Failing to Pass a Defense Budget Is a Self-Inflicted Wound in the Space Race
The White House budget proposes a historic $70 billion allocation for the U.S. Space Force, more than doubling its current $40 billion funding. A continuing resolution (CR), however, would slash the budget back to roughly $28 billion, halting new programs and capping hiring. The article warns that such a funding freeze would impede rapid development of counter‑ASAT, hypersonic, and resilient satellite capabilities. With Russia and China accelerating anti‑satellite threats, the author urges Congress to pass an on‑time budget to preserve space superiority.
PhilSA Warns vs Chinese Rocket Debris Near Palawan
The Philippine Space Agency confirmed that China’s Long March 7 rocket launched Monday and warned that debris could fall into Philippine waters. PhilSA identified three potential impact zones: 34 nautical miles from Bajo de Masinloc, 97 NM from Cabra Island, and 130 NM from Busuanga, Palawan....
Study Identifies Candidate Cryovolcanic Regions on Ganymede for ESA’s JUICE Mission
A new study has pinpointed twelve candidate cryovolcanic regions on Ganymede, Jupiter’s largest moon, to guide ESA’s upcoming JUICE mission. The research combines high‑resolution imaging from past Galileo flybys with thermal modeling to identify surface features consistent with past or...
Why the $1.8 Trillion Global Space Economy Market Size Report Overstates the Space Market
The World Economic Forum and McKinsey’s 2024 report projects a $1.8 trillion global space economy by 2035, but the figure blends direct space‑sector revenue with "reach" revenues earned by unrelated industries that use space‑enabled services. Direct supplier sales were roughly $613 billion...
NASA’s STORIE Mission and the Science of Earth’s Ring Current
NASA’s Storm Time O⁺ Ring current Imaging Evolution (STORIE) mission is slated for launch on May 12 2026 aboard SpaceX’s CRS‑34 cargo flight. After robotic installation on the ISS Columbus module, the instrument will image Earth’s ring current from an outside‑the‑station perspective...
A Skeptical Perspective on the Race for the Moon Between China and America: Who Cares?
The article questions the relevance of the U.S.–China lunar race, noting that public enthusiasm is modest—only about 12% of Americans view a crewed Moon landing as a top NASA priority. It outlines the Artemis program’s hardware achievements and its dependence...
Mengzhou-1 and Long March 10A: China’s Moon Rocket and Capsule Prepare for First Flight
China is preparing the Mengzhou‑1 mission, a test flight of its next‑generation crew capsule, to launch aboard the Long March 10A rocket in 2026. The flight will dock with the Tiangong space station, deliver supplies, and return, providing a critical orbital validation...
Space-Enabled Applications: A Comprehensive Guide to the Services Powered by Space Systems
The guide outlines how satellite‑derived services—communications, positioning, timing, and Earth observation—have become essential infrastructure across consumer, enterprise, and government sectors. It cites the World Economic Forum and McKinsey forecast that the global space economy could expand from $630 billion in 2023...
Satellite Services for Parametric Insurance Market Analysis 2026
Earth observation is reshaping parametric insurance by providing satellite‑derived triggers for drought, flood, fire, and renewable‑energy risks. The African Risk Capacity’s $5.4 million payout to Mozambique after the 2024/25 drought and Cyclone Chido illustrated how a measured index can release funds instantly,...
Satellite Repair and Refueling Architecture for Upgradable and Orbit-Changing Spacecraft
The satellite industry is shifting toward serviceable designs that incorporate standardized docking ports, modular bus units, and onboard software that permits authenticated upgrades. The 2020 Mission Extension Vehicle docking with Intelsat IS‑901 demonstrated that robotic refueling and repair are feasible when...
China Launches Tianzhou Freighter to Tiangong-3 Station
China launched its tenth Tianzhou cargo freighter to the Tiangong‑3 space station on May 11, 2026, using a Long March 7 rocket from Wenchang. The agency plans to keep the vehicle in orbit for a full year, aiming to reduce the frequency of...
NASA’s Spacecraft Is About to Slingshot Past Mars — and the View Is Already Breathtaking
On 15 May NASA’s Psyche spacecraft will skim 2,800 miles above Mars at roughly 12,300 mph, using the planet’s gravity to bend its trajectory toward the metal‑rich asteroid Psyche. The flyby, a propellant‑saving maneuver for the solar‑electric‑propulsion craft, follows a 12‑hour thruster burn...
