Space news

NASA is postponing the Thursday, Jan. 8, spacewalk outside the International Space Station. The agency is monitoring a medical concern with a crew member that arose Wednesday afternoon aboard the orbital complex. Due to medical privacy, it is not appropriate for NASA to share more details about the crew member. The situation is stable. NASA […]

NASA and its partners have supported humans continuously living and working in space since November 2000. A truly global endeavor, the International Space Station has been visited by more than 290 people from 26 countries and a variety of international and commercial spacecraft. The unique microgravity laboratory has hosted more than 4,000 experiments from over […]

Expedition 74 is making final preparations for the first spacewalk of 2026 that will see two NASA astronauts exit the International Space Station for power upgrade work on Thursday. Science also continued aboard the orbital outpost with Wednesday’s research focusing on physics, microbiology, artificial intelligence, and Earth observations.

NASA astronaut Nichole Ayers captured this image of lightning while orbiting aboard the International Space Station more than 250 miles above Milan, Italy on July 1, 2025. Storm observations from space station help scientists study Earth’s upper atmosphere, which can improve weather models and protect communication systems and aircraft. Space station crew take photographs of […]

IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 7, 2026 — Terran Orbital, a Lockheed Martin Company and a leading manufacturer of satellite solutions, announced today the appointment of Michael Vishion as vice president of […] The post Terran Orbital Appoints Michael Vishion as Vice President of Program Management appeared first on SpaceNews.

Falcon ExoDynamics wins contract to mature satellite interface developed by Aerospace Corp. The post Space Force moves to standardize satellites with ‘Handle 2.0’ contract appeared first on SpaceNews.

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jan 07, 2026 Aegis Aerospace Inc. has entered into a partnership with United Semiconductors LLC to develop semiconductor manufacturing capabilities in low Earth orbit as part of a new advanced materials production platform. The collaboration follows a recent grant agreement between Aegis Aerospace and the Texas Space Commission to design and operate an in-space manufacturing system for advanced materials in

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jan 07, 2026 A Georgia State University astronomy graduate student has led a new survey of nearby K-type stars to identify targets where Earth-like planets could provide conditions suitable for life. Sebastian Carrazco-Gaxiola presented the results at the January 2026 meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Phoenix, Arizona. The project delivers the first comprehensive spectroscopic census of t

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jan 07, 2026 NASA has chosen a set of industry proposals to advance technologies for its Habitable Worlds Observatory concept, a planned flagship space telescope intended to directly image Earth-like planets around Sun-like stars and analyze their atmospheres for potential signs of life. The observatory is also expected to support a broad astrophysics program and contribute to planning for future human

Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Jan 07, 2026 China's geospatial information sector, a key component of digital mapping and positioning, is approaching a scale of 1 trillion yuan, according to the Ministry of Natural Resources. The industry is expected to have exceeded 900 billion yuan in output for 2025, representing growth of more than 30 percent compared with 2020, and it employs more than 4 million people. At the core of the

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jan 07, 2026 Our galaxy's supermassive black hole is among the faintest known, yet new observations indicate it was far more active in the recent past on cosmic timescales. Sagittarius A*, at the Milky Way's center, appears to have produced a powerful X ray flare within the last few hundred to 1,000 years, leaving an observable imprint in surrounding gas. Michigan State University researcher Stephen Di

St. Louis MO (SPX) Jan 06, 2026 The giant planet Jupiter has nearly 100 known moons, yet none have captured the interest and imagination of astronomers and space scientists quite like Europa, an ice-shrouded world that is thought to possess a vast ocean of liquid salt water. For decades, scientists have wondered whether that ocean could harbor the right conditions for life, placing Europa near the top of the list of solar syst

Huntsville AL (SPX) Jan 05, 2026 For the first time, scientists have used NASA's IXPE (Imaging X-ray Polarization Explorer) to study a white dwarf star. Using IXPE's unique X-ray polarization capability, astronomers examined a star called the intermediate polar EX Hydrae, unlocking the geometry of energetic binary systems. In 2024, IXPE spent nearly one week focused on EX Hydrae, a white dwarf star system located in the c

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jan 07, 2026 Scientists at the University of Missouri have identified a small group of unusual objects in the early universe that look like stars in images yet behave like compact galaxies when analyzed in detail. Using NASAs James Webb Space Telescope JWST, Haojing Yan and colleagues at Mizzous College of Arts and Science found that these sources appear as single points of light while carrying the spectral

College Station TX (SPX) Jan 06, 2026 When it comes to understanding the universe, what we know is only a sliver of the whole picture. Dark matter and dark energy make up about 95% of the universe, leaving only 5% "ordinary matter," or what we can see. Dr. Rupak Mahapatra, an experimental particle physicist at Texas A&M University, designs highly advanced semiconductor detectors with cryogenic quantum sensors, powering experiments w

Spend enough time investing in space and expectations change. The industry does not advance through clean inflection points that resolve uncertainty, and progress rarely aligns with the milestones investors are accustomed to tracking. More often, space infrastructure is absorbed gradually into other systems, registering as essential only after it is already embedded. That dynamic, rather […] The post SpaceX’s IPO will make space investment far less niche appeared first on SpaceNews.

