{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"A German Commercial Rocket Reached Orbit From Norway | Swift's Rescue Failed, New Horizons Faces Cuts","description":"This week, we're covering what's been trending in Space News for the last 8 days...and EUROPE FINALLY HAS ITS OWN RIDE TO ORBIT! A German company launched a commercial rocket to orbit from Norway \u2014 and almost nobody covered it, including SKYE on its first pass. We also get into NASA's failed rescue of the Swift telescope, and a nuclear-powered spacecraft at the edge of the solar system that's on the chopping block. Space News gathered by our AI Assistant SKYE and reported by your human host Spaceman Alex!&amp;nbsp;I'm Alex G. Orphanos, your space science podcast host and your favorite mad scientist. Tell me what you think of the SKYE Report, and which segments to dig deeper into. If the New Horizons segment lands with you, the ask at the end is real \u2014 it worked last year. SAVE NEW HORIZONS:  https:\/\/www.science.org\/content\/article\/nasa-s-new-horizons-mission-may-shut-down-two-instruments-over-lack-funding WATCH our LIVE Launch Hangout for Roman Space Telescope:  https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/live\/V3pipbUu3X0?si=5yUMqzM-kcf6O_2K Be well, stay safe, and stay curious. SPREAD LOVE, SPREAD SCIENCE, AND STAY CURIOUS. THE BOOK The Book of Uncommon-Sense 3D Printing is out now in hardcover and on Kindle: https:\/\/ag3dlabs.com\/book MORE TODAY IN SPACE https:\/\/todayinspace.net SKYE is free and it updates every 30 minutes: https:\/\/todayinspace.net Youtube Video: https:\/\/youtu.be\/QoLvWnAq8sw CHAPTERS 00:00 Welcome \u2014 what SKYE is and what this report does 00:35 The hook: Isar reaches orbit, and how it nearly got missed 01:10 The rundown \u2014 Aug 30 to Sep 6, six launches, six successes 01:31 SKYE's trends \u2014 lunar at 1.6x, down from last week's 11x 01:54 Roman Space Telescope launches, and our live hangout 02:23 Isar Aerospace \u2014 the launch from Andoya, and what ESA said 02:56 The Spectrum vehicle and its payload 03:07 My take \u2014 why Europe needs its own launch capability 04:12 How the story got buried, and the fix in SKYE 05:04 SKYE picks \u2014 Pallas-1's debut, and the Venus mission still grounded 05:48 What's next \u2014 Progress MS-35, MS-33, Long March, USSF-153 06:41 The Swift Observatory and the failed rescue 07:00 The Swift timeline, Aug 9 to Aug 31 07:28 Isaacman and Domagal-Goldman on taking smart risks 08:42 New Horizons \u2014 a nuclear spacecraft on the funding chopping block 09:20 What New Horizons is and where it is now 10:56 The ask \u2014 call your representatives 12:36 Close WATCH THIS WEEK Progress MS-35 docks with the station Friday the 11th at 18:37 UTC, and NASA is carrying it live.  https:\/\/plus.nasa.gov\/scheduled-video\/progress-96-cargo-ship-docking\/ SOURCES FOR THIS EPISODE ISAR AEROSPACE ESA \u2014 Isar Aerospace achieves first launch to orbit from continental Europe  https:\/\/www.esa.int\/Enabling_Support\/Space_Transportation\/Boost\/Isar_Aerospace_achieves_first_launch_to_orbit_from_continental_Europe Ars Technica \u2014 German company is first in Europe to launch a fully commercial orbital rocket  https:\/\/arstechnica.com\/space\/2026\/09\/german-company-becomes-first-in-europe-to-launch-fully-commercial-orbital-rocket\/ Via Satellite \u2014 PLD Space, Isar and RFA land ESA Launcher Challenge contracts  https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/launch\/2026\/08\/27\/pld-space-isar-aerospace-and-rocket-factory-augsburg-land-esa-contracts-in-launch-challenge\/ SWIFT Via Satellite \u2014 Katalyst LINK mission is unable to rescue NASA's Swift observatory  https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/technology\/2026\/08\/19\/katalyst-link-mission-is-unable-to-rescue-nasa-swift-observatory\/ Space.com \u2014 Swift restarts science work after the rescue mission fails  https:\/\/www.space.com\/space-exploration\/missions\/nasas-doomed-swift-space-telescope-restarts-science-work-after-rescue-mission-fails NASA \u2014 Updates on next steps for the commercial Swift boost mission https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/news-release\/nasa-updates-next-steps-for-commercial-swift-boost-mission\/ NEW HORIZONS Science \u2014 New Horizons may shut down two instruments over lack of funding  https:\/\/www.science.org\/content\/article\/nasa-s-new-horizons-mission-may-shut-down-two-instruments-over-lack-funding NASA \u2014 New Horizons mission page https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/new-horizons\/ The Planetary Society \u2014 You just saved NASA's budget: the FY2026 outcome  https:\/\/www.planetary.org\/articles\/advocacy-success-fy2026-nasa-budget Full list with timestamps is pinned in the comments. IMAGES: ESA \/ Isar Aerospace (CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO) \u00b7 NASA \/ JHUAPL \/ SwRI \u00b7 NASA #isaraerospace #newhorizons #swift #spacenews #esa #nasa #spacex #spacepodcast #todayinspace ","author_name":"Today In Space","author_url":"http:\/\/www.todayinspace.net\/","html":"<iframe title=\"Libsyn Player\" style=\"border: none\" src=\"\/\/html5-player.libsyn.com\/embed\/episode\/id\/42804815\/height\/90\/theme\/custom\/thumbnail\/yes\/direction\/forward\/render-playlist\/no\/custom-color\/3e00ff\/\" height=\"90\" width=\"600\" scrolling=\"no\"  allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen><\/iframe>","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/assets.libsyn.com\/secure\/content\/206021870"}