Quadruped Robot ANYmal Slashes Mars and Moon Test Times by Up to 70%
A team from the University of Basel, ETH Zurich and Swiss partners demonstrated that the four‑legged robot ANYmal can autonomously visit and analyze multiple targets in 12‑23 minutes, versus 41 minutes for a human‑guided approach. The study suggests quadruped robots could accelerate future Mars and lunar missions while reducing reliance on Earth‑based control.
SMILE’s April 9 Launch Could Finally Show Us What Solar Storms Actually Look Like When They Hit
The Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE) is set to launch on April 9 from French Guiana, carrying four instruments to image Earth’s magnetosphere in soft X‑rays. By capturing the interaction between solar wind and the magnetic shield, and simultaneously...
Integrity Crew Shatters Isaacman 1400 Km Record 13 Minutes Post‑launch
Per a question asked in the presser, Integrity's crew broke the Isaacman height record of 1400 km at 2306 UTC Apr 1, a mere 13 minutes after launch.
Swift Spacecraft Reorientation Buys Time for Reboost Mission
NASA has reoriented the 2004‑launched Swift observatory to reduce atmospheric drag by roughly 30%, buying critical weeks before its orbit falls below the 300‑kilometer threshold needed for a planned reboost. Updated decay models now show a 10% chance of reaching...
Artemis II Will Cross Van Allen Belts—No Tails
YES Artemis II will fly through the Van Allen Belts and no the crew won’t all grow tails. #author #history #space #science #apollo
CLPS Companies Excited For NASA’s ‘Opportunity Bomb’ Lunar Plan
NASA released a draft RFP for CLPS 2.0, outlining a $6 billion budget cap, a ten‑year ordering window, larger landers, and support for lunar‑night power and sample return. The agency aims to begin monthly uncrewed lunar deliveries as early as next year,...
April 2, 2026 Quick Space Links
A daily roundup highlights several space industry updates, from Orion’s crew‑toilet functioning after an early glitch to Japan’s Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) spacecraft arriving at Tanegashima for a 2026 Phobos sample‑return mission. It also notes Amazon’s stalled acquisition of Globalstar,...
1969 NASA Relied Solely on Sealed Fairchild Chip
And it was done in 1969 using a Fairchild semiconductor chip. As I have heard the story, NASA had to chose between either manual navigation or automatic navigation, because the chips had to in a sealed system to avoid moisture...
NASA Marks 10th Crewed TLI Since 1968
That is NASA’s 10th crewed translunar injection burn since 1968. TLI is the quintessential American maneuver.
Moving Target Indication, Orbital Warfare Among Areas Needing Increased Investment, Space Force Official Says
U.S. Space Force Lt. Gen. Dennis Bythewood told a Mitchell Institute forum that the defense industrial base must receive more funding for moving‑target indication, launch infrastructure, orbital warfare, and positioning, navigation and timing (PNT). He emphasized the need to expand...
Orbital AI Data Centers Soon Offer Unlimited, Low‑Cost Compute
Very interesting: The business case for orbital AI data centers appears to close. Near-continuous solar power + falling launch costs = Compute unconstrained by terrestrial limits. AI inference capacity will expand massively, and the marginal cost of intelligence falls. 🛰️⚡🤖
NatGeo Captures Artemis II Launch in 2,000 Fps
Just 1,500 feet (457 m) from the Artemis II launch, @NatGeo deployed special high-resolution, slow-motion camera to record the blast-off in jaw-dropping detail at 2,000 frames per second. https://t.co/fbUevVtgz4
The Fault
Yesterday, NASA’s Artemis II mission lifted off with four astronauts, marking the first crewed lunar‑orbit flight since the Apollo era. The launch captured worldwide attention, but media coverage quickly shifted to President Trump’s unrelated television appearance and policy remarks. Despite political...
