NASA’s Pandora Satellite, CubeSats to Explore Exoplanets, Beyond
NASA’s Pandora mission, accompanied by the BlackCAT and SPARCS CubeSats, is set to launch Jan. 11 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Vandenberg. Pandora’s 45‑cm all‑aluminum telescope will observe visible and near‑infrared light to separate planetary atmospheric signals from stellar contamination during exoplanet transits. The mission will study at least 20 known exoplanets, each observed ten times for 24‑hour periods, and will make all data publicly available. The CubeSats will probe high‑energy transients and low‑mass star activity, expanding the mission’s scientific return.
Can We Use Bees as a Model of Intelligent Alien Life to Develop Interstellar Communication?
Researchers propose using honeybees as a proxy for alien intelligence, arguing that shared mathematical ability could underpin interstellar communication. Bees have demonstrated basic arithmetic, quantity discrimination, and symbol‑number associations in controlled experiments from 2016‑2024. The paper builds on historic attempts...
Why NASA Is Cutting the Current International Space Station Mission Short
NASA announced that the current International Space Station expedition will end more than a month early, bringing home four crew members ahead of schedule. The decision follows health concerns for one astronaut, who remains stable but would face increased risk...
Eutelsat Appoints Former Maersk
.@EutelsatGroup names Eva Birgitte Bisgaard president of Connectivity Business Unit and member, executive committee. She's former CCO of @MaerskTankers. https://t.co/oThKZWvHSz
'Knitted' Satellite Launching to Monitor Earth's Surface with Radar
The UK‑based CarbSAR satellite is set to launch this Sunday, featuring a revolutionary mesh radar antenna woven from tungsten wire coated in gold. The antenna is produced on a standard industrial knitting machine that has been adapted for aerospace use....
ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2026: How to Apply?
The Royal Observatory’s ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition opened for entries on 5 January 2026 and will close at noon GMT on 2 March. The contest accepts adult and youth submissions across eight themed adult categories and a single youth...
Rhea Space Activity Applies Optical Navigation to Military Rendezvous Missions
Rhea Space Activity, a Washington‑based startup, was selected by SpaceWERX’s Sustained Space Maneuver Challenge and awarded a $1.9 million SBIR Phase‑2 contract to adapt NASA’s AutoNav optical navigation for military use. The company is developing Vanguard, a software suite that adds...
Inside AE Industrial Partners
In this episode, Tom Patton interviews Kirk Konert, Managing Partner at AE Industrial Partners, about the firm’s role in advancing the space industrial base and its view of space as essential infrastructure for the global economy. Konert explains AEI’s investment...
Viasat’s HaloNet: Eliminating Launch Telemetry Blackouts
Viasat's HaloNet launch telemetry data relay service uses its global L‑band geostationary network to provide uninterrupted, real‑time telemetry from lift‑off through early orbit. By routing data through multiple satellites and employing beam‑hopping resource management, the system eliminates traditional line‑of‑sight blackouts...
SPLICing the Way
The episode explores NASA's latest autonomous lunar landing technologies, focusing on the SPLICE system that integrates advanced sensors, AI navigation, and precision thrusters to enable safe, unmanned Moon landings. Hosts discuss how these innovations reduce risk, accelerate mission timelines, and...
Astronomy’s Northern Blind Spot — And the Canary Island Giant That Could Fix It
Astronomy’s next era hinges on ultra‑large telescopes, yet the Northern Hemisphere lacks a 30‑meter‑class optical instrument. A recent paper argues that relocating the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) to La Palma would fill this gap, enabling rapid follow‑up of multi‑messenger events....
Planetary Science Caucus Statement
The U.S. House passed the FY26 Commerce, Justice, Science, Energy and Water Development, and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act with a 397‑28 vote, preserving core NASA funding and rejecting most OMB‑proposed cuts. The bill sustains the NASA Science Mission Directorate...
Crew 11 to Return Early Over Astronaut’s Health Issue
Crew 11 returning early “in the next few days” because of the ongoing medical issue of one Astronaut. I sure hope everything is OK!
