NASA Announced Team for SpaceX’s Crew-13 Mission to the ISS
NASA announced the four-member crew for SpaceX’s Crew‑13 mission, slated for launch no earlier than mid‑September 2026. The team—NASA commander Jessica Watkins, pilot Luke Delaney, Canadian astronaut Joshua Kutryk, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov—will join Expedition 75 on the International Space Station for a long‑duration stay. Watkins will command the flight, becoming the first NASA astronaut to fly twice aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon and a member of the Artemis astronaut cadre. The launch timing was advanced to keep ISS crew rotations on a steady cadence ahead of Artemis II.
The Biggest Space Conferences in May 2026: Full Global List for UK, USA & Worldwide
May 2026 features a packed calendar of space conferences across the UK, the United States and key global hubs. Events range from the UK’s Military Space Situational Awareness Conference on Space Domain Awareness to the US‑based ASCEND summit that drives the...
Ethiopia And Japan Strengthen Space Ties With MoU
Ethiopia’s Space Science Society (ESSS) and Japan’s Cross U platform have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to accelerate Ethiopia’s commercial space ecosystem. The agreement will connect Japanese space firms with local startups, enable technology transfer, and launch training programs for Ethiopian...
Scientists Find the True Edge of Star Formation in the Milky Way
Astronomers have pinpointed the Milky Way’s star‑forming edge at roughly 37,000‑40,000 light‑years from the Galactic centre, where new‑star production sharply declines. By combining over 100,000 giant‑star spectra from LAMOST and APOGEE with Gaia distances, the team produced the most detailed...
AI That Accelerated Webb Data Will Now Sharpen Rubin Observatory Images
The Vera C. Rubin Observatory, now generating about 20 TB of nightly imaging data, is turning to AI to handle its massive data stream. Researchers at UC‑Santa Cruz have adapted the machine‑learning tools that cut James Webb analysis from years to...
Volunteers Record Lunar Impacts For NASA Impact Flash Mission
NASA’s Impact Flash mission leveraged volunteer astronomers to record lunar meteoroid impacts observed during Artemis II. Participants captured video of flashes, allowing scientists to cross‑compare Earth‑based data with spacecraft observations and refine impact source identification. The program now seeks ongoing contributions...
Falcon Heavy’s Long-Awaited Comeback Halted at the Last Minute
SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy, slated for its first launch in 18 months, was scrubbed at the last minute due to unfavorable weather at Cape Canaveral. The mission was to deliver the ViaSat‑3 F3 communications satellite, a critical component for expanding global broadband...
The NewSpace Africa Conference Highlights Space Efforts Of African Nations
The fifth NewSpace Africa Conference opened in Libreville on April 21, drawing more than 600 delegates from over 300 organisations across 70 countries. Hosted by the Gabonese government and AGEOS, the event focuses on expanding Africa’s space economy under the...
NASA Moves Artemis III Rocket Core Stage Closer to Launch as Moon Mission Plans Move Quickly
NASA rolled the Space Launch System’s core stage from its Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans onto the Pegasus barge for transport to Kennedy Space Center. The 212‑foot section, containing the liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen tanks and intertank structure,...
US Military Solves the Biggest Problem in Drone Warfare With a Laser Beam
PowerLight Technologies achieved the first wireless power‑beaming to a fielded military drone in flight, delivering kilowatt‑class energy to a K1000ULE UAV at altitudes up to 5,000 feet and a range of nearly one mile. The ground‑based laser transmitter autonomously tracked and...
Ghost Over Earth: How a Balloon Flight Created One of the Year’s Strangest Images
A collaborative art‑science team launched an ultra‑light mannequin wrapped in Italian silk to the stratosphere using a biodegradable latex balloon, reaching roughly 30 km before the balloon burst. A 360° camera captured a ghost‑like silhouette suspended against Earth’s curved horizon, later...
Space Force Considers Using The Vulcan For Lower-Risk Missions
The U.S. Space Force is evaluating the United Launch Alliance Vulcan rocket for lower‑risk, lower‑mass missions, even though the vehicle remains grounded after a February 2026 launch anomaly that caused a spark and axial twist. Officials said the plan would...