Artemis II Shines; Credit Goes to Michoud Assembly Facility
The Artemis II is undeniably badass. But can we take a moment to appreciate the Michoud Assembly Facility? https://t.co/aulWNkbYTR
Artemis II Launch Reveals SRB Staging and Early Moonrise
NASA has posted rocket cam views from the launch of Artemis II. Here's SRB staging and the Moonrise the crew observed at T+5 minutes. https://t.co/paJDONlg0a https://t.co/M9lkXnDjHu
Former Sierra Space CEO Tom Vice to Lead Astrion
Tom Vice, former Sierra Space chief executive, has been appointed CEO and executive chair of Huntsville‑based defense contractor Astrion. The company also named former Lockheed Martin Space vice president Eric Brown as president of space operations and ex‑RTX executive Conn...
SpaceX's IPO Valuation Skyrockets at Astronomical Multiples
SpaceX trying to go public at 80x forward sales, 500x forward earnings, and 125x forward EV/EBITDA multiple https://t.co/rk6SKuODJy
Space Stocks Rally Ahead of Anticipated SpaceX IPO
Space sector seems to be heating up in anticipation of SpaceX IPO. Buy the rumor sell the news? https://t.co/sbYe78s3xY
Fine, I'll Do A Lunar Land Acknowledgement
NASA launched Artemis II on Wednesday, sending three Americans and one Canadian on the first crewed lunar flyby since 1972. The mission will travel up to 250,000 miles, marking the first step toward a sustainable Moon presence. Simultaneously, the Navajo Nation has...
Amazonleo Calls SpaceX Safety Concerns Disingenuous, Promises Response
.@Amazonleo to @FCC: @SpaceX concerns about safety of our orbit-insertion altitude are disingenuous, but we'll address them anyway. @Arianespace @ulalaunch @blueorigin @NASA @SpaceNav2.https://t.co/thBEYhMtho https://t.co/4TA3hcqlU6
Even Veteran Astronaut Awed by Upcoming Lunar Mission
I’ve flown in space four times but still can’t imagine what these extraordinary humans are going to experience on their mission around the moon. https://t.co/fgQER6Vx6S
Optical Terminals Still a Bottleneck in Pentagon’s Proliferated Constellation
On Oct. 15, Lockheed Martin launched 21 Space Development Agency Tracking Layer Tranche 1 satellites, each carrying three laser communication terminals (OCTs) instead of the planned four due to a supply shortfall. Tesat‑Spacecom delivered 42 terminals while CACI supplied only 21,...
Sovereignty in Orbit: Can National Laws Govern Global Space Markets?
National space laws provide the licensing backbone for launches, spectrum, and remote‑sensing, but they cannot alone resolve cross‑border disputes that arise from global satellite constellations, orbital debris, and lunar‑resource activities. The Outer Space Treaty remains the legal floor, tying private...
Astroscale and Exotrail to Co-Develop Servicing Mission
Japanese satellite‑life‑extension specialist Astroscale and French launch‑service firm Exotrail have signed a contract to co‑develop a low‑Earth‑orbit de‑orbiting mission, aiming for operational capability by 2030. The partnership combines Exotrail’s SpaceVan vehicle with Astroscale’s capture system and proximity‑operations expertise. The agreement...
In-Orbit Logistics Companies Call for Clearer Demand Signals From Gov
Industry leaders at a SATShow Week panel warned that demand for in‑orbit inspection, repair, refueling and de‑orbit services will surge over the next five to ten years as Low‑Earth Orbit becomes increasingly congested. The Space Development Agency (SDA) highlighted a...
ArkEdge Space to Work With ABIT For IoT Service Rollout
ArkEdge Space and Japan’s ABIT Corporation have signed an MOU to co‑develop wide‑area IoT solutions and satellite communication equipment. The collaboration merges ArkEdge’s low‑power, long‑range satellite network—validated on 18 in‑orbit satellites—with ABIT’s ground‑side device design, mass‑production and protocol expertise. ArkEdge...
