Space news

After a day in earth orbit checking out systems on the Orion capsule, the Artemis II crew is headed to the Moon.  Earlier today the Mission Management Team gave them […]

NASA modified operations of an astrophysics spacecraft in a decaying orbit to buy more time for a mission later this year that will attempt to raise its orbit. The post Swift spacecraft reorientation buys time for reboost mission appeared first on SpaceNews.

The Expedition 74 crew studied how the brain receives signals in space and demonstrated advanced technology to remove humidity from spacecraft on Thursday. Other activities aboard the International Space Station included servicing a metal 3D printer and continuing to unpack a cargo resupply ship.

Huntsville-based defense contractor focuses on systems engineering and integration, and space mission assurance The post Former Sierra Space CEO Tom Vice to lead Astrion  appeared first on SpaceNews.

GP Sandhoo: ‘From an optical communications terminal perspective, we’re not there yet on how many we need’ The post Optical terminals still a bottleneck in Pentagon’s proliferated constellation appeared first on SpaceNews.

The ‘unpriced change order’ supports satellite launches while officials reassess long-delayed ground system The post Pentagon awards Raytheon $45 million for GPS ground system as program future is reassessed appeared first on SpaceNews.

NASA’s Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft lift off in this April 1, 2026, image. NASA’s Artemis II mission will take NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy on an approximately 10-day journey around the Moon and back aboard their Orion spacecraft. See more launch […]

A three-man one-woman crew blasted off on a voyage to the moon Wednesday, riding atop the world's most powerful operational rocket as it roared away on a trail-blazing flight to help pave the way for upcoming lunar landings and an American moon base.

Artemis II took to the skies at 6:35 PM EDT on Wednesday afternoon, paying off years of hard work and planning by NASA and its partners.

ESA will be broadcasting live as the European-Chinese Smile mission launches at 07:29 BST/08:29 CEST (03:29 local time) on 9 April 2026.

East Aurora, NY — Moog Inc. (NYSE: MOG.A and MOG.B), a worldwide designer, manufacturer, and systems integrator of high-performance precision motion and fluid controls and control systems, provided the critical […] The post Moog Technology Successfully Steers Artemis II Launch appeared first on SpaceNews.

NASA has struggled to deal with the widespread sentiment that NASA has “been there, done that."

In this week’s episode of Space Minds, host Mike Gruss interviews Carmel Ortiz, senior vice president of medium-Earth-orbit constellation programs at SES. They discuss new technology to help satellites communicate […] The post Carmel Ortiz on the evolving landscape of satellite communications appeared first on SpaceNews.

Phantom Space has acquired satellite thermal hardware provider Thermal Management Technologies to bolster development of its planned Phantom Cloud orbital data center constellation. The post Phantom Space buys thermal specialist to support orbital data center push appeared first on SpaceNews.

The European Space Agency and the Chinese Academy of Sciences are joining hands to uncover how Earth defends itself against dangerous particles and radiation from the Sun.

From the ESA Blogs.

‘Extreme but not exotic,’ – a glimpse at Comet 3I/ATLAS through the eyes of the European Space Agency’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice).

‘Extreme but not exotic,’ – a glimpse at Comet 3I/ATLAS through the eyes of the European Space Agency’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice).

SAN FRANCISCO – Los Angeles startup Fortastra has hired veterans from Relativity Space, Hermeus, Astrion and Divergent Technologies to design and operate maneuverable spacecraft for on-orbit security. Josh Jetter, former Relativity senior director of avionics engineering and manufacturing, will be Fortastra’s chief technology officer. Sahil Desai, Fortastra’s vice president of product, was Divergent Technologies’ vice president […] The post Relativity, Hermeus, Astrion and Divergent executives join Fortastra C-suite appeared first on SpaceNews.

The Italian government and NASA have signed an agreement to cooperate on the development of a U.S.-led lunar surface base. The move is the latest in a series of bilateral efforts between the two nations, including a June 2022 cooperation agreement that tasked Italy with leading the design of a multi-purpose lunar habitation module, currently […] The post Italy Signs Agreement with NASA to Cooperate on Moon Base appeared first on European Spaceflight.

Artemis II launched on 2 April at 00:35 CEST, (18:35 local time on 1 April), sending astronauts around the Moon for the first time in over 50 years. At the heart of the mission is ESA's European Service Module, which powers, propels and sustains the Orion spacecraft and its crew on their journey around the Moon and safely back to Earth.

The February 2026 eruption at Piton de la Fournaise has lasted longer and produced a larger volume of lava than recent eruptions from this frequently active volcano.

All the hard work to get the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft ready to send four people around the Moon for the first time in 53 years paid […]

Spurred by American ingenuity, astronauts on NASA’s Artemis II mission are in flight, preparing for the first crewed lunar flyby in more than 50 years. NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket lifted off from Launch Pad 39B at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 6:35 p.m. EDT Wednesday, sending four astronauts aboard the […]

The first human mission beyond Earth orbit in more than 50 years is underway with an April 1 launch of four astronauts on a flight around the moon. The post Artemis 2 launches on first human mission to the moon in more than 50 years appeared first on SpaceNews.

