Alan Ladwig, former NASA associate administrator and charter SpaceNews subscriber, still has all four preview issues. Credit: @SpaceArtAl/Twitter

On Sept. 18, 1989, SpaceNews published the first of four monthly preview issues to test the waters for a trade publication focused exclusively on space.

Thirty years later, we’re still here covering the business and politics of a greatly expanded global space community.

We wouldn’t have lasted three decades without astute readers, supportive advertisers and hard-working journalists.

Our current core team of reporters — Jeff Foust, Debra Werner, Sandra Erwin, Caleb Henry and Andrew Jones — are some of the best we’ve ever had.

Starting with founding editor Theresa Foley, SpaceNews made a name for itself thanks to a long list of distinguished alumni, including Lon Rains, Warren Ferster, Peter de Selding, Andrew Lawler, Dan Marcus, Vince Kiernan Patrick Seitz, Doug Isbell, Ben Iannotta, Anne Eisele, Sam Silverstein, Paula Trimble, Jeremy Singer, Jason Bates, Colin Clark, Amy Svitak, Stu Magnuson, Turner Brinton, Mike Gruss, Dan Leone and more.

We’ve also benefited from the talents of whip-smart contributors who have written for our opinion section and provided great put-it-into-perspective quotes on deadline. Hall of famers include John Logsdon, Lou Friedman, Marcia Smith, Howard McCurdy, Joan-Johnson Freese, Mike Griffin, Lori Garver, Alan Ladwig, Jim Muncy, Jack Burns, Robert Zubrin, Brian Weeden, Dean Cheng, Peter Marquez, Todd Harrison, Henry Sokolski, Armand Musey, Rick Tumlinson, Donald F. Robertson, O. Glenn Smith, Mark Whittington, and countless others.

Finally, thank you to everyone who has extended birthday wishes.

It’s been an honor.

Congratulations on this significant milestone. There has been a lot to cover over the past 30 years…here’s to an even more exciting next 30! https://t.co/jTA4gC0k0v

— Gen. Jay Raymond (@SpaceComCC) September 18, 2019

Congratulations @SpaceNews_Inc. The industry wouldn’t be the same without you. Thanks for keeping us informed for 30 years! https://t.co/UWXK1zFZoM

— Matt Desch (@IridiumBoss) September 18, 2019

We congratulate @SpaceNews_Inc! The premiere issue of SpaceNews was published 30 years ago on 18 Sep 1989 pic.twitter.com/tjmT9rLUB8

— RUAGSpace (@RuagSpace) September 18, 2019

Congratulations

— Tory Bruno (@torybruno) September 18, 2019

I still have 3 of the 4 preview issues and Vol 1 No. 1. pic.twitter.com/jOYRNzvsa7

— Alan Ladwig (@SpaceArtAl) September 18, 2019

Seems like yesterday! We were so excited & it lived up to the hype. Many great editors over time @Berger_SN @LonRains Andrew Lawler & the founding Editor in Chief – Theresa Foley. She helped start WIA & had a positive impact on many of us. Sorry she left the space community! https://t.co/cP915jU6Fw

— Lori Garver (@Lori_Garver) September 20, 2019

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Brian Berger is editor in chief of SpaceNews.com and the SpaceNews magazine. He joined SpaceNews.com in 1998, spending his first decade with the publication covering NASA. His reporting on the 2003 Space Shuttle Columbia accident was...