Space news

Paul Bate is stepping down as CEO of the UK Space Agency at the end of March as it transitions from a standalone body into the British government’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. The post UK Space Agency CEO stepping down as agency folds into government appeared first on SpaceNews.

Humanity’s first deep space crewed mission since 1972 is scheduled for no earlier than Sunday,… The post Artemis II Wet Dress Rehearsal, critical milestone to launch appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.

NASA’s Orion spacecraft, which will carry the Artemis II crew around the Moon, sits at the launch pad on Jan. 17, 2026, after rollout. It rests atop the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket. Orion can provide living space on missions for four astronauts for up to 21 days without docking to another spacecraft. Advances in technology […]

A NASA authorization bill the House Science Committee is scheduled to take up this week would require closer scrutiny of lunar lander and spacesuit development for the Artemis program. The post House NASA bill seeks details on lunar lander and spacesuit development appeared first on SpaceNews.

Following a fueling test of NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket at the launch pad for the Artemis II Moon mission, leaders will discuss initial results during a news conference at 12 p.m. EST on Tuesday, Feb. 3. The agency’s SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft arrived at Launch Pad 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center […]

When satellites eventually fall back down to Earth, they mostly burn up because of the friction caused by the atmosphere. Scientific data about this atmospheric reentry process is urgently needed to design future satellites for a quick, safe and sustainable demise at the end of their mission – reducing risks on the ground and in space.

Satellite navigation is essential to everyday life, from tracking your morning jog to landing air ambulances. But as reliance on satellite navigation grows, so do the risks associated with its interruption, natural or intentional. To strengthen European resilience in navigation, the European Space Agency (ESA) takes part annually in Jammertest.

Amazon has purchased an additional 10 Falcon 9 launches from SpaceX as part of its efforts to accelerate deployment of its broadband satellite constellation. The post Amazon buys 10 more Falcon 9 launches appeared first on SpaceNews.

In January 2026, Iranian authorities shut down landline and mobile telecommunications infrastructure in the country to clamp down on coordinated protests. Starlink terminals, which were discreetly mounted on rooftops, helped Iranian protesters bypass this internet blackout. The role played by Starlink in the recent Iranian protests challenges the notion of digital sovereignty and promotes corporate […] The post Starlink and the unravelling of digital sovereignty appeared first on SpaceNews.

SAN FRANCISCO – CesiumAstro is preparing for rapid expansion thanks to an influx of cash announced Feb. 2: $270 million in equity and $200 million in debt financing. CesiumAstro raised […] The post CesiumAstro to scale operations with $470 million in equity and debt financing appeared first on SpaceNews.

Transcelestial, a startup developing optical communications technologies, has signed an agreement with Gilmour Space Technologies to incorporate its technology on Gilmour Space spacecraft. The post Transcelestial to provide satellite laser communication terminals to Gilmour Space appeared first on SpaceNews.

The 2026 ESA Graduate Trainee positions are now open! If you’re passionate about engineering, science, IT or business, this is your chance to turn your dreams into reality.

From the ESA Blogs.

From autumn color to a winter-white finish, forested areas around Blacksburg trade foliage for snow over the span of two months.

The Starlink 17-32 mission will be the first Starlink mission in February. Liftoff from pad 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base is scheduled for 7:38 a.m. PST (10:38 a.m. EST / 1538 UTC).

The countdown began Saturday evening and will continue through the start of a simulated launch window opening at 9 p.m. EST Monday. The test started two days late because of predicted arctic weather along Florida's Space Coast.

The Saudi Space Agency announced on Tuesday the names of the winning teams of the global “DebriSolver” competition, one of the flagship initiatives accompanying the Space Debris Conference 2026. Launched […] The post Saudi Space Agency Announces Winners of Global ‘DebriSolver’ Competition at Space Debris Conference appeared first on SpaceNews.

Here is SpacePolicyOnline.com’s list of space policy events for the week of February 1-7, 2026 and any insight we can offer about them. The House and Senate are in session […]

One of the biggest questions in the tech sector has been if AI is the future, where does all the infrastructure go? Some space industry leaders — including Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos — believe the answer could be in orbit, via space-based data centers. That idea has gained attention in recent weeks. Musk is […] The post With attention on orbital data centers, the focus turns to economics appeared first on SpaceNews.

