Weekly Catch-Up: Classified Launch, Policy Shifts and Venture Moves — October 3, 2026

A week of launches and crew operations sat alongside changes in military-space leadership and satellite connectivity and Europe's small-launch plans. This recap separates completed events from ventures and vehicles that still have to demonstrate delivery. Starship's first orbital flight — @SpaceX on X Falcon launches and Dragon docking — @SpaceX on X Falcon Heavy set to launch classified NROL-97 to high-energy orbit — NASASpaceFlight.com Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile Formally Establish Joint Venture for D2D Services — Via Satellite Berkowitz out at DoD Space Policy office — Breaking Defense Portugal's Omnidea Acquires Orbex Assets, Plans PrimeNEO Rocket — European Spaceflight Chapters 00:00 Today's headlines 01:30 Falcon Heavy flew classified NROL-97 mission 02:18 Carriers formally establish satellite venture 03:45 Pentagon space leadership, Miller nominated 04:53 Omnidea bought Orbex assets, plans PrimeNEO Source links @cb_doge on X @spacex on X spacepolicyonline.com spacepolicyonline.com Space 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 .