Trusted Sources
Independent Space News prioritizes primary documents, institutional sources, direct statements, technical records, and high-credibility trade reporting. We do not treat all sources as equal. Source quality depends on proximity to the facts, verifiability, and track record.
How ISN evaluates sources
- Primary documents and official records carry more weight than summaries or commentary.
- Direct evidence outranks anonymous assertion when the two are in tension.
- Technical, regulatory, orbital, and financial claims are checked against the best available source of record.
- We prefer independent confirmation when a claim is consequential, surprising, or commercially sensitive.
- When source quality is limited, we say so directly rather than overstating confidence.
Core source groups
Institutional and Government Sources
NASA · FAA · FCC · ITU · ESA · NOAA · Office of Space Commerce · U.S. Space Force · U.S. DoD · Space Systems Command · JPL · EUMETSAT
Industry and Trade Reporting
SpaceNews · SatNews · Via Satellite · NASASpaceflight · Space.com
Primary Corporate and Operator Sources
Rocket Lab · ULA · Planet · Intelsat · Maxar · Northrop Grumman
Public Filings, Procurement, and Market Data
SEC EDGAR · USAspending · SAM.gov · Twelve Data · Finnhub
Orbital and Launch Data
Space-Track · Launch Library 2 · Next Spaceflight · Space Launch Now · RocketLaunch.org · DISCOS · NOAA GOES on AWS
Source handling rules
- Single-source reporting is labeled with appropriate caution when corroboration is not yet possible.
- Promotional claims from companies, agencies, or advocacy groups are not treated as established fact without verification.
- Aggregators and social posts are leads, not final authority.
- We update stories when better source material supersedes earlier reporting.
This page is a public-facing summary of sourcing standards. For newsroom-wide policy context, see Editorial Standards & Ethics and Correction Policy.