Space news

As NASA invites the public to follow the Artemis II mission as a crew of four astronauts venture around the Moon inside the agency’s Orion spacecraft, people around the world can pinpoint Orion during its journey using the Artemis Real-time Orbit Website (AROW). During the approximately 10-day mission, NASA will test how the spacecraft’s systems […]

Following a failure on KAIROS' first two flights in early and late 2024, there was hope for a success on the rocket’s third launch attempt. However, roughly two minutes post launch, the rocket exploded leaving multiple fragments falling from the sky.

March 6, 2026 – Washington, D.C.—The Commercial Space Federation (CSF) is pleased to welcome Leolabs,  the American Society for Gravitational and Space Research (ASGSR), and SurgeStreams. Together, these organizations strengthen […] The post Commercial Space Federation (CSF) Welcomes New Members appeared first on SpaceNews.

NASA astronaut Jessica Meir trims the hair of fellow NASA astronaut Jack Hathaway in this March 1, 2026, image. Meir uses an electric razor attached to a vacuum that collects loose clippings to keep the station’s atmosphere clean in microgravity. Crew on the International Space Station also use weekends to complete housekeeping tasks. Learn more […]

"We will challenge every requirement, clear every obstacle, delete every blocker."

After delivering more than 11,000 pounds of supplies, science investigations, hardware, and other cargo to the International Space Station for NASA and its international partners, the Cygnus XL spacecraft supporting Northrop Grumman’s 23rd Commercial Resupply Services mission is scheduled to depart the orbiting laboratory Thursday, March 12. Watch NASA’s live coverage of undocking and departure […]

Week in images: 02-06 March 2026

Amid the explosive growth surrounding telecommunications megaconstellations, orbital data centers and next-generation payloads, the space ecosystem is entering a period of rapid and irreversible change. Announcements and filings for satellite constellations numbering in the tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands and now even 1 million-plus are becoming commonplace. The waves that even a fraction of […] The post Hyperscalers are coming to an orbit near you. Power will decide the winners.  appeared first on SpaceNews.

Rocket Lab launched a spacecraft March 5 for a confidential customer, most likely Earth observation company BlackSky. The post Rocket Lab launches satellite for undisclosed customer appeared first on SpaceNews.

The European Space Agency announced on 6 March that it had lost contact with one of the two spacecraft that make up its PROBA-3 mission. Both PROBA-3 spacecraft were launched aboard an ISRO PSLV-XL rocket in December 2024. The mission’s Coronagraph and Occulter spacecraft work in tandem, flying in precise formation to create and observe […] The post ESA Has Lost Contact With One of Its PROBA-3 Spacecraft appeared first on European Spaceflight.

From the ESA Blogs.

China has designated aerospace to be an “emerging pillar industry” in a draft national economic plan, also setting major objectives for the five years ahead. The post China designates space sector an “emerging pillar industry,” sets deep space ambitions in new economic blueprint appeared first on SpaceNews.

An anomaly onboard the Proba-3 mission’s Coronagraph spacecraft led to loss of contact between the spacecraft and ground control. The root cause of the anomaly is under investigation and mission teams are working hard to recover the situation.

From the ESA Blogs.

This year for International Women’s Day, we showcase some of the women from the European Space Agency’s most recent female leadership recruits: Céline Begon, Christine Boelsche, Céline Folsché and Ildiko Raczne Szoke.

New AI Hub to empower space-enabled connectivity

As Iceberg A-23A disintegrated, it shed meltwater that helped fuel an extensive phytoplankton bloom in the South Atlantic Ocean.

The Air Traffic Management and Safety (ATMS) project defines, validates, and transfers advanced requirements and technologies to shift air traffic management from tactical to strategic.  This change enables efficient, productive, and resilient operations while reducing safety assurance and compliance costs for highly automated systems.   ATMS researches and develops technologies that safely integrate new air vehicles with traditional aviation operations to meet growing demand. Through close collaboration with the FAA, ATMS delivers actionable automation solutions, advanced operational concepts, […]

The Advanced Air Mobility Pathfinders (AAMP) project accelerates advanced air mobility technologies for wildfire response and urban transportation through real-world demonstrations and strategic partnerships. AAMP researches emerging technologies, establishes aircraft strategic deconfliction frameworks, and validates solutions in metropolitan areas to enable larger-scale urban air mobility. The project enhances Unmanned Aircraft Systems capabilities for wildfire mitigation and disaster response by transferring Portable Airspace Management System technologies to enable routine, safe, […]

