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Aug 4, 07:54
ispace turns to H3 for 2028 mission as Japan builds domestic lunar transport stack

Japan's effort to localize lunar transportation is gaining momentum as the government and private sector seek to reduce reliance on overseas launch services and establish a domestically supported lunar logistics system.

The Taiwan Space Agency (TASA) opened its new space startup accelerator, TASA iSPARK, on July 31 at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University's Boai campus in Hsinchu. The center said it leased an entire floor in the Xianqi Hall building to create a base that links research, industry, investment, and international partners.

The Monte Jade Science and Technology Association of Taiwan (MJ Taiwan) elected Maverick Shih, chairman of Acer Cyber Security (ACSI), as its 13th chairman during the association's first board meeting of its new term on July 30.

Taiwanese drone manufacturer Thunder Tiger demonstrated an uncrewed surface vessel (USV) equipped with mission autonomy software in collaboration with US-based defense technology startup Shield AI at Dapeng Bay, Taiwan, on July 29. While Taiwanese companies are actively pushing for greater autonomy in unmanned vehicle technologies, unclear policy direction at this stage has added to industry uncertainty.

Amazon's low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellite network is approaching 400 satellites in orbit, enough to begin initial commercial internet service before the end of 2026, CEO Andy Jassy said on the company's second-quarter earnings call.

Shield AI and Thunder Tiger Group completed their first autonomous maritime unmanned vehicle swarm demonstration in Taiwan, combining Shield AI's Hivemind AI system with Thunder Tiger's SeaShark unmanned surface vehicles. The test, conducted in Pingtung, showed multiple boats carrying out coordinated intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions without direct human control.
Coretronic said its robotics subsidiary, Coretronic Intelligent Robotics (CIRC), is focusing on four development priorities as a large domestic government drone procurement plan remains unapproved, leaving suppliers facing a demand gap. The company said the strategy is designed to reduce the impact of uncertainty over the government buying schedule on its drone business.
Taiwan's Office of the President announced the rules for the Presidential Cup 2026 Drone Competition on July 28, aiming to cultivate talent in technology applications, encourage industry investment in research and development, promote industrial upgrading, and support Taiwan's economic development.
As the debate over the US fiscal 2027 defense spending plan to dismantle the Space Development Agency (SDA) continues, the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture's (PWSA) transport layer is concentrating around SpaceX, seemingly narrowing the door for suppliers. In reality, however, it marks a shift in the business focus from selling a batch of satellites to supplying continuous replacement components and terminal opportunities that are still up for grabs.

Boeing is moving closer to final safety certification for the 737 MAX 10, with the Federal Aviation Administration targeting September or October should the review stay on track. The approval would clear a long-delayed hurdle for the largest member of the 737 MAX family and could help Boeing improve its cash flow as it competes with Airbus in the single-aisle jet market.

Shield AI and GE Aerospace said on July 20 that they had completed integration, actuation and engine ignition testing for the Axisymmetric Vectoring Exhaust Nozzle (AVEN) on the X-BAT vertical takeoff and landing unmanned combat aircraft. The milestone brings the AI-enabled, runway-independent fighter closer to a first flight later in 2026.

Amazon has filed with the Federal Communications Commission to launch and deploy 5,105 low Earth orbit satellites for a direct-to-device network that would connect phones and other mobile devices directly to space-based systems. The filing marks a major expansion of Amazon's satellite ambitions and represents a direct challenge to SpaceX's Starlink.