As part of a European Space Agency study, ArianeGroup has proposed an evolution of its Ariane 6 heavy-lift rocket that would utilise reusable boosters derived from the first stage of the rocket being developed by its subsidiary, MaiaSpace. In late 2024, ArianeGroup was selected alongside Isar Aerospace for the European Space Agency’s Boosters for European […] The post ArianeGroup Proposes Ariane 6 Evolution Using MaiaSpace Boosters appeared first on European Spaceflight.

NASA is ramping up work on its next flagship space telescope while also laying the groundwork for future observatories. The post NASA seeks to accelerate development of Habitable Worlds Observatory appeared first on SpaceNews.

From the ESA Blogs.

Pay-as-you-go model aims to simplify traditionally complex imagery procurement The post SkyFi expands virtual constellation with Vantor satellite imagery appeared first on SpaceNews.

After years of talk, the Pentagon faces hard choices on commercial adoption, missile defense and whether new space capabilities become enduring programs The post 2026 Outlook: Can Acquisition Reform Deliver for Military Space? appeared first on SpaceNews.

The extent and speed of ice moving off the ice sheets of Greenland and Antarctica into the sea – an important dynamic for climate and sea-rise modelling – has been captured over a 10-year period by satellites from the Copernicus Sentinel-1 mission.

Martian winds can have quite an impact. ESA’s Mars Express has spotted them whipping up sand grains and acting as a cosmic sandblaster, carving out intriguing grooves near Mars’s equator.

Vivid green blooms form, drift, and fade in Hartbeespoortdam reservoir over the course of a year.

As preparations continue for a mission to raise the orbit of NASA’s Swift astrophysics spacecraft, project officials are also pursuing steps to extend the satellite’s life in case of delays. The post NASA works to extend Swift’s life ahead of reboost mission appeared first on SpaceNews.

A new video shows the evolution of Kepler’s Supernova Remnant using data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory captured over more than two and a half decades. Kepler’s Supernova Remnant, named after the German astronomer Johannes Kepler, was first spotted in the night sky in 1604. Today, astronomers know that a white dwarf star exploded when […]

NASA has selected ARES Technical Services Corporation of McLean, Virginia, to provide launch range operations support at the agency’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. The Wallops Range Contract has a total potential value of $339.8 million with a one-year base period expected to begin Tuesday, Feb. 10, and four one-year option periods that if exercised […]

Exercise research and biomedical science promoting healthy humans on and off Earth topped the schedule aboard the International Space Station on Tuesday. Meanwhile, two NASA astronauts are preparing for the year’s first spacewalk, scheduled to begin Thursday.

NASA is preparing for the demolition of three iconic structures at the agency’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Crews began demolition in mid-December at the Neutral Buoyancy Simulator, a facility built in the late 1960s that once enabled NASA astronauts and researchers to experience near-weightlessness. The facility was also used to conduct underwater […]

HOUSTON, TX January 6, 2025 – For nearly a century, humanity’s vision of spaceflight has been shaped not only by engineers and astronauts, but by those who dared to imagine […] The post Willy Ley’s Long-Awaited Journey to Orbit: Honoring a Space Pioneer on Celestis’ Serenity and Destiny Flights appeared first on SpaceNews.

After combing through NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope’s archive of sweeping extragalactic cosmic fields, a small team of astronomers at the University of Missouri says they have identified a sample of galaxies that have a previously unseen combination of features. Principal investigator Haojing Yan compares the discovery to an infamous oddball in another branch of […]

Using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, astronomers have spotted two rare kinds of dust in the dwarf galaxy Sextans A, one of the most chemically primitive galaxies near the Milky Way. The finding of metallic iron dust and silicon carbide (SiC) produced by aging stars, along with tiny clumps of carbon-based molecules, shows that even […]

NASA opens the International Space Station for scientists and researchers, inviting them to use the benefits of microgravity for commercial and public research, technology demonstrations, and more. Today, a portion of the crew’s time aboard station is devoted to private industry, including medical research that addresses complex health challenges on Earth and prepares astronauts for […]

NASA’s SPHEREx Observatory has mapped the entire sky in 102 infrared colors, as seen here in this image released on Dec. 18, 2025. This image features a selection of colors emitted primarily by stars (blue, green, and white), hot hydrogen gas (blue), and cosmic dust (red). While not visible to the human eye, these 102 […]

Space operators face a complex and evolving cybersecurity regulatory challenge. While the importance of cybersecurity in today’s digital world is widely recognized, international approaches remain inconsistent. Long-term global compliance requirements are still unclear. With new regimes emerging across multiple jurisdictions, the cybersecurity landscape continues to shift, posing a challenge that space operators must address now, […] The post Space cyber compliance: managing requirements for today and tomorrow appeared first on SpaceNews.

