Covers commercial space ventures, markets, and economic impacts

Phantom Space Corporation announced in February 2026 that it has acquired the assets and intellectual property of Vector Launch, aiming to accelerate its Daytona launch vehicle development. The acquisition includes ground systems, launch‑control equipment, tooling, parts inventory, and at least one vehicle and engine hardware.

A new Bayesian study by Claudio Grimaldi at EPFL argues that Earth is unlikely to have missed alien transmissions in the past. The analysis shows that for undetected signals to have occurred, an implausibly large number of technosignatures would be...

Lunar dust remains a critical obstacle for sustained human activity on the Moon, prompting research into flexible electrodynamic dust shields (EDS). Georgia Tech researchers demonstrated two curved‑surface EDS designs—copper‑polyimide and chemically modified reduced graphene oxide (CMrGO)—that can repel dust under...

The Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) market has evolved into a layered ecosystem where downstream components—chipsets, modules, augmentation services, and software—account for the bulk of revenue. Multi‑constellation, multi‑frequency receivers have become the standard design, improving accuracy and resilience across diverse...

Peru’s Punta Lobos launch base, located near the magnetic equator, has become a hub for sub‑orbital atmospheric research. The domestically developed Paulet sounding‑rocket series, now in its I‑C iteration with indigenous telemetry, demonstrates Peru’s growing technical sovereignty. A 2028 NASA‑Peru “Cielo”...

Asia‑Pacific space agencies, from giants like CNSA and ISRO to emerging programs in Indonesia and Peru, are rapidly expanding capabilities across human spaceflight, lunar exploration, and Earth observation. Government bodies are bolstered by growing private‑sector participation, delivering cost‑effective launch services...

The Asia‑Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (APSCO) is an intergovernmental body headquartered in Beijing that unites eight member states and several observers to pool satellite resources, data, and expertise. Since its launch in 2008, APSCO has facilitated shared satellite constellations, a...

NASA’s Artemis program has introduced the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU), a next‑generation lunar spacesuit designed for the harsh South Pole environment. The suit adopts a commercial xEVAS procurement model, giving private partner Axiom Space ownership and the ability to...

NASA released the investigation of the Starliner Crew Flight Test, labeling it a Type A mishap. The probe identified five service‑module thruster failures caused by oxidizer‑vapor‑induced two‑phase flow and Teflon poppet extrusion, and widespread helium‑manifold leaks due to seal material incompatibility...

NASA’s human‑spaceflight journey began with Project Mercury’s brief sub‑orbital hops and culminates today in Artemis’s plan for a permanent lunar outpost. Mercury demonstrated that humans could survive launch, orbit and re‑entry, while Gemini added rendezvous, docking and EVA capabilities essential...

In 1985 the Soviet Vega program deployed two helium‑filled balloons that became the first free‑floating probes to operate on another planet. The aerostats floated for roughly 46 hours at about 54 km altitude in Venus’s middle cloud layer, where a global...

NASA leverages the International Space Station as a proving ground for technologies that will fly on Artemis II, the first crewed lunar flyby since Apollo. Research on the ISS has shaped Orion’s life‑support, radiation sensors, carbon‑dioxide removal, and emergency systems. Experiments...

NASA’s OSIRIS‑REx mission returned Bennu samples containing the amino acid glycine. Penn State researchers used isotopic mass spectrometry to show the glycine likely formed in icy, radiation‑exposed conditions rather than liquid water. The isotopic signatures differ from those in the...

The article warns that modern civilization’s tightly coupled infrastructure—energy, finance, logistics, and information—creates systemic collapse risk when a single node fails. Space assets, especially GNSS timing and Earth‑observation data, are identified as the invisible keystone that keeps these sectors synchronized....

University of Chicago’s PUEO experiment launched from Antarctica on Dec 20, 2024, spending 23 days at 120,000 feet searching for ultra‑high‑energy neutrinos. The payload carried 96 radio antennas and a sophisticated onboard processor to capture faint radio bursts generated when...

Researchers from i4is propose a Solar Oberth maneuver to intercept interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, requiring a 2035 launch and a 50‑year flight. Direct chemical‑rocket missions are infeasible because the object was detected after its optimal launch window and moves faster than...

The James Webb Space Telescope examined the ultra‑luminous infrared galaxy IRAS 07251‑0248 and uncovered an unexpectedly rich inventory of organic molecules in both gas and solid phases. Using NIRSpec and MIRI, researchers identified methyl radical, benzene, methane, acetylene, diacetylene, triacetylene, carbonaceous...

The International Space Station will retire by 2030, prompting a surge of private firms racing to build replacement outposts in low‑Earth orbit. Vast Space plans to launch its single‑module Haven‑1 in early 2027, while Axiom Space is incrementally adding modules...

Moon dust, the fine fraction of lunar regolith, is uniquely sharp, abrasive, chemically reactive, and electrostatically charged, making it a multi‑domain hazard for human health and hardware. Apollo missions documented irritation to eyes, lungs, and skin, as well as accelerated...

Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) outages are emerging as a systemic risk for modern infrastructure, affecting both positioning and, critically, precise timing. Interference such as jamming and spoofing can disrupt multiple constellations simultaneously, while system‑level faults can degrade services worldwide....

The article surveys the most popular nonfiction titles that focus on space stations, highlighting memoirs, human‑factors science, and technical “how‑it‑works” books. It explains how these works prioritize lived experience, routine operations, and system explanations over pure engineering detail. The piece...

SpaceX is evaluating a modified Dragon capsule, dubbed “Dragon Block R,” as a dedicated lifeboat for NASA’s Artemis program. The concept adds a propulsive “Super Trunk” service module, a fifth crew seat, and an Umbilical Interface Adapter kit to accommodate Orion...

The International Space Station maintains a structured “space pharmacy” organized into color‑coded medical kits that address convenience care, minor illnesses, and emergency stabilization. Medications are selected for stability in radiation‑rich microgravity, versatility across multiple symptoms, and ease of use by...

Space adaptation syndrome (SAS) afflicts roughly 60‑70 % of astronauts during the first days of a low‑Earth‑orbit mission. The condition stems from a sensory conflict between visual cues and a vestibular system that no longer senses gravity, producing nausea, disorientation and...

The article frames Earth’s orbital environment as a classic tragedy of the commons, where easy access, shared costs, and long‑lived harms drive over‑use of low‑Earth orbit, geostationary slots, radio spectrum, and even the night sky. It details how mega‑constellations, orbital...

The Emerging Space Economy reading series maps the shift from government‑run space programs to a vibrant private sector, highlighting how reusable launchers, satellite miniaturization, and evolving regulations are unlocking new markets. It categorises the growing literature into billionaire rivalries, investment...

The latest market assessment shows asteroid‑mining valuations are built on optimistic assumptions about metal concentrations, extraction efficiency, and future prices. Detailed analysis reveals that technical hurdles—such as micro‑gravity mining, in‑space processing, and costly return logistics—make realistic mission economics far less...

The Antares launch vehicle has been the workhorse for NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services, delivering Cygnus cargo to the ISS since its first flight in 2013. After the 2014 Orb‑3 failure, the aging AJ26 engines were swapped for Russian RD‑181 units,...

Between 2026 and 2035 a wave of lunar rover missions will transform Moon exploration from static landers to mobile surface operations. NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services program, along with national agencies and private firms, will launch dozens of rovers ranging...

The Sun’s intense glare creates a permanent blind spot that hides asteroids and comets approaching from the Sun‑ward direction, rendering both ground‑based and most space‑based telescopes ineffective. The 2013 Chelyabinsk event proved that even modest‑sized objects can strike with little...

Satellite data analytics converts massive streams of orbital imagery into actionable intelligence, leveraging machine learning, cloud computing, and advanced sensor suites. The sector now processes petabytes of Earth‑observation data daily, delivering near‑real‑time products for agriculture, insurance, climate monitoring, and defense....

Cosmic megastructures—ranging from Dyson swarms to Matrioshka brains—represent theoretical engineering projects that could harness an entire star’s energy or compute at near‑universal scales. The article outlines their scientific basis, potential detection via infrared excess and transit anomalies, and the massive...

The article surveys the most compelling movies and television series that use generation‑ship settings, highlighting how the concept lets creators probe humanity’s long‑term social, ethical, and psychological challenges. It examines landmark films such as Pandorum, Passengers, Voyagers, Aniara and classic...

SpaceX’s Starship is being integrated into U.S. defense programs to enable rapid, point‑to‑point cargo delivery of over 100 metric tons in under an hour, rivaling traditional airlift. The Air Force Research Laboratory’s Rocket Cargo Vanguard program is testing fast loading, austere...

Comet 3I/Atlas, discovered by the ATLAS survey in July 2025, became the third confirmed interstellar visitor after ‘Oumuamua and 2I/Borisov. A global network of telescopes and spacecraft tracked its hyperbolic trajectory, perihelion on October 29 2025, and post‑perihelion evolution. Refined measurements indicate a...

India’s Gaganyaan‑1 uncrewed test flight is slated for March 2026, using the human‑rated LVM3 (HLVM3) launch vehicle. The mission will carry the humanoid robot Vyommitra to monitor cabin conditions and simulate astronaut activities in microgravity. It will execute a full launch‑orbit‑re‑entry‑recovery...

The Air Force Research Laboratory’s Oracle program extends space domain awareness beyond geosynchronous orbit into the cislunar region, targeting objects up to 380,000 km from Earth. The spacecraft uses the non‑toxic ASCENT green propellant to achieve high‑Δv maneuvers and operates in...

Falcon 9 often launches with less than its maximum reusable mass capability, a result of deliberate choices rather than wasted capacity. The rocket’s practical “full payload” benchmark is about 17,500 kg to low‑Earth orbit, but customers may purchase far less for schedule,...

China has expanded its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) into space, integrating communication, navigation and remote‑sensing satellites to complement its terrestrial infrastructure. The Beidou navigation system and a growing fleet of communication satellites now provide internet, precise positioning and Earth‑observation...