Space news

From the ESA Blogs.

"If it doesn’t rely on a solid, there’s no reason why we can’t launch."

As sea ice continues to succumb to the climate crisis, measuring its decline with precision has never been more urgent. To meet this challenge, the European Space Agency is developing three new Copernicus satellites, each employing distinct but complementary techniques to monitor this fragile component of the Earth system.

From the ESA Blogs.

Diversity reigns across the farmland of Yunlin County in southwestern Taiwan—a region that produces an array of crops on small farms.

The National Space Club & Foundation announced its annual award recipients March 13, 2026, in Washington, D.C.   Two dedicated leaders from NASA’s Johnson Space Center were recognized for their contributions to human spaceflight.  Orion Program Manager Howard Hu received the Norman L. Baker Astronautics Engineer Award for sustained technical contributions to multiple human spaceflight efforts.   Hu leads […]

As part of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-13 mission, four crew members from three space agencies will launch no earlier than mid-September to the International Space Station for a long-duration science expedition. NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins and Luke Delaney will serve as spacecraft commander and pilot, respectively. They will be joined by CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut […]

Preparations are underway for launch of NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope as soon as early September on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The Roman space telescope will provide deep, panoramic views of the cosmos, generating never-before-seen pictures that will revolutionize our understanding of […]

Latvia and Jordan joined the Artemis Accords this week, bringing to 63 the number of countries that have adopted the U.S.-led set of principles for responsible behavior on the surface […]

As the first flight of Block 3 approaches, SpaceX continues to make progress on the… The post Starship Progress at the Cape with Hoping to Launch this year appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan signed the Artemis Accords Thursday during a ceremony hosted by NASA at the agency’s headquarters in Washington, becoming the latest nation to commit to responsible space exploration to benefit humanity.  “It is my privilege to welcome Jordan as the newest signatory to the Artemis Accords,” said NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman. “By signing the accords today, Jordan brings […]

On every crewed mission, NASA packs pouches of a potentially life-saving liquid in its cargo, known as IV (or intravenous) fluid. A simple mix of sodium chloride and purified water, it can treat up to 30% of medical conditions in flight, resolving things like dehydration, burns, and more. Crewed missions beyond low Earth orbit into […]

Biotechnology research was back on the schedule aboard the International Space Station on Thursday as the Expedition 74 crew conducted a pair of heart studies, explored cancer therapies, and demonstrated a self‑sustaining life‑support system.

For years, NASA engineers have turned to a tool called the Launch, Ascent, and Vehicle Aerodynamics (LAVA) framework to solve airflow challenges that could mean the difference between mission success or failure. When engineers need to know how a spacecraft will navigate re-entry or whether a new aircraft wing design will create enough lift, they […]

These images, released on April 14, 2026, show two open star clusters, Trumpler 3 (left) and NGC 2353 (right). They represent a recent study from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory that shows how young Sun-like stars are dimmer in X-rays than previously thought. This latest study looked at eight clusters of stars between the ages of […]

The European-Chinese Smile mission is due to launch on Tuesday 19 May 2026, at 05:52 CEST / 04:52 BST / 00:52 local time on a European Vega-C rocket.

From the ESA Blogs.

After an intense few weeks the crew took time to celebrate together with a shared meal proposed by ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot.

In this timelapse, ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot performs routine maintenance on the Waste and Hygiene Compartment, or WHC – the ISS toilet system. She is replacing the full solid-waste container in which solid waste is vacuum-dried, compressed and kept airtight. This operation typically takes place once or twice a week, when the container reaches capacity. 

European in-space logistics startup The Exploration Company has signed a memorandum of understanding with Spain’s OCCAM Space to develop a customised variant of its KISS-XL clampband. The clampband will handle the separation of The Exploration Company’s Nyx capsule from its launch vehicle once in orbit. The Exploration Company began developing its multi-use Nyx capsule in […] The post The Exploration Company Signs Agreement for Nyx Separation System appeared first on European Spaceflight.

The European Space Agency Plato mission has successfully completed a series of tough tests under space‑like conditions. With this accomplishment, the spacecraft is on track to lift off in early 2027 and begin its search for terrestrial planets.

Six volunteers have stepped into a sealed habitat in Cologne, Germany, marking the start of SOLIS100, a new human isolation study led by the European Space Agency (ESA) and conducted by the German Aerospace Center (DLR).

Seasonal fires have darkened skies over Southeast Asia.