Chinese Launch Daqi-2 On Long March-4C Rocket
On April 17, 2026, China launched the Daqi-2 greenhouse‑gas detection satellite aboard a Long March-4C rocket from Jiuquan. Developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, the payload carries five advanced instruments, including lidar and hyperspectral sensors, and is the...
USSF Objective Force 2040 And USAF Satellite Purchases: What It Means For Europe
At Space Symposium 2026 the U.S. Space Force released its Objective Force 2040 roadmap, while the Air Force announced a shift to multi‑year satellite procurement contracts. The new acquisition model aims to cut costs and give manufacturers longer‑term certainty. Objective...
USSF Objective Force 2040 And What It Means For Europe: SDA
The United States Space Force released its Objective Force 2040 vision, outlining a shift from safety‑of‑flight to a warfighting‑focused Space Domain Awareness (SDA) architecture. By 2040 the service aims for a fully transparent battlespace, leveraging space‑ and ground‑based sensors, AI‑driven...
KASA And The Canadian Space Agency Sign MOU On Space Cooperation
At the Space Symposium 2026 in Colorado Springs, the Korean Aerospace Agency (KASA) and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) signed a memorandum of understanding to deepen bilateral space cooperation. The agreement covers Earth observation, low‑Earth‑orbit (LEO) satellite communications, positioning, navigation...
Update: New Glenn Puts BlueBird 7 Into “Off-Nominal Orbit”?
Blue Origin’s New Glenn NG‑3 mission successfully separated the 6,000‑kg BlueBird‑7 satellite, but the payload entered an off‑nominal orbit. The company confirmed the satellite’s power system is operational while investigators assess the orbital deviation. NG‑3 also marks the first reuse of...
Space Solar Enters NATO Accelerator With Energy Sovereignty In Mind
Space Solar announced its entry into NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) Challenge Programme on 13 April 2026. The move validates the company’s work on space‑based power generation and modular in‑orbit construction through its OSPREY Builder system....
Taiwan Space Agency Prepares A Satellite-Grade General-Purpose GPU For Commercialisation
On 15 April 2025, Taiwan Space Agency (TASA) licensed its satellite‑grade general‑purpose GPU to Liscotech for commercial use. The GPGPU, built on NVIDIA chips with a radiation‑hard, modular design, flew aboard the Black Kite‑1 CubeSat on SpaceX’s Transporter‑15 mission in November 2025. In‑orbit...
Ukrainian Defence Tech Seeps Into Europe: Multiple Deals Signed On UAVs, Missiles
During the week of April 13, 2026 Ukraine signed a series of defence agreements across Europe, focusing on UAVs and missile technology. A €90 bn (~$97 bn) EU aid package is expected after Hungary’s government change, while German firm Diehl Defence pledged...
Asteroid Apophis Will Pass Close To Earth In 2029
NASA confirmed that near‑Earth asteroid 99942 Apophis will swing past Earth on 13 April 2029 at a distance of roughly 20 km, close enough to be visible to the naked eye and to pose a temporary hazard to low‑Earth‑orbit satellites. Discovered in 2004...
HEO Space Reportedly Sights Starlink Satellite 34343 Spinning In Orbit
Starlink satellite 34343, which lost contact after a suspected fragmentation event, was recently imaged by HEO Space. The company posted a video confirming the satellite remains structurally intact but is tumbling at least 16 degrees per second. LeoLabs, which first...
Solar Storm Watch: Northern Lights Might Be Visible Across US Tonight
A fast‑moving solar wind stream hitting Earth at up to 700 km/s has prompted NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center to issue a moderate G2 geomagnetic storm watch for the night of April 17‑18. UK forecasters warn conditions could intensify to a G3...
US Space Chief Says Russia Wants To Put Nuclear Weapons In Orbit
U.S. Space Command chief General Stephen Whiting warned that Russia is allegedly planning to place nuclear weapons in low‑Earth orbit to target satellites. He cited Russia's recent anti‑satellite activities, including GPS jamming and missile tests, as evidence of a growing...
Northumbria University Wins £4m to Crack the Code on Earth’s Deadliest Space Radiation
Northumbria University has secured a £4 million (≈$5.1 million) grant from the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council to study the erratic behavior of Earth’s radiation belts. Led by Professor Clare Watt, the five‑year project will merge spacecraft data from global missions...