Haters Misjudge SLS: Not That Old, Still Flexible
Haters be like: SLS is so old it was made before HD cameras, and so inflexible it can’t be upgraded.
The New Rubin Telescope Discovers over 11,000 New Asteroids in First Observations
The Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile has cataloged over 11,000 previously unknown asteroids during its first 1.5 months of operation, including 33 newly identified near‑Earth objects (NEOs). The survey also recorded roughly one million observations of more than 80,000...
Northwestel Secures Multi-Year Telesat Lightspeed Deal for Rural Broadband
Canada's @northwestel signs multi-year contract for @Telesat Lightspeed capacity, part of Telesat's CAD 600M ($432M) capacity pool agreement w/ Canada government to reduce costs for rural broadband access. Northwestel coverage map: https://t.co/ITYDkWqUS1
Artemis Going to the "Moon" -- Again??
NASA launched Artemis II on April 1, a crewed test flight that will circle the Moon rather than land. The mission’s primary goal is to validate Orion’s life‑support, navigation and deep‑space systems ahead of future surface missions. While some observers question the...
ITU Orders Oman to Refile Extension Request in July
.@ITUradiocomms tells Oman to re-file its deadline-extension request in July after rebuffing latest appeal given further difficulties in finding place-holder sat. @Infinite_Orbits @GoToImpulse @AirbusSpace @Astranis @epicaerospace. https://t.co/ACUdV05KDF https://t.co/uCRF89FYZJ
Starlink's $35 Fee Challenges Broadband Affordability Goals
Question for @elonmusk: How do you expect state broadband affordability laws and the federal $42.45 billion BEAD program to succeed if you keep charging $35 for a monthly a @Starlink plan? https://t.co/NqXTOLBbYQ
ISED Extends Telesat’s Use of Ku-Band for Broadcasting Services
Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) has approved an extension of Telesat’s use of the extended Ku (xKu) band for direct‑to‑home (DTH) broadcasting until November 2039. The decision keeps Shaw Direct’s service, operated by Rogers, on air for another decade, reversing...
L3Harris Taps Mercury Systems for High-Capacity Data Storage on SDA Tranche 3 Satellites
On April 2, 2026, Mercury Systems won a contract from L3Harris Technologies to provide advanced solid‑state data recorders for the Space Development Agency’s Tranche 3 Tracking Layer. The SSDRs are the highest‑capacity, radiation‑tolerant units in a 3U VPX form factor, delivering...
Space Stocks Could Surge 100x if Mars Migration Spikes
At what point do space stocks all pump 100x as more and more people decide they would rather live on Mars than on Earth? 😅😅
Artemis II Begins TLI Burn, Reaching Lunar Distance
The Artemis II Integrity spacecraft is now coasting downwards and will reach perigee of about 195 km late on Apr 2. At 2349:50 UTC it will make the TLI (Trans-Lunar Injection) burn, a 388 m/s burn lasting 5m51s to raise...
Amazon Weighs a Deal to Boost Its Satellite Internet Ambitions. Why It's Worthy Pursuit
Amazon is in talks to acquire satellite operator Globalstar, a move that would expand its fledgling Leo internet‑from‑space service. Leo currently runs about 200 low‑Earth‑orbit satellites, far fewer than SpaceX’s Starlink network of over 10,000 satellites and 10 million users. The...
Amazon in $9‑11 B Talks to Acquire Globalstar, Escalating Satellite Broadband Race
Amazon is negotiating a purchase of Globalstar valued between $9 billion and $11 billion, a move that would bolster its Leo low‑Earth‑orbit constellation and directly challenge SpaceX’s Starlink. The deal faces a hurdle: Apple’s 20% stake in Globalstar, which will require separate...