The mission is the 40th launch of the year from SpaceX, dedicated to flying its broadband internet satellites. Liftoff of the Starlink 17-14 mission is scheduled for 7:55 p.m. PDT (10:55 p.m. EDT / 0255 UTC).

https://www.nasa.gov/sbir_sttr/nasa-sbir-sttr-program-program-year-2026-information-hub

https://www.nasa.gov/sbir_sttr/nasa-sbir-sttr-program-program-year-2026-information-hub

On a bipartisan basis, members of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee left no doubt today that they oppose the dramatic cuts to NASA included in the Trump Administration’s […]

NASA’s Boeing 777 has returned to the agency’s fleet after undergoing heavy structural modifications as it transforms from a giant passenger plane into the agency’s next-generation airborne science laboratory. After a check flight and a three-hour transit from Waco, the aircraft returned to NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, on April 22. Since January […]

"You just push this button, and in three hours, you're counting photons."

NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope team now is targeting as soon as early September 2026 for launch, ahead of the agency’s commitment to flight no later than May 2027. “Roman’s accelerated development is a true success story of what we can achieve when public investment, institutional expertise, and private enterprise come together to take […]

NASA will host a news conference at 1:45 p.m. EDT Wednesday, April 29, from the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston to preview astronaut Anil Menon’s upcoming mission to the International Space Station. Watch the news conference live on NASA’s YouTube channel. Learn how to watch NASA content through a variety of online platforms, including […]

More biotechnology research was underway aboard the International Space Station on Wednesday taking advantage of the microgravity environment to boost knowledge about the properties of DNA and DNA-like nanomaterials. The Expedition 74 crew also completed the installation of an advanced exercise device and tested a set of new virtual reality goggles while continuing to unpack a U.S. cargo spacecraft.

This image, released in celebration of Earth Day, shows the terminator – the line between night and day – on Earth. The Artemis II astronauts captured this view on April 2, 2026, during their journey to the Moon. NASA science improves life on Earth every day. The agency provides insights on our home planet that […]

From the ESA Blogs.

David's thoughts on Artemis II, as experienced from Launch Complex 34.

From cameras pressed against spacecraft windows to the most powerful radar ever flown, imaging technology has taken giant leaps since 1968, but the drive to understand our home in the cosmos has remained.

English

German space logistics company ATMOS Space Cargo has closed a €25.7 million Series A funding round, enabling it to begin initial operations of its space return service. The funding is also expected to support the creation of a subsidiary for institutional and defence clients, as well as the development of its larger PHOENIX 3 capsule. […] The post ATMOS Space Cargo Raises €25.7 Million to Begin Space Return Operations appeared first on European Spaceflight.

Happy Earth Day, 22 April – a global call to act and protect our planet. At the European Space Agency, that action begins in orbit, where satellites deliver a continuous, global view of Earth and track environmental change. Working with partners, ESA turns this stream of data into actionable information, helping governments and communities respond faster and more effectively to climate-driven risks. Here are two examples of how space technology is being used to anticipate threats to safeguard food security and public health.

Along the northeast side of the Capital Beltway in Maryland, green spaces weave through the developed landscape.

On April 1, 2026, Artemis II launched on a nearly 10-day voyage around the Moon, marking the first crewed flight of NASA’s Orion spacecraft. NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, splashed down on April 10 in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego.  At their farthest […]

On April 1, 2026, Artemis II launched on a nearly 10-day voyage around the Moon, marking the first crewed flight of NASA’s Orion spacecraft. NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, splashed down on April 10 in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego.  At their farthest […]

NASA said today that the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will launch in September, eight months ahead of schedule and under cost. Originally called the Wide-Field Infrared Space Telescope or […]

Written by Lucy Lim, Planetary Scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center Earth planning date: Friday, April 17, 2026 At the beginning of the week, Curiosity arrived right on target on the rim of the 10-meter (33 feet) “Antofagasta” crater.   The crater looked fresh and deep as we had hoped with a nice well-defined […]

NASA’s leadership and Axiom have reacted to a warning from the NASA Office of Inspector… The post NASA and Axiom react to OIG Report on delays in Next-Generation Spacesuit Program appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan will sign the Artemis Accords during a ceremony at 9:30 a.m. EDT Thursday, April 23, at NASA Headquarters in Washington. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman will host Ambassador Dina Kawar of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and U.S. Department of State Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Oceans and International Environmental and […]

NASA has a fleet of satellites in orbit, gathering data around the clock, to explore unique views of our home planet’s ocean, atmosphere, and land surfaces.

Biotechnology research seeking to advance human health and the space economy packed the science schedule aboard the International Space Station on Tuesday. The Expedition 74 crew members also explored space physics, updated robotics software, and conducted an emergency drill.

Continuing NASA’s longtime support of American industry, the agency announced its selection of more than 30 companies to develop innovative technology through its  Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program. With these awards, NASA is investing approximately $16.3 million in seed funding of technology solutions to benefit the agency and energize the space economy.

On March 21, 2026, NASA’s Johnson Space Center Director Vanessa Wyche took the stage at the Space House event at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, to outline NASA’s next giant leap in human spaceflight — from low Earth orbit to the Moon, and ultimately Mars.  As NASA prepares for a new era of exploration, Wyche made clear that the agency’s Artemis […]