NASA’s Artemis II Astronauts Break Apollo’s Distance Record
NASA’s Artemis II mission has sent four astronauts farther from Earth than any human before, reaching 248,655 miles (400,171 km). The record eclipses Apollo 13’s 1970 distance of about 205,000 miles, which was an accidental by‑product of an emergency lunar flyby. The crew—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Canada’s Jeremy Hansen—will peak at 252,757 miles (406,773 km) as they loop the Moon at roughly 4,000 miles altitude. The achievement underscores the Artemis program’s capability to conduct deep‑space missions beyond low‑Earth orbit.
Astronauts Celebrate Historic Launch with Lovell’s Message and Tribute
First cry of the day: the late Apollo astronaut Jim Lovell’s pre-recorded message for the crew welcoming them to his neighbourhood Second cry of the day: the crew giving Science Officer Kelsey Young at Mission Control her flowers for preparing...
Watch Live—NASA’s Artemis II’s Moon Flyby Is Underway
NASA’s Artemis II crew completed a historic lunar flyby, becoming the first humans to travel beyond the Moon in over five decades. The Orion spacecraft broke the Apollo 13 distance record, reaching about 4,070 miles from the lunar surface and spending five...
On Artemis and Starshot
Artemis’ recent launch reignited the excitement of returning humans to deep space, showcasing NASA’s powerful yet expensive Space Launch System (SLS). The mission underscores the urgency of developing more affordable, reusable launch solutions for a sustained lunar presence and eventual...
Orion Completes Small Mid-Course-Correction Engine Burn as It Prepares to Swing Around Behind the Moon
NASA’s Orion capsule completed a 17.5‑second mid‑course correction on April 5, 2026, fine‑tuning its trajectory for the Artemis II lunar fly‑by scheduled for the evening of April 6. The crew – astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and CSA’s Jeremy Hansen –...
Japan’s Lunar Lander Startup Ispace Wins Contract with Korean Rover Startup
Japanese lunar‑lander startup Ispace announced a contract with South‑Korean rover company Unmanned Exploration Laboratory (UEL) to fly its two‑wheeled rover on Ispace’s upcoming ULTRA lander. The payload will ride on Mission 3, slated for launch in 2028, representing the first Korean...
Artemis II Mission Day 5 Recap April 5
On Flight Day 5, Artemis II astronauts completed the first deep‑space test of Orion’s Crew Survival System emergency suits, performed a 17.5‑second trajectory correction burn, and entered the Moon’s sphere of influence. The crew also photographed the entire Orientale Basin, marking humanity’s...
McKinsey Analysts Forecast $1.8 Trillion Global Space Economy by 2035
Analysts at McKinsey & Company estimate the global space economy will grow to $1.8 trillion by 2035, driven by satellite transport, broadband connectivity and tourism. The projection fuels optimism for publicly traded launch firms such as Rocket Lab, whose Q4 revenue...
Spanish AI‑Mapping Startup Xoople Secures $130 Million Series B to Scale Satellite Constellation
Spanish geospatial AI startup Xoople closed a $130 million Series B, led by Nazca Capital, to fund a satellite constellation that will deliver ultra‑high‑resolution data for enterprise customers. The round also introduced a sensor‑building partnership with U.S. defense contractor L3Harris, underscoring...
Japanese Rocket Startup Interstellar Gets Another $47 Million Grant From Japan
Interstellar, a Japanese rocket startup, received an additional $47 million grant from the government’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, bringing its total public funding to roughly $99 million (¥15.4 bn). Combined with nearly $130 million in private capital, the company has moved into...
Artemis II Crew Delivers Stunning New Image of the Moon's Hidden Far Side
On day five of its ten‑day lunar flyby, NASA’s Artemis II crew captured the first ever human‑eye view of the Moon’s far side and posted the image online. The four astronauts—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen—were 18,830 miles from the Moon...
Artemis II Crew Nears Moon as Spacecraft Enters Lunar Orbit Phase
NASA launched the Artemis II mission on April 1, 2026, sending a Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft with four astronauts from Kennedy Space Center. Early Monday, the crew entered the lunar sphere of influence, where the Moon’s gravity overtakes Earth’s,...
How to Watch NASA’s Artemis II Flying Past the Moon Live
NASA’s Artemis II mission on April 6, 2026 performed a historic lunar flyby, marking the first crewed deep‑space flight since 1972. Four astronauts aboard the Orion capsule passed within roughly 4,070 mi of the Moon’s surface, capturing images and conducting scientific observations. NASA streamed...
Night Sky Network Celebrates Artemis II
On April 6, 2026 the Artemis II crew became the first humans to orbit the Moon’s far side, traveling roughly 4,000 miles above the lunar surface. The historic maneuver was streamed live on NASA’s YouTube channel and the new NASA+ platform. NASA’s Night Sky...
Artemis II: NASA’s Orion Heads Home After a Historic Loop Around the Moon
NASA’s Artemis II Orion spacecraft completed a historic five‑day lunar flyby, looping around the Moon’s far side on April 6. The crew witnessed the first human‑viewed total solar eclipse from lunar orbit and captured unprecedented visual detail of the far‑side terrain. A...
