Sample Return: A Launch, Then Five Years of Work — October 19, 2026

    Japan's MMX mission is scheduled to launch toward Phobos, where it aims to collect material and return it to Earth in 2031. The episode also covers a reported close approach between Russian and commercial satellites and Elon Musk's pledge of SpaceX shares to American children. Russian Satellite Kosmos-2612 Closes to Within 26 Meters of ICEYE-X36 During Pursuit — MіlіtarnyiMusk pledges 1 SpaceX share for every child in America — Axios reporting via Yahoo FinanceReturning the first samples from a Martian moon: Inside the science of Japan's bold MMX mission to Mars — Space.comJapan launching bold sample-return mission to Mars moon Phobos today: Watch it live — Space.comChapters 00:00 Today's headlines 00:38 Kosmos-2612 approached ICEYE-X36 02:31 Musk's SpaceX share pledge for every kid 03:50 Japan's MMX mission to study Phobos 05:01 Japan's MMX mission to return Phobos sample 08:33 Hype Check on Japan's MMX mission Source links @elonmusk on X@JAXA_jp on XSpace Stakes is an AI-voiced podcast, built and run by a real person. Nothing in this episode is financial advice. Follow Space Stakes: subscribe on YouTube · Apple Podcasts · Spotify More from Brian Lampert: Quickly Quantum, the daily quantum computing briefing, and Concrete Compute, the daily AI infrastructure briefing. Transcripts and every episode: space-stakes.kngoworld.chatgpt.site.

    Japan’s Phobos Sample Return: A Launch, Then Five Years of Work — October 19, 2026

  6. 5d ago

    Who Holds the Switch on Ukraine’s Starlink? — October 18, 2026

    Ukraine's Starlink slowdown prompts competing claims from Zelenskyy and Rubio, while the cause remains unresolved. Also: a planned Starfall demonstration, JAXA's MMX launch date, a Space Force jammer plan, and conditional Toronto Stock Exchange approvals. Rubio denies US role in Starlink slowdown in Ukraine — FirstpostSpaceX Starfall on Bandwagon-5 — Starlust.orgMMX aboard H3 Launch Vehicle No. 10 — JAXA on XSpace Force plans wider global deployment of satellite jammers — SpaceNewsTwo space companies receive conditional TSX approval — SpaceQChapters 00:00 Today's headlines 00:40 SpaceX Starfall capsule's second flight 02:33 Space Force plans wider jammers 03:05 NorthStar, Maritime conditional approval 04:10 Rubio denies Washington ordered Starlink slowdown 07:13 Accountability for a commercial network Source links @business on X@Gerashchenko_en on X@RSA_Observer on X@SpaceNews_Inc on XSpace Stakes is an AI-voiced podcast, built and run by a real person. Nothing in this episode is financial advice. Follow Space Stakes: subscribe on YouTube · Apple Podcasts · Spotify More from Brian Lampert: Quickly Quantum, the daily quantum computing briefing, and Concrete Compute, the daily AI infrastructure briefing. Transcripts and every episode: space-stakes.kngoworld.chatgpt.site.

    Who Holds the Switch on Ukraine’s Starlink? — October 18, 2026

  7. Oct 17

    Weekly Recap: Control, Cadence and the Cost of Clearing Orbit — October 17, 2026

    This weekly recap follows the week's debate over control of military satellite communications, alongside tests and targets for launch and connectivity systems. It also looks at a UK contract for an active debris removal mission. Musk Says U.S. Government is in Control of Starlink Speeds for Ukraine's Military — Via SatelliteUS Army stress-tests Amazon Leo satellite network for high-speed battlefield connectivity — AmazonSpaceX wants 456 launches/year — Advanced TelevisionBlue Origin Advances LC-36 Rebuild for Year-End New Glenn Return to Flight — NASASpaceFlight.comCarbon Fibre Troubles Force Rocket Lab to Delay Neutron Debut to No Earlier Than 2027 — NASASpaceFlight.comClearSpace Wins Major UK Debris Removal Contract — Via SatelliteArianespace Targets 23 Nov Ariane 6 Return Following Reported Turbopump Fix — European SpaceflightChapters 00:00 Today's headlines 01:06 Starlink speed limit, Ukrainian drones 02:47 Army stress-tested Amazon Leo network 04:24 Starship launch request at Starbase 06:06 Blue Origin rebuilding Launch Complex 36 07:38 Neutron delayed to no earlier than 2027 09:21 ClearSpace for UK Active Debris Removal 10:48 Ariane 6 no earlier than November 23 Source links faa.govSpace Stakes is an AI-voiced podcast, built and run by a real person. Nothing in this episode is financial advice. Follow Space Stakes: subscribe on YouTube · Apple Podcasts · Spotify More from Brian Lampert: Quickly Quantum, the daily quantum computing briefing, and Concrete Compute, the daily AI infrastructure briefing. Transcripts and every episode: space-stakes.kngoworld.chatgpt.site.

    Weekly Recap: Control, Cadence and the Cost of Clearing Orbit — October 17, 2026

  8. Oct 16

    Rocket Lab Faces Composite Tank Test as UK Funds Debris Capture — October 16, 2026

    Carbon Fibre Troubles Force Rocket Lab to Delay Neutron Debut — NASASpaceFlight.comRussian Offensive Campaign Assessment, October 15, 2026 — criticalthreats.orgSpaceX launches classified mission for the US Space Force — Space.comClearSpace Wins Major UK Debris Removal Contract — Via SatelliteArianespace Targets 23 Nov Ariane 6 Return — European SpaceflightChapters 00:00 Today's headlines 00:34 Starshield access reportedly restored 01:40 Falcon 9 booster lands, cargo classified 02:43 UK active debris removal with ClearSpace 03:42 Ariane 6 launch no earlier than 23 November 04:39 Neutron debut slips on carbon fibre 06:04 Neutron tank ruptured in hydrostatic testing Source links @SpaceX on Xgov.uksatellitetoday.comspacenews.comSpace Stakes is an AI-voiced podcast, built and run by a real person. Nothing in this episode is financial advice. Follow Space Stakes: subscribe on YouTube · Apple Podcasts · Spotify More from Brian Lampert: Quickly Quantum, the daily quantum computing briefing, and Concrete Compute, the daily AI infrastructure briefing. Transcripts and every episode: space-stakes.kngoworld.chatgpt.site.

    Rocket Lab Faces Composite Tank Test as UK Funds Debris Capture — October 16, 2026
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The money, missions, and power shaping space. Space Stakes is a daily briefing on the business of the new space race — launches, contracts, constellations, and the capital behind them. Every episode cuts through the industry's hype: signed contracts vs. paper constellations, funded orders vs. "up to" ceilings, launch dates vs. track records. Who pays, who profits, and who actually delivers — told so both aerospace insiders and curious newcomers finish feeling it was made for them. Space Stakes is an AI-voiced podcast, created and built by a real human, Brian Lampert. Nothing on this show is financial advice. Also from Brian Lampert: Quickly Quantum and Concrete Compute.

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