China Launches Tianzhou-10 Cargo Spacecraft to Resupply Tiangong Station
China launched the Tianzhou-10 cargo spacecraft on May 11, 2026, using a Long March‑7 rocket from Hainan. The vehicle will dock with the Tiangong space station to deliver consumables, propellant, scientific payloads and an extravehicular spacesuit. This mission is the fifth...
NBTC Requests Longer Suspension of Satellite Orbital Slot
Thailand’s National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has asked the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to extend the suspension of frequency use for the 119.5° East orbital slot until September 30 2027. The extension is needed because satellite operator Thaicom, through its subsidiary...
Vast Signs Deal with Lithuania
Vast Space announced a memorandum of understanding with Lithuania's Innovation Agency to explore joint scientific research on the International Space Station or Vast's own Haven‑1 commercial station, slated for a 2027 launch. The partnership also calls for educational programs and...
Rocket Lab Reports Growing Demand for Commercial Space Products. Stock Surges 34%
Rocket Lab posted $63.7 million in launch revenue and $136.7 million from its space‑systems segment for the first quarter of 2026, totaling $200.4 million and surpassing Wall Street forecasts. The company’s backlog more than doubled to $2.2 billion and it announced the acquisition of...
Orbex Was Burning £2 Million a Month Before Collapse, Administrators Reveal
Orbex, the Scottish launch‑vehicle developer, entered administration in February 2026 after burning roughly £2 million ($2.5 M) each month, accumulating about £73.3 million ($91.6 M) in losses. The firm had secured more than £130 million ($162 M) in grant and equity financing, including £29 million from the...
Why the Dust on the Moon Is Sharper than Broken Glass and How that Single Fact Is Forcing NASA to...
NASA’s Artemis program is confronting a fundamental engineering obstacle: lunar dust that is sharper than broken glass. Decades after Apollo astronauts suffered abrasions, respiratory irritation, and equipment failures, studies show that micrometeorite‑shaped regolith particles can cut through Kevlar, jam seals,...
Startup Wants to Run AI Inference From Space
Orbital Inc., a Los Angeles startup backed by Andreessen Horowitz, announced plans to build a constellation of low‑Earth‑orbit satellites that run AI inference workloads. The company envisions up to 10,000 fridge‑sized satellites, each delivering roughly 100 kW of solar‑powered compute via GPU...
The Mangled Remains of Probes Sent to Venus May Still Be There
A new study challenges the long‑held belief that Venus’s extreme heat and pressure would instantly destroy any hardware that lands there. By recreating Venusian conditions in NASA’s GEER lab, researchers found that at least seven of the twenty probes sent...
James Webb Telescope Zooms in on a Black Hole that Could Reveal the Truth About 'Little Red Dots'
Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope and archival Chandra data have identified an X‑ray‑bright object, 3DHST‑AEGIS‑12014, that closely resembles the mysterious "little red dots" (LRDs) seen in the early universe. The source, dubbed the X‑ray dot (XRD), emits strong...
Declassified Apollo 12 Images Show UFOs on the Moon — Space Photo of the Week
Declassified Department of Defense files released May 8 include Apollo 12 photographs that appear to show unexplained lights over the lunar horizon. Astronaut Alan Bean reported seeing flashes while descending to the surface, describing them as particles sailing off into space. NASA...
What Happens When Something Breaks on the International Space Station
When a component fails on the International Space Station, the response begins with alarm detection, sensor verification, and isolation before any repair is attempted. Astronauts work hand‑in‑hand with ground controllers, robots, spare parts stored on‑board, and cargo vehicles to execute...
Apollo Flight Director and Former Director of Johnson Space Center Gerry Griffin to Keynote at ISDC
The National Space Society announced that former NASA Flight Director Gerry Griffin will deliver the keynote at the 44th International Space Development Conference in McLean, Virginia, June 4‑7, 2026. Griffin, who guided every Apollo mission from Apollo 7 through Apollo 17 and...
