Space news

Swissto12, the Switzerland-based small geostationary satellite specialist, has signed a contract to build the first optical relay spacecraft using its washing machine-sized HummingSat platform. The post Swissto12 to build small optical relay GEO satellite for Space Compass appeared first on SpaceNews.

Plains around the San Andreas Fault and across Carrizo Plain National Monument are awash with yellow as wildflowers bloom.

Here is SpacePolicyOnline.com’s list of space policy events for the week of March 22-28, 2026 and any insight we can offer about them. The House and Senate are in session […]

Vision Studies, Analysis of Alternatives (AoA) Studies, and White Papers

SpaceX Chief Executive Elon Musk revealed more technical, but not financial, details about his company’s plans to deploy an orbital data center constellation. The post SpaceX offers details on orbital data center satellites appeared first on SpaceNews.

Liftoff of the Starlink 10-62 mission from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station is scheduled for 10:47 a.m. EDT (1447 UTC). The rocket will fly on a northeasterly trajectory.

The unpiloted Roscosmos Progress 94 spacecraft is safely in orbit and headed to the International Space Station following its launch at 7:59 a.m. EDT (4:59 p.m. Baikonur time) on a Soyuz rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

NASA’s live coverage is underway on NASA+, Amazon Prime, and the agency’s YouTube channel. Learn how to watch NASA content through a variety of online platforms, including social media.

The European Space Agency has regained contact with the Coronagraph spacecraft of its Proba-3 mission after more than a month of silence. Launched aboard an ISRO PSLV-XL rocket in December 2024, the Proba-3 mission’s Coronagraph and Occulter spacecraft work in tandem to create and observe an artificial solar eclipse that enables observations of the Sun’s […] The post ESA Regains Contact With Lost Proba-3 Spacecraft appeared first on European Spaceflight.

Nearly 140 million euros ($162 million) that European Space Agency member states allocated to a program to support launch vehicle development remains in limbo and could be lost. The post Some European Launcher Challenge funding remains in limbo appeared first on SpaceNews.

Just under four months after Soyuz MS-28 launched from Site 31/6 at Baikonur Cosmodrome in… The post Progress MS-33 set to resume Russian flights to ISS from repaired pad appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.

The Artemis 2 launch vehicle and spacecraft have returned to the launch pad for a launch as soon as April 1. The post Artemis 2 returns to the pad for April launch attempt appeared first on SpaceNews.

Blue Origin is showcasing the production cadence of its New Glenn heavy-lift rocket at its… The post Blue Origin ramps up New Glenn manufacturing, unveils Orbital Data Center ambitions appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.

NASA’s quiet supersonic X-59 aircraft made its second flight on Friday, kicking off a series of dozens of test flights in 2026.  Although the flight duration was abbreviated due to a technical issue, the team was able to collect information that will inform future tests.  “Despite the early landing, this is a good day for the team. We collected more data, and the pilot landed safely,” said Cathy Bahm, project manager for NASA’s Low-Boom […]

NASA’s Artemis II Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft arrived at Launch Pad… The post SLS enters pad flow ahead of historic Artemis II mission appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.

MILAN – Officina Stellare, an Italian manufacturer of advanced opto-mechanical systems, has signed a 1.84 million euro ($2.0 million) contract with the Barcelona-based Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO), the company announced March 17. The contract covers the design and construction of an optical ground station for future laser and quantum-encrypted space-to-Earth communications. The infrastructure will […] The post Officina Stellare wins $2 million contract for lasercom ground station in Spain appeared first on SpaceNews.

Rocket Lab launched the latest in a series of satellites for Japanese radar imaging company Synspective on March 20. The post Rocket Lab launches eighth Synspective radar imaging satellite appeared first on SpaceNews.

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on April 25, 2022 and has been updated to reflect changes including the completion of Hangar One’s restoration. Restoration has been completed on Hangar One, a historic landmark in the San Francisco Bay Area and a key part of the region’s early aviation history.   In December 2025, Planetary Ventures completed restoration of […]

The change affects the GPS III SV-10 satellite, which had been slated to launch on ULA’s Vulcan Centaur rocket. The post Another GPS launch shifts from ULA to SpaceX as Vulcan investigation continues appeared first on SpaceNews.

NASA selected 14 university teams from across the nation as finalists in the 2026 Revolutionary Aerospace Systems Concepts – Academic Linkage (RASC-AL) Competition. This NASA challenge tasks students to design innovative concepts that could further human life and work on the Moon, Mars, and beyond. The competition links academia and the aerospace community, fostering innovation, […]

The interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS will soon leave our solar system, never to return, but the observations of the comet will live on in NASA’s public data archives. More than a dozen NASA science missions turned their instruments to observe the comet, which is only the third identified object to be visiting our solar system from […]

OHB Sweden has won a record contract for Sweden’s space sector to build 20 satellites to boost Europe’s weather forecasting and climate monitoring capabilities. The post OHB Sweden wins €248 million contract to build EPS-Sterna constellation appeared first on SpaceNews.