AT&T, FirstNet Support Comms for NASA's Artemis II Mission Around the Moon
AT&T is supplying connectivity and on‑site support for NASA’s Artemis II mission, enabling near‑Earth and deep‑space communications as the Orion crew circles the Moon. The carrier has upgraded its network and positioned teams at key NASA facilities, while its FirstNet public‑safety...
Roscosmos Chooses Modern Start‑1M as Light‑Weight Launcher
Roskosmos now positions Start-1M vehicle, (converted from Topol-M ICBM) as its prime candidate for a light-weight launcher through the Novy Start venture. Compare it to the Start-1 vehicle from the 1990s, based on previous-generation Topol. Context: https://t.co/qfFQGn2e0c https://t.co/rP18aP5xVL
Follow Artemis II’s Progress with This Web Dashboard ↦
Accessibility advocate Jakob Rosin launched a web dashboard to monitor Artemis II. The tool pulls live NASA telemetry, showing speed, position, an event timeline, and an audio radar. It offers a cleaner mobile experience than NASA’s official tracker, though it omits...
Artemis 2 TLI Burn Approaches: Updated Mission Timeline
Timeline of Artemis 2 key events (in Mission Elapsed Time) is in NASA's press kit. https://t.co/dKNkKadt10 NASA is posting updates on the Artemis blog. https://t.co/WeDPP3en7T TLI burn is next major event ~7:35 pm ET today (1d1h37s post-launch) https://t.co/kQH3BiJIJG
Private Control of Space Infrastructure: Should One Company Have This Much Influence?
SpaceX now controls launch services, Starlink broadband, crew transport to the ISS, and key defense contracts, making it a de‑facto infrastructure provider across multiple space layers. The company earned this dominance through rapid iteration, vertical integration and aggressive pricing, not...
Chinese Satellite with Robotic 'Octopus Arm' Passes Key Refueling Test in Orbit — Making Longer-Lived Space Assets More Likely
China’s experimental Hukeda‑2 satellite demonstrated a major in‑orbit refueling capability by using its octopus‑like robotic arm to dock with a target port on the same spacecraft. The test, conducted on 24 March, marks the first self‑docking refuel maneuver since the Shijian‑25...
Artemis II Prioritizes Practical Gains Over Cultural Iconic Impact
Artemis II probably will not have a profound cultural impact like Apollo 8, and that's totally fine. We're not trying to win hearts and minds this time, but to have carts and mines. https://t.co/kBHD2sshu1
US Space Force Confirms Russian Starlink Satellites Stay Near Rocket
Thanks to the US Space Force, there is finally tracking data for the "Russian Starlink" group, indicating that all 16 satellites are in their nearly original orbit, a few kilometers above the third stage of the Soyuz-2 rocket, which had...
Moog Technology Successfully Steers Artemis II Launch
Moog Inc. supplied the critical actuation and motion‑control systems that steered NASA’s Artemis II launch, including thrust‑vector control, launch‑abort actuators, fluid‑control hardware, and mobile launch‑pad mechanisms. The SLS rocket lifted four astronauts from Kennedy Space Center, marking a record‑setting step toward...
Progress MS-35 Cargo Ship Heads to Baikonur for Sep 9 Launch
Progress MS-35 cargo ship, with a projected launch date of September 9, is on its way to Baikonur Cosmodrome after completion of assembly, according to Roskosmos. Context: https://t.co/kJIE9Wqspo https://t.co/pmHoAslwPB
Does Artemis II Prove Space Tourism Might Soon Take Off?
Artemis II’s April 1 launch delivered the first crewed lunar flyby since Apollo, underscoring NASA’s push for a 2028 Moon landing. SpaceX has filed confidentially for an IPO that could value the company above $1 trillion, the largest market debut ever. Virgin Galactic...
SpaceX Secures SDA-4 Launch Task Order From U.S. Space Force
SpaceX has secured a task order worth more than $178 million from the U.S. Space Force Systems Command to conduct two National Security Space Launch Phase 3, Lane 1 missions in fiscal 2027. The launches will occur from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station...