Crew‑11 Set to Leave ISS Soon over Medical Issue
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman says Crew-11 will depart the ISS "in the coming days" because of the medical concern with a crew member announced yesterday.
SpaceX Launches Next Set of Starlink, Planet Satellites
SpaceX lifted off a Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral on August 21, 2020, deploying three Planet SkySat imaging satellites followed by 58 Starlink broadband satellites. The mission marked the rocket’s sixth flight, a record for reusability, and saw the first stage...
NASA Crew-11 Returns Early Over Unspecified Medical Issue
NASA’s Crew-11 astronaut crew will return to Earth earlier than planned because of an unspecified medical issue with an astronaut
Space Force Releases "Spacepower" Report
The U.S. Space Force unveiled its inaugural doctrine, the “Spacepower” report, outlining a comprehensive vision for space as a distinct warfighting domain. The document stresses the need for both defensive and offensive capabilities to protect critical assets such as communications...
OSIRIS-REx Conducts Final Rehearsal of Asteroid Sampling Maneuver
NASA’s OSIRIS‑REx spacecraft performed its final “Matchpoint” rehearsal, descending to about 40 meters above asteroid Bennu and then backing away as planned. The successful test confirms the navigation and autonomous systems needed for the Touch‑and‑Go sampling maneuver. Engineers now have confidence...
Ariane 5 Launches Three Satellites
On August 22, 2020, Arianespace’s Ariane 5 rocket lifted off from Kourou, deploying the Galaxy 30, MEV‑2 and BSAT‑4b satellites into geostationary transfer orbit. The launch marked the first Ariane 5 mission since February, after a pandemic‑related shutdown and earlier scrub due to...
Arecibo Radio Telescope Damaged
The Arecibo Observatory’s 305‑meter dish was rendered inoperable after a support cable snapped, gouging a 30‑meter tear in the primary reflector. The incident occurred early Monday morning, prompting an immediate shutdown of the telescope’s scientific programs. Officials are evaluating the...
January 8, 2026 Quick Space Links
Europe’s Orion service module for Artemis‑4 arrived at Kennedy Space Center for testing and integration, marking a key European contribution to NASA’s next lunar landing slated for no earlier than 2030. Russia announced it will rely on legacy Proton and...
APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR COHORT 4 OF SDA TAP LAB – CATALYST CAMPUS MINI ACCELERATOR
Catalyst Campus has opened applications for Cohort 4 of the SDA TAP Lab Mini Accelerator, a two‑month program beginning February 17, 2026. Selected early‑stage and dual‑use companies will receive technical workshops, one‑on‑one mentorship, and direct collaboration with Space Development Agency (SDA) and defense stakeholders. An...
The Electrifying Science Behind Martian Dust
Planetary scientist Alian Wang’s latest study demonstrates that friction‑driven electric discharges in Martian dust storms produce volatile chlorine, perchlorates, and airborne carbonates. Using two custom simulation chambers, her team quantified reaction products and measured heavy‑isotope depletion in chlorine, oxygen and...
US Government UAP Projects: A Legacy of Misinformation and Mistrust
The United States has spent seven decades alternating between overt debunking of UFO sightings and covert disinformation, from Project Blue Book’s public‑relations focus to Cold‑War counter‑intelligence operations. Recent whistleblowers, including former AATIP director Luis Elizondo and intelligence officer David Grusch, allege a secret crash‑retrieval...
Hubble Network Collaborates With Texas Instruments on Bluetooth Connectivity
Hubble Network announced a partnership with Texas Instruments at CES 2026 to embed its satellite‑backed Bluetooth service into TI’s CC2340 and CC2755x wireless microcontrollers. The integration delivers device location plus up to 13 bytes of sensor data—temperature, motion, diagnostics, or...