NASA astronaut Chris Williams smiles at the camera during a spacesuit fit verification on Jan. 2, 2026, inside the International Space Station’s Quest airlock. This procedure confirms that the spacesuit is airtight and properly configured, assesses comfort and mobility, and helps prevent potential safety risks. Williams and fellow NASA astronaut Jessica Meir completed an approximately […]

Real-life space exploration and big-screen science fiction will converge on Friday. As NASA prepares to launch Artemis II, the first crewed mission under the agency’s Artemis program and another step toward sending the first astronauts – Americans – to Mars, the fictional film “Project Hail Mary” premiere will take audiences on a journey into deep […]

Health research and final spacewalk closeouts wrapped up the week for the Expedition 74 crew members aboard the International Space Station as they gear up to receive a cargo delivery next week. Understanding how the human body reacts to space is key to ensure crews thrive on future longer-duration missions. Residents aboard the orbital complex […]

"Space-based data centers will be a complement to terrestrial infrastructure."

From the ESA Blogs.

Week in images: 16-20 March 2026

Airflow around rockets as they travel from Earth into space can have a dramatic impact on a mission, which is why NASA used advanced simulations to provide the best possible launch conditions for the Artemis II test flight around the Moon.  To better understand the Artemis Space Launch System (SLS) rocket’s flight environment, engineers turned to a NASA-developed tool called the Launch, Ascent, and Vehicle Aerodynamics […]

Genesis is the European Space Agency’s (ESA) navigation mission to measure Earth down to the millimetre. This precise measurement of Earth will have wide-ranging benefits, from satellite navigation to orbit determination to Earth science.

The Starlink 17-30 mission will be SpaceX’s 30th mission supporting its broadband internet satellites megaconstellation so far this year. Liftoff from pad 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base is scheduled for a launch window that opens at 2:48 p.m. PDT (5:48 p.m. EDT / 2148 UTC).

Recent reporting on SpaceX’s proposal to deploy up to one million satellites in low Earth orbit — paired with a vision of AI-enabled, autonomous orbital infrastructure — marks a decisive moment for the space community. Regardless of whether these numbers ultimately materialize, the direction is unmistakable: space is moving toward unprecedented scale, autonomy and strategic […] The post Holistic space observation: the shift from SSA to SDA appeared first on SpaceNews.

NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland is hosting the 2026 NASA Glenn High School Engineering Institute this July. The hands-on learning experience is designed to help high school students prepare for a future in the aerospace workforce.   Rising high school juniors and seniors can submit applications for this summer program beginning Friday, March 20, through Friday, May 1.  The institute will immerse students in NASA’s work while providing essential career readiness tools to help them in future science, […]

The European Space Agency plans to charter a SpaceX Crew Dragon mission to the International Space Station to give more flight opportunities for its astronauts. The post ESA to fly dedicated Crew Dragon mission to ISS appeared first on SpaceNews.

This video was published on social media by ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot with the following caption:

This video was published on social media by ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot with the following caption:

"Our security, our prosperity, and our sovereignty will increasingly extend beyond our atmosphere."

TAMPA, Fla. — Kayhan Space is branching out from providing orbital intelligence used to coordinate satellite fleets with a new software platform that turns that data into business insights for investors and insurers. The Colorado-based venture unveiled its Satcat Terminal March 20, akin to the Bloomberg Terminal widely used by finance professionals for real-time market […] The post Kayhan targets investors, insurers with expanded orbital intelligence platform appeared first on SpaceNews.

From the ESA Blogs.

The European Space Agency (ESA) Director General Josef Aschbacher announced on 19 March that the agency intends to purchase a dedicated SpaceX Crew Dragon flight to the International Space Station (ISS) for its astronauts. In November 2022, ESA announced its newest class of five career astronauts. Under the current barter agreement with NASA, ESA has […] The post ESA to Purchase SpaceX Crew Dragon Mission to ISS appeared first on European Spaceflight.

Episode 43 of the Hawaiian volcano’s current eruption was marked by high lava fountains and widespread ash dispersal.

NASA is bringing together the international partners in the Artemis program next week to discuss the program’s new architecture. NASA differentiates Artemis from the Apollo program by emphasizing that this […]

Blue Origin is the latest company to propose an orbital data center system, filing plans for a constellation of up to 51,600 satellites. The post Blue Origin joins the orbital data center race appeared first on SpaceNews.

The rollout of the 322-foot-tall rocket is anticipated to take about 12 hours after first motion. NASA hopes to launch the crewed test flight to the Moon no earlier than April 1.

Join us on March 31 for a virtual event, sponsored by Star Catcher and in partnership with the Commercial Space Federation The post Register now: The energy imperative driving the push toward orbital data centers appeared first on SpaceNews.

The agreement is for ground management and integration for the Resilient Missile Warning and Tracking satellite program The post Kratos wins $446 million Space Force contract for missile-tracking ground systems appeared first on SpaceNews.

Portal Space Systems, a company developing maneuverable spacecraft, is partnering with an Australian startup to offer a commercial orbital debris removal service. The post Portal Space Systems and Paladin Space plan debris removal service appeared first on SpaceNews.

Four International Space Station residents had a light-duty day Thursday as they enjoyed some time off and worked on close out procedures following the conclusion of yesterday’s spacewalk. The three other Expedition 74 crew members spent the day inspecting various modules of the orbital complex, cleaning, and stowing cargo.

In this episode of the Space Minds podcast, host David Ariosto speaks with Eileen Collins, retired NASA astronaut, Air Force colonel and the first woman to pilot the Space Shuttle […] The post Eileen Collins on what it takes to become Space Shuttle Commander appeared first on SpaceNews.

An American bald eagle flies away from its nest and tree at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Friday, March 13, 2026. Bald eagle nesting surveys across NASA Kennedy, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, and Canaveral National Seashore are conducted annually to document the number of bald eagle active and inactive nests in support […]