Retired Air Force Colonel Matt Anderson breezed through his nomination hearing today to be Deputy Administrator of NASA. One day after the Senate Commerce Committee approved a new NASA authorization […]

WARSAW — Polish chemical propulsion startup Liftero has signed a deal with India’s commercial in-orbit servicing specialist OrbitAID where Liftero will supply green chemical propulsion for OrbitAID’s in-orbit servicing spacecraft.  Under the contract, Liftero will supply two multi-thruster BOOSTER configurations for an upcoming OrbitAID mission expected in the fourth quarter of 2026. The mission will […] The post Poland-based Liftero will provide chemical propulsion for Indian firm OrbitAID’s in-orbit servicing mission appeared first on SpaceNews.

The White House’s nominee to be deputy administrator of NASA received bipartisan support at a Senate confirmation hearing March 5. The post NASA deputy administrator nominee sails through confirmation hearing appeared first on SpaceNews.

TACP Benefits Foundation for disruptive technologies: Placing emphasis on transformative concepts lays the groundwork for revolutionary advancements in aviation. Accelerated innovation in aerospace: Developing next-generation engineering methodologies and digital tools enables faster, more efficient design, testing, and certification processes. Strong collaborative ecosystem: TACP fosters partnerships among NASA, academia, industry, and government, creating a powerful network […]

IRVINE, Calif., March 5, 2026 — Terran Orbital, a Lockheed Martin Company and a leading satellite solutions provider, announced today the appointment of Kwon Park as senior director of manufacturing […] The post Terran Orbital Appoints Kwon Park as Senior Director of Manufacturing Operations appeared first on SpaceNews.

SAN FRANCISCO – Southern California startup General Galactic plans to launch a 500-kilogram satellite later this year to demonstrate a novel multimode propulsion system. When the Trinity mission travels to low-Earth orbit on the SpaceX Transporter-18 rideshare, no earlier than October, General Galactic will test its Genesis platform, which pairs chemical and electric engines. “We’re […] The post General Galactic aims to become “the galaxy’s energy logistics company” appeared first on SpaceNews.

The Airspace Operations and Safety Program (AOSP) accelerates the transformation of the National Airspace System (NAS) to meet the variety, density, and complexity of future airspace users. Our mission is to ensure that U.S. skies remain safe, innovative, and globally competitive while enabling Advanced Air Mobility and next-generation aviation technologies.   AOSP partners with the FAA, industry, academia, and other government agencies to ensure seamless integration of […]

A JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) cargo spacecraft is in the grasp of the Canadarm2 robotic arm following its detachment from the International Space Station’s Harmony module on Thursday. The Expedition 74 crew continued its spacewalk preparations, transferred more cargo, and conducted biology research throughout the day.

Austrian space propulsion company ENPULSION has secured €22.5 million in new growth funding to expand its footprint in the US. Founded in 2016, ENPULSION provides electric propulsion systems for micro, nano, and small satellites. According to the company, it has delivered more than 320 propulsion systems using its modular Field-Emission Electric Propulsion (FEEP) technology. FEEP […] The post ENPULSION Secures €22.5 Million to Expand US Market Presence appeared first on European Spaceflight.

LONDON – In-orbit services provider Infinite Orbits announced plans March 3 to acquireLondon-based in-orbit servicing and manufacturing startup Lunasa, marking a step in the company’s expansion into the United Kingdom.  The acquisition, the value of which the companies didn’t disclose, will bring together the Infinite Orbits’ and Lunasa’s investments into complementary spacecraft rendezvous and life […] The post Infinite Orbits acquires UK startup Lunasa to expand satellite servicing capabilities appeared first on SpaceNews.

"We were happy to see the renewed commitment to transition from the ISS."

NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility supported a Rocket Lab HASTE suborbital launch from the company’s Launch Complex 2 in Virginia on Feb. 27, 2026. The mission, called Cassowary Vex, supported a flight of a hypersonic test platform for the Department of War’s Defense Innovation Unit.  The NASA Wallops launch range supported by providing services such as tracking, telemetry, and range safety […]

In a major announcement Friday, 27 February, NASA announced a revision of the Artemis Program architecture. To accommodate the change, the design of the SLS rocket will be significantly reworked.