Varda Space Industries completed its latest reentry mission Jan. 29, completing an end-to-end demonstration of a new in-house spacecraft design. The post Varda’s W-5 mission lands in Australia appeared first on SpaceNews.

SpaceX is seeking Federal Communications Commission approval for a satellite constellation of unprecedented scale intended to function as an orbital data center. The post SpaceX files plans for million-satellite orbital data center constellation appeared first on SpaceNews.

China launched a satellite for Algeria late Friday, as signs mount that multiple missions have been delayed amid preparations for a key human spaceflight test. The post China launches AlSat-3B for Algeria, further launches delayed ahead of key human spaceflight test appeared first on SpaceNews.

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jan 28, 2026 Detergent bottles and other litter can travel thousands of miles across the ocean before washing up on remote islands like Kaho'olawe in Hawaii, highlighting how persistent plastic pollution has become in the marine environment. A remote sensing technology developed at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory that recently detected plastic pollution on land is now inspiring efforts to one day track ocea

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jan 29, 2026 Leonardo DRS has been awarded a subcontract to deliver advanced infrared mission payloads for the Space Development Agency's Tracking Layer Tranche 3, expanding space-based support for the U.S. missile defense architecture. The contract positions the company as the space-based mission payload provider for TRKT3, a critical element in the U.S. military program to detect, track, and cue defenses a

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jan 28, 2026 Balerion Space Ventures has made a strategic investment in Northwood Space's 100 million dollar Series B funding round, targeting what it sees as a critical bottleneck in the emerging space economy: terrestrial ground infrastructure. The firm positions this deployment of capital as part of its broader focus on the foundational systems required to scale space operations across commercial and gove

Washington, United States (AFP) Jan 30, 2026 NASA on Friday pushed back the earliest date that astronauts could fly to the Moon, due to forecasts of freezing temperatures at the Florida launch site. The earliest window for the moonshot will now be February 8, two days later than originally scheduled. NASA was preparing to conduct a key fueling test over the weekend of the 322-foot (98-meter) rocket that is on the Cape Canaveral lau

New York (AFP) Jan 30, 2026 Jeff Bezos's space company Blue Origin said Friday it would temporarily pause flights of its space tourism rocket to focus more resources on its lunar ambitions. The company said in a statement it would "pause New Shepard flights for no less than two years" in order to "further accelerate development of the company's human lunar capabilities." "The decision reflects Blue Origin's commitm

New York NY (SPX) Jan 31, 2026 As NASA counts down toward humanity's first crewed lunar mission in more than half a century, a question beyond engineering is taking shape: Can a flight that never touches the surface still define who "wins" the Second Moon Race? The answer lies not in propulsion equations or landing dynamics, but in the realm where space programs have always competed most fiercely-perception, prestige, and the stories nations tell about themselves.

A Continuing Resolution (CR) keeping parts of the government operating, including Defense, expires at midnight tonight. This afternoon the Senate passed an amended version of legislation that would fund many […]

NASA has selected Axiom Space for its fifth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, scheduled for 2027. The post Axiom wins fifth private astronaut mission to space station appeared first on SpaceNews.

NASA and Axiom Space have signed an order for the fifth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, targeted to launch no earlier than January 2027 from the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. “The award of our fifth private astronaut mission shows that commercial space is not a distant promise, but a present […]

The company expects more satellite orders and space work fueled by Golden Dome The post L3Harris reaffirms commitment to space business amid missile sector expansion appeared first on SpaceNews.

The agency is looking at Feb. 11 as the earliest date for launching the SpaceX Crew-12 mission. However, it hinges entirely on the status of Artemis 2 and whether or not it has launched.