MDA Space Continues Work on Gateway Robotic Arm
MDA Space announced it will continue development of Canadarm3, Canada’s robotic contribution to NASA’s lunar Gateway, despite NASA’s recent decision to cancel the Gateway in favor of a lunar base. The company is executing a CAD 1 billion (≈ $730 million) contract for design...
NATO and Japan Weigh Shared Use of Satellite Launch Sites
NATO is exploring shared use of satellite launch sites with Japan under its Starlift initiative, which seeks rapid replacement of disabled satellites. The proposal would give NATO access to Japanese launch facilities such as the H‑IIA complex. Japanese officials view...
Rush Rescue Mission for NASA's $500M Space Telescope Passes Key Milestone
NASA’s aging Swift space telescope, a $500 million gamma‑ray observatory launched in 2004, is slated to re‑enter Earth’s atmosphere later this year unless its orbit is boosted. A commercial rescue mission, dubbed Link and built by Katalyst Space Technologies, has just...
NASA Is Set to Begin Training with a Prototype of Blue Origin's Crew Moon Lander
NASA announced that a full‑scale prototype of Blue Origin’s crew cabin for its Mark 2 lunar lander has arrived at Johnson Space Center. The 15‑foot‑tall mock‑up will be used for human‑in‑the‑loop training, including mission scenario rehearsals, suit checkouts, and simulated Moonwalks....
What Would Happen If Voyager 1 Crashed on an Alien Planet
Voyager 1, the farthest human‑made object, continues drifting through interstellar space with only two instruments still operating as of May 2026. A collision with an alien world is astronomically unlikely because planets occupy minuscule targets in the vastness between stars. If a...
Bell-Northern Research, Nortel, and Canada’s Space Satellite Programs
Bell‑Northern Research (BNR) and its successor Nortel were pivotal telecom innovators, not satellite builders, in Canada’s space communications era. Their work linked satellite links to telephone networks through digital switching, traffic simulation, and network architecture studies. Northern Telecom also served...
Viasat Wins $307 Million Marine Corps Satellite Communications Contract
Viasat has been awarded a five‑year, $307 million contract to provide satellite communications for the U.S. Marine Corps under the MECS2 program. The deal, awarded by the Space Systems Command’s Commercial Space Office, retains Viasat after it won a recompete, despite...
Katalyst Completes Final Ground Testing of Its Swift Rescue Spacecraft
Katalyst announced it has completed the final ground‑testing campaign for its Swift rescue spacecraft, LINK. The tests included vibration, thermal‑vacuum, and ion‑thruster firings at NASA Goddard and an Arizona facility. Integration onto a Northrop Grumman Pegasus launch vehicle is slated for...
Rocket Lab Has Signed An Agreement To Purchase Motiv Space Systems
Rocket Lab announced on May 7, 2026 that it has signed an agreement to acquire California‑based Motiv Space Systems, with the transaction slated to close in the second quarter of 2026. The deal will rebrand Motiv as Rocket Lab Robotics and bring...
NASA's Twin Voyager Spacecraft Are Very Low on Power After Nearly 50 Years. How Long Can They Keep Going?
NASA’s twin Voyager probes, launched in 1977, are now operating on roughly half their original 470‑watt power output, leaving only a few instruments active. A risky engineering maneuver dubbed the “Big Bang,” scheduled for mid‑2026, will swap heater devices to...
Muon Space Scales Workforce Following Transition to Constellation-Scale Manufacturing
Muon Space, fresh from a $146 million Series B round and high‑value defense contracts, is scaling its workforce to shift from custom satellite builds to a mass‑production "Mission Foundry" model. The company opened a 130,000‑square‑foot San Jose facility capable of delivering up...
T-Mobile Teams Up With Starlink to Improve Its Internet Service
T‑Mobile has launched SuperBroadband, a business internet service that fuses its nationwide 5G network with SpaceX’s Starlink satellite broadband. The hybrid solution provides automatic failover between terrestrial and satellite links, delivering continuous connectivity even in remote ZIP codes or during...
Internet Apocalypse: Can a Solar Storm Actually Disconnect the World?
Scientists warn that the 2025‑2026 solar maximum could trigger geomagnetically induced currents that damage submarine fiber‑optic cables, fragmenting the global internet. Research originating from a 2021 SIGCOMM paper shows that repeaters’ power conductors act as massive antennas for solar storms....