The Moon appears red during a total lunar eclipse over New Orleans, home of NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility, on March 3, 2026. This “blood moon” occurs during a total lunar eclipse, as Earth lines up between the Moon and the Sun. When this happens, the only light that reaches the Moon’s surface is from the edges […]

The mission of the Biosafety Review Board (BRB) is to identify, evaluate, control and prevent biological hazards in conformance with NASA, federal and international health and safety regulations. The BRB includes a team of microbiologists, cell biologists, physicians, industrial hygienists, and occupational health professionals to assess the wide range of biohazardous materials encountered. Biohazardous materials may consist of bacteria, fungi, viruses, […]

Last year, an approximately 60 metre near-Earth object captured global attention. For a brief period, asteroid 2024 YR4 became the most dangerous asteroid discovered in the last 20 years. While an Earth impact was soon ruled out, the asteroid faded from view with a lingering 4% chance of striking the Moon on 22 December 2032.

In this episode of Space Minds, Jeff Foust moderates a panel at AIAA AscendxTexas on the role Texas is playing in the space economy. With a series of industry leaders they […] The post Texas as a strategic space hub appeared first on SpaceNews.

Timelapse showing the steps to build the most powerful version of Europe’s Ariane 6 rocket on the launch pad at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.

For decades, space has served as humanity’s most demanding testing laboratory, where only the most resilient technologies survive the vacuum, radiation and temperature extremes beyond Earth’s protective embrace. Today, we stand at an inflection point where artificial intelligence is poised to fundamentally transform how we explore, understand and operate in space. But making AI-powered space […] The post Unlocking AI in space: the case for greater industry and space agency collaboration appeared first on SpaceNews.

LONDON – The United Kingdom is refocusing its funding priorities with a new 500 million pound ($668 million) space funding package that aligns more closely with economic growth and national security priorities, Liz Lloyd, the UK minister for the Digital Economy at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, said March 4. Speaking here at […] The post UK announces £500 million package for industrial growth and national security appeared first on SpaceNews.

Commercial space station developer Vast has raised $500 million in its first significant outside investment round. The post Vast raises $500 million for commercial space station development appeared first on SpaceNews.

Investment comes as company shifts toward national security programs The post Sierra Space raises $550 million in Series C funding appeared first on SpaceNews.

ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot began her training at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany, where she studied spacecraft systems and crew operations — learning to think and act as an astronaut. Alongside this, she conditioned her body for spaceflight and prepared for the physical and operational demands of her mission.

When Jared Isaacman was sworn in as NASA administrator Dec. 18, he hit the ground running — or, perhaps more accurately, hit the air flying. At a town hall the next day, he said he would visit all the agency’s field centers, a task he completed by late January. In some cases he showed up […] The post Jared Isaacman on rebuilding, Artemis and what he’s learned during his first months as NASA administrator appeared first on SpaceNews.

From the ESA Blogs.

What happens when a solar superstorm hits Mars? Thanks to the European Space Agency’s Mars orbiters, we now know: glitching spacecraft and a supercharged upper atmosphere.

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jan 15, 2026 NASA and the U.S. Department of Energy have renewed their long standing partnership to develop a fission surface power system that can operate on the Moon as part of the Artemis campaign and future missions to Mars. The agencies plan to deploy a lunar surface reactor by 2030 to support sustained human and robotic activities and to advance U.S. leadership in space exploration and commerce.

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jan 29, 2026 Two Northrop Grumman five segment solid rocket boosters are taking their place on the launch pad as NASA prepares for the first crewed flight of the Space Launch System rocket under the Artemis II mission from Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, targeted for early February 2026. The twin solid rocket boosters stand 177 feet tall and each produces 3.6 million pounds of thrust at lif

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jan 30, 2026 NASA is preparing a pair of global communications networks to keep the four-person Artemis II crew connected with Earth as they travel from low Earth orbit to a loop around the Moon and back. The mission will fly astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft and Space Launch System rocket as part of the agency's broader effort to build a sustained human presence in deep space and eventually send crews

Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Mar 05, 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

Washington DC (SPX) Mar 05, 2026 Over half of the exhaust methane from lunar spacecraft could end up contaminating areas of the moon that might otherwise yield clues about the origins of earthly life, according to a recent study. The pollution could unfold rapidly regardless of a spacecraft's touchdown site; even for a landing at the South Pole, methane molecules may "hop" across the lunar surface to the North Pole in under two