How Ukraine Turned DIY Drones Into a Powerful War Force — and What Europe Can Learn
Ukraine has transformed a pre‑war niche of about seven drone firms into a 500‑strong industry that produced over 2.2 million FPV combat drones in 2024 and aims for 4‑4.5 million in 2025. The cheap $400‑$800 machines now account for more than 60%...
Space Force Unveils Vision for Future Space Operations in 2040
U.S. Space Force chief Gen. B. Chance Saltzman introduced the Future Operating Environment 2040 at the Space Symposium, outlining a long‑term vision for space operations through the next decade and beyond. The strategy treats space as a contested domain, emphasizing...
Report: OCI TerraSus Of Malaysia And SpaceX In Talks For Polysilicon Supply
OCI TerraSus, the Malaysian arm of South Korea's OCI Holdings, is reportedly in multi‑year talks with SpaceX to supply high‑purity solar‑grade polysilicon. The material is essential for both solar panels and the semiconductor components SpaceX plans to develop as it...
JAXA H3 Rocket Failed Due To A Weakened Component
In December 2025 JAXA’s H3 launch suffered a catastrophic failure when an adhesive‑bonded component delaminated during fairing opening. The loss of the component caused the satellite to shift, rupturing a fuel pipe and delaying ignition, which led to the loss...
Sea Launch Revisited: Can We Launch Rockets From the Ocean Again?
Sea‑based launch platforms are re‑emerging as a potential answer to crowded land‑based spaceports. The original Sea Launch venture, which operated from the converted Odyssey rig in the late 1990s and early 2000s, filed for bankruptcy after technical setbacks and geopolitical...
A Dimmer Blue Marble? What Artemis II Photo Really Shows About Earth
In April 2026 astronauts on Artemis II captured a full‑disk view of Earth that quickly went viral alongside the iconic 1972 Apollo 17 "Blue Marble." Observers noted the newer picture appears dimmer and less saturated, sparking debate over whether the change reflects...
Ukraine Lawmaker Claims Rockets Crossed The Kármán Line Twice in 2025
Ukrainian MP Fedir Venislavskyi said Ukraine launched two vehicles in 2025 that crossed the Kármán Line, reaching 100 km and 204 km, to conduct purely military tasks. The flights used an air‑launch system from an Antonov An‑124 cargo plane at about 8,000 m altitude, a...
How Are UAV Systems Used in Defence Operations?
Unmanned aerial vehicles are now central to modern defence operations, delivering real‑time intelligence, surveillance and strike coordination while reducing personnel risk. Fixed‑wing, multirotor and hybrid VTOL platforms each address specific mission profiles, from long‑range area coverage to rapid, confined‑space inspections....
Algeria Is Offering Two Licences To Operate Non-Geostationary Orbit (NGSO) Satellite Networks
Algeria's Regulatory Authority of Posts and Electronic Communications (ARPCE) announced the issuance of two licences for operating Non‑Geostationary Orbit (NGSO) satellite networks. The licences grant holders the right to both operate and provide services linked to NGSO satellites within Algerian...
South Africa’s Politics Might Stifle The Growth Of Its Space Programme
South Africa’s Portfolio Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation warned that political and fiscal missteps are jeopardising the nation’s nascent space programme. SANSA has poured $18.3 million into the EO‑Sat1 satellite, yet the project was stalled for six years due to...
UK’s SatVu Expands Thermal “Eyes in the Sky” With HotSat‑2 Launch
SatVu, a UK‑based space data firm, launched HotSat‑2 on SpaceX’s Transporter‑16 rideshare from Vandenberg. The satellite carries mid‑wave infrared sensors that deliver high‑resolution thermal imagery capable of seeing heat signatures through roofs and other structures. HotSat‑2’s data is positioned for...
The Planets Most Likely to Host Alien Life Have a Serious Problem
Researchers modeled a Mars‑like planet orbiting Barnard’s Star, a nearby red dwarf, and found its atmosphere would be stripped in about 50 million years—far shorter than geological timescales. The simulation placed the planet at 0.087 AU to match Mars‑level radiation, revealing that...