Beyond Gravity Composites Expertise Aid NASA Artemis II Mission
Beyond Gravity, a Swiss carbon‑fiber specialist, is supplying critical hardware for NASA’s Artemis II mission. The firm will deliver the universal stage adapter that connects the Space Launch System to the European Service Module, a 9.9‑meter‑tall structure slated for first use...
The Near Side of the Moon
NASA’s Orion spacecraft captured a high‑resolution view of the Moon’s near side on April 4, 2026, highlighting dark basaltic lava flows that are exclusive to this hemisphere. The image was taken by the Artemis II crew—Victor Glover, Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, and CSA...
JWST Eyes a Pair of Planet-Forming Disks
The James Webb Space Telescope has obtained high‑resolution infrared images of a pair of protoplanetary disks surrounding young stars roughly 450 light‑years from Earth. The observations reveal distinct gaps and ring structures that are hallmarks of early planet formation. By...
Artemis II: Everything We Know as Its Crew Approaches the Far Side of the Moon
Artemis II’s Orion capsule entered the Moon’s sphere of influence and is now orbiting the lunar far side, preparing for a six‑hour dark‑side flyby on April 6 at 2:45 pm EDT. The four‑person crew has already shared striking Earth‑rise photos and the first human‑viewed...
Avel Robotics Accelerates Aerospace Development with Bordeaux Location, Ongoing Activity Diversification
Avel Robotics, a French specialist in automated fiber placement, opened a commercial office in Bordeaux in January 2026 to sit closer to key aerospace and space players. The move follows the signing of new aerospace contracts, notably a development deal...
NASA’s Artemis II Mission Is About to Pass Behind the Moon
NASA’s Artemis II crew entered the Moon’s sphere of influence and is preparing for a six‑hour lunar flyby that will bring humans within 4,070 miles of the surface. Day five featured emergency‑suit tests, a trajectory‑correction burn, and an Easter‑egg hunt aboard...
SpaceX Files FCC Complaint Over Amazon Kuiper Altitude Violations
SpaceX has lodged a formal complaint with the FCC accusing Amazon’s Project Kuiper of launching satellites above authorized altitudes, creating unmitigated collision risks for Starlink. The dispute pits the two largest low‑Earth‑orbit broadband operators against each other and could reshape...
SpaceX IPO Rumors Target $2 Trillion Valuation, Sparking Investment Bank Interest
Analysts and media outlets are buzzing about a potential SpaceX initial public offering that could value the company at up to $2 trillion, dwarfing current market giants. The speculation, cited by Salon.com and Axios, puts investment banks on alert for a...
The Moon Base Has a Hardware Plan. It Needs a Software Strategy, Too.
NASA announced a phased plan to build a permanent lunar base, targeting crewed landings every six months and a nuclear propulsion test to Mars by 2028. The initiative relies on a sprawling network of commercial partners, CLPS providers, and international...
Spain’s Xoople Raises $130 Million Series B to Map the Earth for AI
Spanish startup Xoople secured $130 million in Series B funding, led by Nazca Capital, to build a satellite constellation delivering high‑precision ground‑truth data for AI models. The company partnered with U.S. defense contractor L3Harris to develop advanced optical sensors for its planned...
Why Will Today's Lunar Flyby only Beam Back Low-Resolution Video?
Artemis II’s Orion crew will swing past the Moon at roughly 4,000 mi (6,400 km) altitude, broadcasting live video from four low‑rate SAW GoPro cameras. The feed will be low‑resolution because the Deep Space Network’s radio bandwidth is stretched thin by distance and...
Artemis II Astronauts Will Recreate Apollo 8’s Iconic “Earthrise” Photo TODAY
NASA’s Artemis II crew will attempt a deliberate recreation of Apollo 8’s iconic Earthrise photograph during today’s lunar flyby. The mission timeline allocates a few minutes on the far side of the Moon for both Earthrise and Earthset shots. Modern digital cameras...
The State of Satcom 2026
SpaceX Starlink and Amazon Leo are reshaping satellite communications, with Starlink surpassing 10 million users and operating over 10,000 LEO satellites, while Amazon Leo targets service in 100 countries by 2028. Their massive capital, spectrum purchases, and low‑cost launch capability are...
Luna 3’s 1959 Far‑Side Photos Preview Artemis Terrain
The first images of the far side of the moon were taken by the Soviet Luna 3 probe in 1959. The probe used automatic sensing and film cameras to take the images. The film was developed onboard the spacecraft, the...
Artemis II Supplier Series: Orion’s Windows
McDanel Advanced Materials, after acquiring Rayotek, will provide every Orion spacecraft window for Artemis II and the next four missions. The windows use a multi‑layer construction that shields against micrometeoroid impacts, radiation, and microbial growth while meeting strict mass limits. McDanel’s...
First Humans Since 1972 Capture Moon’s Dark Craters
4 people are flying around that Moon today. The first since 1972, and the first-ever with digital cameras, to see better into the dark craters and textures. The crew will have perfect quiet when the Moon blocks out Earth -...