House Passes Final FY2026 Funding Bill For NASA, Senate Is Next
The U.S. House approved the FY2026 Commerce‑Justice‑Science appropriations bill, preserving NASA’s budget at roughly $24.4 billion—far above the Trump administration’s proposed $18.8 billion cut. The measure passed with a strong bipartisan majority (397‑28) and now moves to the Senate for final approval....
OQ Technology Secures New IoT Partnership With Monogoto
OQ Technology announced a partnership with Monogoto at CES 2026, integrating its Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellation into Monogoto’s hybrid IoT connectivity platform. The deal expands Monogoto’s ecosystem, which already includes GEO satellite links, to offer a true multi‑layer...
First Galaxy-Wide Wobbling Black Hole Jet Discovered in a Disk Galaxy
Astronomers using Keck, JWST and the VLA have identified a precessing, galaxy‑wide jet from the supermassive black hole in the disk galaxy VV 340a. The jet drives a stream of super‑heated gas that reaches roughly 20,000 light‑years, the most extended outflow...
NASA Weighs an Early End to Crew 11’s Mission.
The episode discusses NASA's consideration of ending Crew‑11’s mission early due to a medical issue aboard the ISS, while also covering corporate moves such as Karman Space & Defense’s acquisition of Seemann Composites and MSC, and the launch of PowerBank...
Space Force Looks to Expand West Coast Heavy Launch Capabilities
Space Launch Delta 30 has issued a Request for Information to commercial launch providers to develop Space Launch Complex‑14 at Vandenberg Space Force Base. The proposed pad would be the first dedicated super‑heavy launch complex on the West Coast, capable of...
Simultaneous Packing Structures in Superionic Water May Explain Ice Giant Magnetic Fields
Researchers at SLAC and the European XFEL have shown that superionic water can host multiple atomic packing structures under identical temperature‑pressure conditions. Using laser‑driven shock compression and ultrafast X‑ray diffraction, they detected simultaneous BCC, FCC and HCP lattices within the...
ESA 2026 Budget Rises 7.6%, Space Funding Decisions Loom
.@esa 2026 budget up 7.6% on effect of Nov ministerial; Earth obs, nav lead spending categories; @spacegovuk under pressure to decide on unallocated Euro Launch Challenge funding. @defis_eu @orbexspace @PLD_Space @rfa_space @isaraerospace @MaiaSpaceOff.https://t.co/USZeN1eUR1 https://t.co/ouL619DeZe
NASA to Brief on ISS Crew Medical Concern
NASA is holding a briefing at 5pm EST today to provide an update on the ISS after a "medical concern" reported with a crewmember. https://t.co/lat1JNoGy3
South Korean Rocket Startup Innospace Signs Deal with Portugal’s Santa Maria Spaceport
South Korean rocket startup Innospace has signed a five‑year agreement to use Portugal’s proposed Santa Maria spaceport in the Azores, beginning in 2026. The company aims to complete launch infrastructure and conduct its first commercial flight in the fourth quarter...
NASA Holds ISS Update Press Conference Today at 5 PM
NASA will have a press conference at 5:00 pm ET today (Thursday) re the situation on the ISS. NASA Admin Isaacman will participate along with Assoc Admin Amit Kshatriya and James Polk, Chief Health and Medical Officer. Watch...
The Comprehensive Guide to Space Economy and Technology Taxonomies, Version 1/8/26
The article presents a comprehensive overview of the multiple taxonomies that structure today’s multi‑trillion‑dollar space economy. It details economic frameworks such as the OECD and BEA SESA models, technical classifications ranging from orbital regimes to technology readiness levels, and market...
Roman Space Telescope on Track for September Launch
NASA announced that the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will launch on September 28, 2026 aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy. The spacecraft is now fully assembled at Goddard, entering vibration and acoustic testing in February before shipping to Florida in June. The mission remains...