NASA’s Libera instrument, which is designed to maintain the global data record of Earth’s radiation budget, has successfully completed comprehensive environmental testing. This critical milestone included thermal vacuum tests that simulate the expected space temperature and environments that Libera will experience during its mission. The Libera instrument will fly on Joint Polar Satellite System-4 (JPSS-4), […]

Training is underway for NASA’s newest class of astronaut candidates at the Johnson Space Center… The post Former SpaceX astronaut discusses training as a NASA astronaut candidate appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.

Blue Origin announced Jan. 30 that it will halt flights of its New Shepard suborbital vehicle for at least two years as it shifts its focus to human lunar exploration. The post Blue Origin halts New Shepard flights appeared first on SpaceNews.

"This program has laid the groundwork for our company's future success."

While NASA is working with U.S. aviation to explore commercial supersonic technologies, the agency is also looking forward to an even faster era of flight – one of vehicles that can fly hypersonic, or five times the speed of sound. And to further that vision, NASA has issued two awards for studies into vehicle concepts.  […]

The Wet Dress Rehearsal (WDR) required before the launch of Artemis II has been postponed from January 31 to February 2 because of bitter cold weather in Florida. NASA’s strict […]

Description This animation of NASA’s Perseverance was created with the Caspian visualization tool using data acquired during an 807-foot (246-meter) drive on the rim of Jezero Crater made by the rover on Dec. 10, 2025, the 1,709th Martian day, or sol, of the mission. The mission’s “drivers,” or rover planners, use the information to understand the Perseverance’s […]

NASA is delaying a key fueling test for the Artemis 2 mission because of weather, reducing the chances the launch can take place during its February window. The post Weather delays Artemis 2 wet dress rehearsal appeared first on SpaceNews.

NASA OUTSTANDING PUBLIC LEADERSHIP MEDAL Awarded for notable leadership accomplishments that have significantly influenced NASA’s mission. Sustained leadership and exceptionally high-impact leadership achievements demonstrate the individual’s effectiveness in advancing NASA’s goals and image in present and future terms. Kamal Oudrhiri – For outstanding leadership of the Cold Atom Laboratory, NASA’s first quantum laboratory in space. […]

Description This animation shows Perseverance’s point of view during drive of 807 feet (246 meters) along the rim of Jezero Crater on Dec. 10, 2025, the 1,709th Martian day, or sol, of the mission. Captured over two hours and 35 minutes, 53 Navigation Camera (Navcam) image pairs were combined with rover data on orientation, wheel speed, […]

In this episode of Space Minds, SpaceNews senior staff writer Sandra Erwin sits down with Gen. Shawn Bratton, vice chair of space operations for the U.S. Space Force for a […] The post A fireside chat with Space Force Gen. Shawn Bratton appeared first on SpaceNews.

Description This annotated image from NASA’s HiRISE (High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment) camera aboard the agency’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter image depicts the AI-planned route and the actual route taken by NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover during its 807-foot (246-meter) drive on Dec. 10, 2025, the 1,709th Martian day, or sol, of the mission. The drive was the second of two demonstrations […]

From the ESA Blogs.

“The mission of the CSDA Program is to identify, evaluate, and acquire data from commercial sources that support NASA’s Earth science research and application goals,” said CSDA Project Manager Dana Ostrenga. “The addition of this product from Satellogic to the SDX demonstrates the CSDA Program’s ongoing commitment to that mission, as well as to our […]

“The mission of the CSDA Program is to identify, evaluate, and acquire data from commercial sources that support NASA’s Earth science research and application goals,” said CSDA Project Manager Dana Ostrenga. “The addition of this product from Satellogic to the SDX demonstrates the CSDA Program’s ongoing commitment to that mission, as well as to our […]

The Expedition 74 trio wrapped up the week packing cargo for return to Earth and exploring artificial intelligence to benefit crew operations. Earth observations and lab gear maintenance rounded out the shift aboard the International Space Station on Friday.

The team for the six-wheeled scientist used a vision-capable AI to create a safe route over the Red Planet’s surface without the input of human route planners.  NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover has completed the first drives on another world that were planned by artificial intelligence. Executed on Dec. 8 and 10, and led by the agency’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, the demonstration used generative AI to create waypoints for Perseverance, a complex decision-making task typically performed manually by […]