Thirty-five years ago today, SpaceNews published its first issue, defying naysayers who claimed the space industry circa 1989 was too small to justify a dedicated weekly publication. With a small but passionate team — much like today’s — we set out to cover the business and politics of space at a time when commercialization was still in its infancy.
The inaugural issue of SpaceNews from September 18, 1989, marked the publication’s bold entry into the space journalism world. Headlining stories included the 1990 NASA budget, the Senate’s decision to back the Space Station while cutting the National Aero-Space Plane (NASP), and Transpace’s billion-dollar lawsuit against NASA and McDonnell Douglas over Delta rocket contracts.Three and a half decades later, we find ourselves reporting on an industry that has grown and flourished beyond anything we could have imagined. From the early government-dominated space programs to today’s bustling commercial ventures, the landscape has dramatically changed—but our mission remains the same: to provide clear, insightful, and authoritative coverage of the business, politics, and technology driving the space industry.
How we cover itFrom the beginning, SpaceNews was designed to be different. While other publications focused on technical achievements or celebrated the “gee whiz” moments of space exploration, we zeroed in on the business and politics driving the industry. Space professionals didn’t need another outlet marveling at rocket launches and scientific discoveries — they needed insight into the decisions, investments, and policies shaping the future of space.
As we wrote in our Sept. 18, 1989 premiere issue, “Our plan for Space News is straight and simple. We intend to deliver the breaking news about space each week. We want to be accurate, fair and balanced. We care about putting information in the proper context. We get the whole story. We eschew the quick and easy headline.”
That approach is more important than ever.
Over the past 35 years, we’ve maintained our commitment to covering the space industry’s evolution with an eye on what matters most to our readers. Whether reporting on government space budgets or commercial contracts, SpaceNews has consistently dug deeper to provide the context decision-makers need. As we said at our founding, we do not aspire to be the industry’s voice or tout the party line. “We will succeed, we believe, by being an independent source of news and information.”
From the earliest days of the commercial satellite sector to the advent of satellite megaconstellations and low-cost launches, transforming the global economy to international partnerships that shape space exploration, we have been there to track and report on these developments.
Our small but nimble team remains a strength even as the space industry has grown. With fewer than 15 people on the editorial and business sides combined, we’ve consistently produced in-depth reports and analyses that rival much larger newsrooms. This agility allows us to respond quickly to breaking news while providing thoughtful, comprehensive coverage of the trends that matter most in space business and policy.
We don’t just report that a satellite has launched or a rover has landed—we cover the contracts, the regulatory hurdles, the geopolitical implications, and the commercial opportunities that follow. From the militarization of space to AI’s impact on satellite operations, SpaceNews is there to ask important questions and provide the answers that help our readers navigate the complexities of this industry.
Adapting to Change: SpaceNews in the Digital EraJust as the space industry has transformed over the past 35 years, so has SpaceNews. We started as a print publication, delivering in-depth stories on the latest developments in space. Today, we operate as a digital-first multimedia outlet, providing around-the-clock coverage to readers across the globe. Our website has become a hub for breaking news, analysis, and expert commentary on the issues that shape the future of space.With the rise of podcasts and video content, we’ve found new ways to engage with readers. Long-form interviews, event coverage, and real-time analysis have become essential to covering space. Our transition to digital has allowed us to reach a broader audience and tell more nuanced stories, but our commitment to rigorous, authoritative reporting remains unchanged. SpaceNews continues to evolve to meet the needs of our audience in an ever-changing digital landscape.
Looking Ahead: The Next 35 YearsAs we celebrate our 35th anniversary, we look forward to the next chapter in space exploration and commerce. The space industry is more dynamic than ever, with private ventures pushing the boundaries of what’s possible and governments reinvesting in ambitious exploration projects. From the commercialization of low-Earth orbit to the return of human missions to the moon, the next chapter in space exploration promises to be as exciting as the last 35 years.
Looking ahead, new technologies like artificial intelligence and automation will revolutionize satellite operations and space exploration, while space sustainability becomes a growing priority as we tackle the challenge of orbital debris and long-term space operations. These emerging trends will shape the industry’s future, and SpaceNews is ready to cover every development.
But no matter how the industry evolves, SpaceNews remains committed to delivering the stories that matter most—stories that provide insight, context, and clarity in a fast-moving world.
As we look to the future, we’re excited to continue bringing our readers the news they rely on to understand the space industry’s past, present, and future.
Stay tuned for more reflections on the past, celebrations of the present, and visions of the future as we mark 35 years of SpaceNews in the coming weeks and months.
– Press Release: SpaceNews Celebrates 35th Anniversary as a Global Media Brand