At 00:35 CEST today (18:35 local time on 1 April), NASA's Space Launch System rocket lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, carrying four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft on Artemis II. At the heart of the mission is ESA's European Service Module, which powers, propels and sustains the Orion spacecraft and its crew on their journey around the Moon and safely back to Earth.

SpaceX has taken a key step toward going public after confidentially filing for a potentially record-breaking initial public offering, according to multiple reports citing people familiar with the matter, in what space leaders hope is a watershed moment for the industry. The post SpaceX quietly files for big bang IPO appeared first on SpaceNews.

The aerospace supplier is combining imaging, electronics and component lines under Teledyne Space The post Teledyne forms dedicated space unit to capture rising demand appeared first on SpaceNews.

The Artemis 2 mission will send humans to the vicinity of the moon for the first time in more than 50 years on a mission lasting almost 10 days. The post Artemis 2’s (nearly) 10-day flight around the moon appeared first on SpaceNews.

It may be April Fool’s Day to some, but to NASA it’s launch day to send humans around the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years. As […]

Space Force personnel supporting operations under U.S. Central Command are positioned in the Middle East, at headquarters in Tampa, Florida, and at Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina The post Saltzman: Space ‘baked into’ modern combat operations appeared first on SpaceNews.

Aspect Aerospace, a University of South Alabama spin-off, has raised $2.4 million to develop circuit-board-sized spacecraft that could be deployed from space into very low Earth orbit in swarms to monitor the space environment. The post Aspect Aerospace secures early funding to advance swarm-deployable VLEO satellites appeared first on SpaceNews.

March 16, 2026, was the 100th anniversary of Robert Goddard’s first flight of a liquid fueled rocket. It reached an altitude of 41 feet. 31 years later, in 1957, Sputnik began a lonely beep as the first satellite in orbit. In 1969, 12 years after Sputnik and 43 years after Goddard’s first flight, Neil Armstrong […] The post Creating near-term lunar settlements: lessons from space history  appeared first on SpaceNews.

Fueling of the SLS is underway for an April 1 launch attempt of Artemis 2, the first mission to send humans toward the moon in more than 50 years. The post Artemis 2 fueling underway appeared first on SpaceNews.

Why space companies are betting on Ohio The post From the Midwest to the Moon appeared first on SpaceNews.

A conversation with Robert Long, President and CEO, Space Florida The post The Florida Model for Sustainable Aerospace Growth appeared first on SpaceNews.

Even after three years of public appearances as a crew, there can still be some surprises for the Artemis 2 astronauts. The post After three years, Artemis 2 astronauts ready to launch appeared first on SpaceNews.

Under NGA’s Luno program, the company will provide ‘insights on priority objects in low Earth orbit’ The post Vantor wins intelligence agency contract to monitor space objects appeared first on SpaceNews.

Spain’s Council of Ministers has approved the allocation of €325 million for the development of three Earth observation satellites that will expand the 16-satellite Atlantic Constellation. The Constelación Atlántica (Atlantic Constellation) is a joint initiative between Spain and Portugal to develop an Earth observation constellation for environmental monitoring, coastal surveillance, and disaster management. The two […] The post Spain Approves €325 Million ESCA+ Expansion of Atlantic Constellation appeared first on European Spaceflight.

A Chinese commercial company has conducted an on-orbit demonstration of a flexible robotic arm, marking progress toward capabilities for satellite servicing, refueling and debris removal. The post Chinese startup tests flexible robotic arm in space for on-orbit servicing appeared first on SpaceNews.

Strong winds in March 2026 carried Saharan dust across northwestern Africa and toward the Canary Islands, reducing visibility and prompting alerts.

The four astronauts will spend more than nine days onboard their Orion spacecraft and is poised to pass the distance record set by Apollo 13 in 1970. Liftoff from Launch Complex 39B is scheduled for Wednesday, April 1, at 6:24 p.m. EDT (2224 UTC).

Virgin Galactic still expects to resume commercial suborbital flights by the end of the year as its first next-generation spaceplane nears completion. The post Virgin Galactic expects commercial suborbital flights to resume late this year appeared first on SpaceNews.

Voting ends April 14. Resistance is futile – you must comply. The post Cast your vote for the best sci-fi spaceship and then watch debaters duke it out at Space Symposium appeared first on SpaceNews.

Medical tests and microbiology topped the research schedule for the Expedition 74 crew aboard the International Space Station on Tuesday. The seven crewmates also worked on spacesuits, cargo operations, and life support maintenance.

Christine Klein took up duty as acting Director of Controlling, Finance and Operational Procurement (D/CFO) at the European Space Agency on 1 April 2026. She will lead the newly established directorate during its consolidation.

At 23:35 UTC on Dec. 16, 1972, the Apollo 17 command module, America, successfully completed… The post Artemis II set to return humanity to the Moon with launch on Wednesday evening appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.

Just over a day from now, four astronauts may well be on their way to the Moon. Weather continues to be 80 percent favorable for launch at 6:24 pm ET […]

The first two launches of Orion felt hollow, but NASA is finally on a better course.