Artemis II Carries Wright Brothers’ Fabric, Space History Soars
This is extremely awesome. I also understand that Artemis II is also carrying a small swatch of fabric from the Wright Brothers’ flyer. This is MEGA awesome.
Seagate Space Signs MOU with Firefly Aerospace to Collaborate on Offshore Launch Infrastructure for Alpha
Seagate Space Corp. signed an MOU with Firefly Aerospace to develop an offshore launch platform for the Alpha rocket, leveraging Seagate’s purpose‑built Gateway Series. The platform received “Approval in Principle” from the American Bureau of Shipping, marking the first offshore...
Seeing the Moon, Realizing Humans Are Closer Than Expected
Never in my life have I looked up at the moon and known there are humans closer to there than here. https://t.co/IkQlVJf1lS
Artemis II Crew Set to Break Apollo 13 Distance Record
10 minutes to when the Artemis II crew passes the Apollo 13 record for furthest distance from Earth for astronauts. Watch on NASA's YouTube at: https://t.co/7JM1ti9vAq
Thirty Years Later, Mars 96 Has Not Been Found
In November 1996 Russia launched Mars 96, a 6,500 kg, multinational probe designed to orbit Mars and deploy landers and penetrators. A malfunction in the Proton‑K upper stage left the spacecraft stranded in low‑Earth orbit, causing it to re‑enter the atmosphere weeks...
Lunar Flyby Footage Falls Short: Here’s Why
You're probably going to be disappointed with the video imagery of the lunar flyby. Here's why: https://t.co/20YF81w0uA
New ROS Guide Adds Outpost Thermal-Control System
Expanding our exclusive technical guide to the ROS complex with the introduction to the outpost's thermal-control system (subscription). CONTEXT: Home page for the ROS project: https://t.co/81bSOWHp9D https://t.co/upduOMWNYd
Ownership without Oversight: Australia's On-Orbit Supervision Gap
In late 2025 Australian firm HEO bought the in‑orbit satellite Continuum‑1 from Argentina’s Satellogic, marking Australia’s first privately owned space asset. While the United States remains the launching state, Australia now bears treaty‑based responsibility for supervising the satellite’s operations, yet its...
Beware AI‑generated Fake Artemis II Images; Use Official Source
PSA: The amount of AI generated absolute garbage being used by conspiracy theorists AND unbeknownst enthusiasts is ALARMING. If you want REAL images from Artemis II, here's the best source - https://t.co/gXuDxbtsfH
No Orbital Starship Flight Before IPO—Do Investors Care?
One important takeaway is no orbital Starship flight before the IPO. But do investors care?
Review: Return to Launch
Stephen C. Smith’s new book *Return to Launch* chronicles how Florida’s Space Coast has shifted from government‑driven boom‑and‑bust cycles to a private‑sector‑led launch hub. The narrative highlights more than 100 orbital launches in 2025, driven largely by SpaceX’s presence at...
Artemis II Moon Return Sparks Hope for Humanity
Something special is happening in space right now As Artemis II astronauts reach the Moon for the first time in 54 years, it gives humanity something we've been missing for decades: hope that we can become something great. https://t.co/wdFUF4tfOB
Young Journalist Reveals Behind‑Scenes of Artemis II Live Stream
A young journalist shares the production story behind NASA’s historic Artemis II live stream. https://t.co/VaicXmbX1a
JWST Reveals Thousands of Hidden Massive Stars in W51 Star‑Forming Region
The James Webb Space Telescope has identified thousands of massive stars previously concealed by dust in the W51 star‑forming complex. Infrared imaging combined with ALMA data provides an unprecedented look at the region’s stellar nursery, prompting a reassessment of how...
Praying for Safe Return of Artemis Astronauts
Dark side of the moon. Praying for the save return of all our astronauts on this historic space flight. #artemis https://t.co/gx8v8UOFGR
SpaceX Blames Amazon Satellites; Amazon Cites Starlink Altitude
. @SpaceX argues that a subset of Amazon Leo's satellites are creating collision risks. Amazon Leo countered that it is operating safely and that any increased risk is due to SpaceX lowering the altitude of Starlink satellites. @Light_Reading ...
Pentagon Picks Impulse Space and Anduril for Golden Dome Missile‑Tracking Prototypes
The U.S. Pentagon awarded development contracts to satellite startup Impulse Space and defense‑tech firm Anduril to build prototypes for the Golden Dome space‑based missile tracking and targeting system. The move advances President Trump’s 2025 executive order, even as critics warn...
Artemis II Moon Flyby Streams Live on Netflix Today
JUST IN: Artemis II to fly past the moon at 1pm ET today, streaming on Netflix
200 Nations, 200 Satellite Constellations in a Decade
A vision of sovereignty rum amok: 'In 10 years, 200 cosntellations for 200 nations.' @planet @AirbusUSA @ReOrbitOy @Satellogic @mynaric @RocketLab.https://t.co/9JumWSmegd https://t.co/oPyZqlQNjT