While 2025 saw the first attempt to launch a privately developed European rocket capable of reaching orbit, the flight ultimately failed. Isar Aerospace’s Spectrum rocket exploded in a fireball less than a minute after it left the launch pad, its engines automatically shutting down before the vehicle plummeted into the Norwegian Sea metres from the […] The post Top European Launch Companies of 2025 appeared first on European Spaceflight.

In a significant step forward for Canada’s domestic space ambitions, the Atlantic Spaceport Complex (ASX)… The post Canada’s First Commercial Spaceport clears major hurdle with Environmental Approval appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.

Even as NASA prepares for its Artemis 2 moon-circling mission, an Artemis 3 lunar-landing mission has suffered multiple delays, with no assurance of a launch before 2030. That may be a good thing because NASA still has not overcome critical risks and technological gaps of lunar exploration. These problems must be solved before we can establish a safe, productive long-term human […] The post Is the race for moon missions lunacy? appeared first on SpaceNews.

Growing up in Houston, Craig Shannon was always inspired by NASA and the spirit of exploration the agency represents. Yet it was a passion for scuba diving that unexpectedly led to his more than 23-year career at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. Shannon became a certified diver and scuba instructor while earning his bachelor’s degree in […]

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jan 06, 2026 Many college students say that rent and basic food costs feel harder to manage than any other part of school. It's not unusual for students to work, budget, and still feel short at the end of the month. This leaves a lot of them unsure of how to cover the gap without taking on too much stress.

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jan 06, 2026 Food businesses rely on cold rooms and process chillers to keep products safe from farm to fork. When cooling systems fail or behave unpredictably, the result can be spoilage, recalls, or subtle quality drift that emerges only when products reach consumers.

Sydney, Australia (SPX) Jan 06, 2026 Cameron Beccario, creator of the global weather visualization site earth.nullschool.net, has created a new company called Nullschool Technologies to support the platform's operation and development as a full-time focus. The one-person company is intended to keep the project small and flexible while adding structure to daily work, with the stated goal of making Earth's weather and climate visible

The Huíla plateau, bounded by dramatic cliffs and chasms, stands above the arid coastal plains in the country’s southwest.

SpaceX leads the week’s launch manifest with three scheduled missions and, at the time of… The post Launch Previews: SpaceX and ISRO to launch rideshare missions into SSO appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.

Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Jan 06, 2026 Twenty-eight astronauts and trainees have completed China's first cave-survival training program, a nearly monthlong exercise run by the Astronaut Center of China in Chongqing's Wulong district. The course included more than 10 core activities such as environmental monitoring, cave mapping, simulated communication with ground control, and a series of psychological and behavioral drills in

Paris, France (SPX) Jan 06, 2026 The third satellite in the COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation radar constellation has been launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on a SpaceX Falcon 9 for the Italian Space Agency and the Italian Ministry of Defense, extending Italy's dual-use Earth observation capability. Built by Thales Alenia Space, a joint venture between Thales and Leonardo, and operated in orbit by Teles

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jan 06, 2026 Momentus Inc. has developed an additively manufactured metal fuel tank that will undergo flight testing on the companys Vigoride-7 Orbital Service Vehicle in orbit. The tank, produced in collaboration with Velo3D, is intended as a space-rated component for use on future missions. The tank was designed by Momentus and manufactured using Velo3Ds metal 3D printing systems. The companies used

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jan 06, 2026 Starfighters Space Inc has completed a supersonic flight test campaign for GE Aerospace in which a company F-104 aircraft carried an advanced propulsion test vehicle on multiple flights at supersonic speed. The work supports GE Aerospace's Atmospheric Test of Launched Air-breathing System (ATLAS) program, which is focused on solid fuel ramjet propulsion. As part of the ATLAS program, Starf

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jan 06, 2026 Astronomers using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array ALMA have identified the earliest phases of giant planet formation inside the dense layers of gas and dust in the nearly edge-on disk known as Gomez's Hamburger GoHam. The team presented the research, which is in preparation for publication, at a press conference during the American Astronomical Society's annual meeting in Januar

Zurich, Switzerland (SPX) Jan 06, 2026 The sun rotates about once every 28 days, so active regions on its surface are usually visible from Earth for only around two weeks before they move out of view behind the limb. Ioannis Kontogiannis, a solar physicist at ETH Zurich and the Istituto ricerche solari Aldo e Cele Dacco (IRSOL) in Locarno, notes that ESA's Solar Orbiter mission, launched in 2020, has extended this viewing window by o