NASA Holds Live Press Conference on ISS Update
NASA to Provide Media with International Space Station Update Today https://t.co/Zmhfde7XZO Credit: NASA NASA will host a live news conference at 5 p.m. EST on Thursday from the agency’s headquarters in Washington to discuss the International Space St… https://t.co/wp4MT6jwSK
NASA to Provide Media with International Space Station Update Today
NASA will hold a live news conference at 5 p.m. EST Thursday from its Washington headquarters to update media on the International Space Station. The briefing follows the agency’s Jan 7 announcement postponing a Jan 8 spacewalk while a crew member’s medical condition...
European Space Agency DG Aschbacher Highlights 2026 Milestones in Annual Address
European Space Agency announced a record €22.3 billion budget for 2026‑2028, a 31% rise over the previous cycle, with the 2026 allocation at €8.26 billion. Canada increased its contribution to €407.7 million, four times its prior level. Ariane 6 achieved five successful flights in...
Fans Demand Concrete 2025 Achievements for Starship Award
We had SO MANY write-ins for "Starship" to win the top award for most inspirational, innovative and important mission of 2025... So... tell me, what specific thing did Starship do in 2025 that makes it deserve an Astro Award, let...
Martian Dust Samples May Never Leave the Red Planet
The dozens of tubes of Martian dust collected so far by the Perseverance rover are waiting for a ride that may never come. https://t.co/Hy6zjRf29d
Billionaire to Fund Construction of an Orbiting Optical Telescope Larger than Hubble
Schmidt Sciences, the foundation of Google co‑founder Eric and Wendy Schmidt, announced a multi‑billion‑dollar private program to build four research observatories, including Lazuli, a 3.1‑meter optical space telescope that outstrips Hubble’s 2.4‑meter mirror. The telescope will operate from a lunar‑resonant...
Artemis II Countdown Demo Highlights 2025 Mission Progress
Best of 2025: Artemis II Countdown Demonstration Test https://t.co/7HD3EFm7GT NASA/Joel Kowsky Artemis II crewmembers (left to right) NASA astronauts Christina Koch, mission specialist; and Victor Glover, pilot; CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut J… https://t.co/uq8525c1Wx
Best of 2025: Artemis II Countdown Demonstration Test
NASA conducted the Artemis II Countdown Demonstration Test on Dec. 20, 2025, rehearsing the full launch day sequence for the crew of Christina Koch, Victor Glover, Jeremy Hansen and Reid Wiseman. The simulation covered suit‑up, walkout, and ingress/egress of the Orion capsule atop the Space Launch System....
NASA Powers Up Gateway PPE, Preps Moonwalk Simulations
NASA Starts Up Gateway’s Power System for First Time https://t.co/RP28rkuUCC 1 min read Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater) The primary structure of Gateway’s Power and Propulsion Element (PPE) undergoing assembly, in… https://t.co/dNno8aSiwG
Earliest Known Barred Spiral Galaxy Spotted Just 2 Billion Years After Big Bang
Astronomers using spectroscopy have identified galaxy COSMOS‑74706 as the earliest confirmed barred spiral, existing roughly 2 billion years after the Big Bang (about 11.5 billion years ago). The detection, presented at the American Astronomical Society meeting, sets a new high‑redshift record for...
Second Escapade Mars Orbiter Completes a Delayed Engine Burn
NASA announced that the second Escapade Mars orbiter successfully completed a delayed engine burn, correcting its trajectory after an earlier mid‑course correction showed unexpectedly low thrust. The telemetry anomaly, which indicated the engine was under‑performing, was addressed, though NASA provided...
MDA Space Added as a ‘Golden Dome’ Contractor by the Missile Defense Agency
MDA Space has been added as a contractor to the U.S. Missile Defense Agency’s Scalable Homeland Innovative Enterprise Layered Defense (SHIELD) program, part of the broader Golden Dome strategy. The SHIELD initiative carries a $151 billion ceiling over ten years and...
ESA Reports December Breach, Limited to Unclassified External Data
.@esa refers December cyber attack & data breach to France's public prosecutor's office for criminal inquiry but confirms that breach was limited to unclassified data housed in external databases outside ESA's firewall.https://t.co/JoHzEImeOA https://t.co/sw3VERl3u6