Regarding Those Worms Outside The ISS
University of Exeter’s Fluorescent Deep Space Petri‑Pods (FDSPP) will carry millimeter‑long C. elegans worms outside the International Space Station for a 15‑week exposure. Launched on NASA’s CRS‑24 mission, the 3 kg Petri Pod contains 12 sealed chambers that independently control temperature,...
ESA’s Celeste Mission First Signal Sets New European PNT Records
On 8 April 2026 ESA’s Celeste IOD‑1 transmitted the first dual‑frequency L‑ and S‑band navigation signal from a European low‑Earth‑orbit satellite, marking a historic milestone for Europe’s positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) ambitions. The Celeste pair, launched by Rocket Lab on...
Before the Space Age: Congreve and the Pioneers of Early British Rocketry
William Congreve transformed early 19th‑century rockets from experimental curiosities into standardized weapons by introducing iron‑cased designs, launch racks, and systematic testing. His rockets saw combat in Copenhagen, the War of 1812 and elsewhere, demonstrating both destructive power and psychological impact....
Artemis II and the Surprisingly Earth-Bound Problem of IP
Artemis II’s launch highlighted not only NASA’s return to lunar missions but also the massive patent portfolios behind the hardware. Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Aerojet Rocketdyne, Lockheed Martin and Airbus together hold seven‑figure numbers of patents covering propulsion, life‑support and communications systems. The article explains...
Ukraine Fields Helsing HX-2 UAVs: First Videos Surface
Ukraine’s 59th Assault Brigade has begun fielding German‑made Helsing HX‑2 attack drones alongside the older HF‑1 model. The first frontline video shows the HX‑2 launched from a catapult striking tanks, artillery and supply trucks up to 100 km away. Analysts describe...
L3Harris Wins $150m US Space Force Contract
L3Harris Technologies has been awarded a $150 million contract by the U.S. Space Force to sustain and modernize critical space surveillance and ground systems under the MOSAIC program. The effort aims to boost decision‑making speed, early threat warning, and overall space...
Europe and China Are Running a Joint Space Mission in an Era When They Agree on Almost Nothing
Europe’s ESA and China’s Academy of Sciences are set to launch the 2.3‑tonne Smile satellite from French Guiana on a Vega‑C rocket later this month. The spacecraft will travel to an elliptical orbit with a 121,000 km apogee over the North...
Xoople Raises $130 Million in Funding to Gather Optical Data Of Earth For AI
Xoople, a Spanish data‑infrastructure startup, closed a $130 million Series B round led by Nazca Capital, MCH Private Equity, CDTI, Buenavista Equity Partners and Endeavor Catalyst. The funding will finance the development of its own optical‑satellite constellation in partnership with U.S. defense...
House‑Size Asteroid to Zoom Past Earth Tonight: Here’s What NASA and ESA Are Saying
A newly discovered 16‑meter asteroid, designated 2026 GD, will pass Earth at 250,000 km (0.65 lunar distance) at 6:59 p.m. EDT on 9 April 2026. Discovered only three days earlier, its trajectory is well known and poses no threat. NASA and ESA have added it...
Artemis Flight Day 8: “Bubble Wrap Nominal”
Artemis II’s Flight Day 8 focused on validating return‑flight operations as the Orion crew approached Earth. A minor bulkhead issue—likely expanded bubble wrap—was resolved, prompting Mission Control to confirm “bubble wrap nominal.” The crew conducted a manual tail‑to‑Sun maneuver to gather guidance,...
Sharjah’s Satellite Infrastructure Still Intact After Missile Attack: Space42
On April 7, 2026, a missile struck the administrative building of Thuraya Telecommunications in Sharjah. Space42, Thuraya’s parent, confirmed that satellite services and infrastructure remain fully operational. The attack injured two Pakistani nationals, but no disruption to customers was reported....
Fire Erupts During Test Of The SpaceX Starship V3 Engine
SpaceX experienced a fire during a Texas test of its Starship V3 Raptor engine on April 9, 2026. The incident, captured on a NASA Spaceflight livestream, showed a loud pop followed by a burst of flames on the Raptor North...
This UK College Is Quietly Training the Workers Behind the Moon Missions
Suffolk New College in Ipswich hosted a career‑focused session for about 50 students, highlighting engineering and welding roles that underpin satellite manufacturing, launch infrastructure and lunar missions. Industry representatives from Space East emphasized that East Anglia houses more than 800...