Life Aboard the International Space Station: How Astronauts Eat, Sleep, Work, and Stay Healthy
Astronauts aboard the International Space Station live on a tightly coordinated 24‑hour schedule that blends scientific research, system maintenance, exercise, meals, sleep, and personal time. Microgravity forces redesign of everyday actions—food is packaged to avoid crumbs, water forms floating blobs,...
NASA Keeps Track As Mexico City Sinks Into the Ground
NASA’s NISAR satellite is now delivering weekly, centimeter‑scale radar maps that track Mexico City’s ongoing subsidence. The capital, built on a former lake bed, is sinking up to 2 cm per month as groundwater extraction compacts soft clay soils. NISAR’s ability...
Blue Moon Mark 1 Live: Blue Origin Begins NASA Center Lander Tests
Blue Origin has started physical testing of its first lunar lander, Blue Moon Mark 1, at multiple NASA facilities across the United States. The test programme is intended to verify the vehicle’s propulsion, navigation and landing systems ahead of a cargo‑delivery mission slated...
USS Cobia – Its History and Future
Robert Zimmerman’s “Genesis: The Story of Apollo 8” recounts the historic 1968 mission that first took humans around another world. The book is now available in hardback, paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats, with autographed copies priced at $60 for hardback and...
Booster 19 Completes Static Fire as Ship 39 Prepares for Rollout
SpaceX successfully performed a full‑duration, full‑thrust static fire of Booster 19’s 33 Raptor 3 engines on May 7, 2026, marking the first liftoff‑level test on the new Pad 2. The test demonstrated the upgraded deluge system’s ability to manage the immense energy release, while...
Swift Reboost Mission Completes Environmental Tests
NASA and Katalyst Space announced that the Link spacecraft, built to grapple and re‑boost the aging Swift gamma‑ray observatory, has cleared a full suite of environmental tests at Goddard. The tests included launch‑vibration, thermal‑vacuum cycling, robotic‑arm deployment and electric‑thruster firings....
This Major Airline Is Finally Letting You Make Calls at 30,000 Feet
British Airways has partnered with SpaceX’s Starlink to install satellite‑based broadband on its fleet, enabling free voice and video calls at cruising altitude. The rollout, involving structural modifications and software integration, will span two years and deliver speeds up to...
Greek Government Taps Planet for New Satellite Data Deal
Planet Labs Germany has landed a two‑year, seven‑figure contract—estimated between $1 million and $9 million—with the Greek government. The agreement, brokered through ESA, provides near‑daily medium‑resolution imagery, high‑resolution tasking, and a decade of PlanetScope data to support Greece’s National Satellite Space Project....
Operational AI Is Hitting the Limits of Earth Observation Data
AI models are moving from experimental Earth Observation (EO) datasets to operational deployments that must function across diverse geographies, seasons, and sensor changes. However, satellite imagery suffers from calibration drift, uneven revisit schedules, and fragmented data supply, forcing users to...
Brian Hughes Returns to NASA in Charge of Kennedy and Wallops Launch Operations
Brian Hughes, a former Trump campaign Florida director and brief NASA chief of staff, has been appointed senior director of launch operations overseeing Kennedy Space Center and Wallops Flight Facility. He will not serve as center director but will report...
Axiom Readies for Yearlong Spacesuit Qualification Testing
NASA’s Artemis program relies on Axiom Space to deliver its next‑generation xEMU lunar suits. Axiom has secured a $228.5 million task order to build four suits for Artemis IV and is beginning a year‑long qualification campaign that includes vibration, thermal‑vacuum and lander‑interface...
Spaceflight Leaves Astronauts' Joints Unchanged After 18 Days on ISS, Early Data Suggest
Researchers at National Jewish Health examined three astronauts before and after an 18‑day Axiom Mission 4 stay on the ISS, using musculoskeletal ultrasound to assess cartilage, synovial fluid, tendons and ligaments in hips, knees and ankles. The pilot study found...
VanEck Launches 'WARP' Space ETF to Tap Into Exploration and Satellite Boom
VanEck has launched the WARP space ETF, trading under the ticker WARP, to give U.S. investors exposure to the rapidly expanding space sector. The fund tracks the MarketVector Space Index, which focuses on companies involved in launch systems, satellite infrastructure,...