Cracked Bedrock on Mars?
A high‑resolution image from NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, taken on Dec 3 2025, shows an unusual flat‑rimmed crater in Mawrth Vallis surrounded by two 50‑70‑foot mesas and a network of cracks. The cracked terrain resembles dried mud, indicating a long‑standing dry environment in Mars’ tropical latitudes. Mawrth Vallis, a 400‑mile channel once considered for ESA’s Franklin rover landing, is thought to have once funneled water or glacial melt toward a hypothesized northern ocean. The image highlights both the region’s past fluvial activity and its current desiccated state.
UK Develops Robotic Lab to Study Moon and Mars Rocks
The University of Leicester’s Space Park has unveiled a Double‑Walled Isolator (DWI), an ultra‑clean robotic laboratory designed to store, handle and analyse lunar and Martian samples without contamination. NASA and ESA officials toured the facility and observed the system unpack,...
Cygnus Heads to the ISS as SpaceX Keeps up the Pace
Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus NG‑24 is slated for an April 8 launch from Cape Canaveral, carrying over 11,000 lb of supplies, experiments, and hardware to the International Space Station’s Expedition 73 crew. The spacecraft will be captured by the station’s Canadarm2 and later docked...
SmallSat Europe Speaker Focus: Dr. Ane Aanesland, ThrustMe
ThrustMe celebrated its 100th iodine electric propulsion system in orbit in June 2025, marking a shift from prototype to industrial scale. The solid‑iodine thrusters eliminate bulky xenon tanks, cutting mass and cost for small‑sat manufacturers. The company has surged past 200...
How the Crew of Artemis II Reacted to Seeing the Moon up Close
Artemis II’s crew performed a seven‑hour flyby of the Moon, becoming the farthest humans from Earth since the Apollo era. The spacecraft lost contact for about 45 minutes as it passed behind the lunar far side, giving the astronauts a rare...
Moog Highlights Growing Satellite Bus Capabilities with Full‑Scale METEOR Reveal at Space Symposium
Moog Inc. unveiled a full‑scale model of its METEOR satellite bus at the 41st Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, highlighting a portfolio of scalable spacecraft platforms. The METEOR demonstrator showcases adaptable payload interfaces, flexible power systems, and high‑delta‑V propulsion designed...
FOSSA Targets Japan’s Defense Market as Larger Smallsats Expand Capabilities
Spanish startup FOSSA Systems is entering Japan’s defense market through a distribution deal with conglomerate Kanematsu and opening a Tokyo office. The company has moved from sub‑kilogram picosatellites to larger 3U, 6U cubesats and is developing a 75‑150 kg microsatellite platform...
Artemis 2 Flight Day 6: Lunar Flyby Coverage Begins as Orion Prepares for the Far Side
Flight Day 6 of NASA’s Artemis 2 mission featured a live lunar‑flyby broadcast as the Orion crew, including CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen, approached the Moon’s near side. At 1:57 p.m. EDT the crew set a new human‑distance record, surpassing Apollo 13’s 400,171 km (248,655 mi) mark. Real‑time...
Q&A: U.S. House Space Subcommittee Chair on Extending ISS, Fostering Commercial LEO Market
U.S. Rep. Mike Haridopolos, chair of the House Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee, discussed extending the International Space Station (ISS) beyond 2030 and fostering a commercial low‑Earth‑orbit (LEO) market. NASA’s budget can only fund one private LEO station, raising concerns about...
The Moon Astronauts Just Broke the Record for the Farthest Any Human Has Ever Traveled From Earth
Five days after launch from Kennedy Space Center, NASA’s Artemis 2 crew broke the record for the farthest distance any human has traveled from Earth, reaching 252,752 miles. The record surpasses Apollo 13’s 248,655‑mile apex set in 1970. During the lunar flyby...
Xoople Raises $130M to Build AI Earth Data Layer
Xoople announced a $130 million Series B round, bringing its total financing to $225 million and cementing its position as the most funded player in the nascent physical‑world intelligence space. After seven years of stealth development, the company will begin commercializing its AI‑ready...
NASA's Moon Ship and Rocket Seem to Be Working Well, so What About the Landers?
NASA’s Artemis program is accelerating its Human Landing System development by removing the near‑rectilinear halo orbit requirement, which reduces the delta‑V and propellant needed for lunar landers. SpaceX and Blue Origin have submitted revised proposals—Starship will dock with Orion in...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
As Rocket Launches Increase, They May Be Polluting the Skies
Rocket launches have surged, nearly tripling in the past five years to about 320 flights in 2025, driven largely by private megaconstellations like SpaceX’s Starlink. Researchers warn that exhaust—especially black carbon from kerosene‑based fuels and chlorine from solid boosters—accumulates in...
Monday Briefing: Can Human-Based Space Exploration Still Be Meaningful?
Artemis II’s four‑person crew will spend a brief period alone on the lunar far side, out of contact with Earth, marking the deepest human spaceflight since Apollo. During this blackout they will photograph regions of the Moon never seen by astronauts,...
Spacetech Startup SatLeo Labs Raises $2.2 Mn in Seed Round
SatLeo Labs, a spacetech startup focused on thermal satellite data, secured a $2.2 million seed round led by Unicorn India Ventures, bringing its total funding to $5.5 million. The capital will accelerate the development of its TAPAS‑1 thermal payload and expand its...
Ed Goes Extra-Terrestrial
Amazon and Tesla are planning massive low‑earth‑orbit (LEO) data‑centre satellite constellations, each targeting up to a million satellites. The UK boasts over a hundred firms capable of building satellite components, with expertise in radiation‑hard ICs, laser communications and thermal control....
Chief Data and Artificial Intelligence Officer for the United States Space Force, Chandra Donelson, Steps Away
Chandra Donelson, the first permanent Chief Data and Artificial Intelligence Officer for the United States Space Force, announced her resignation on April 3, 2026, ending a tenure that reshaped the service’s data strategy. She led the shift toward a data‑centric architecture that...
A Structural Analysis of the Space Economy: Horizontal and Vertical Markets
The global space economy reached roughly $626 billion in 2025, driven by a surge in satellite services and ground equipment that together exceed $260 billion annually. Horizontal markets—launch services, satellite manufacturing, ground infrastructure, and data platforms—supply the foundational layer used by dozens...
SpaceX Launch From Vandenberg at 7:41 Tonight, April 05
SpaceX scheduled a launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base at 7:41 p.m. PT on April 5, 2026. The mission is expected to carry a rideshare payload of multiple small satellites destined for a sun‑synchronous orbit. The launch window was chosen to maximize...
Bennu Sample Reveals How Water Flowed Through the Newly Forming Asteroid
A team led by Mehmet Yesiltas used nanoscale infrared and Raman spectroscopy to examine NASA's OSIRIS‑REx sample from asteroid Bennu, uncovering three chemically distinct domains at ~20 nm resolution. The domains—aliphatic‑rich, carbonate‑rich, and nitrogen‑bearing organic‑rich—show that water migrated through the asteroid...
Maximum Theoretical Falcon 9 Launch Rate for SpaceX in 2026
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 launch cadence in 2026 is bounded by pad capacity rather than booster availability, capping the theoretical maximum at roughly 155‑165 flights. The company’s own guidance points to a likely range of 140‑145 launches, while a worst‑case scenario could...
Planet Labs Imposes Indefinite Blackout on Iran Satellite Imagery at U.S. Request
On April 5, 2026 Planet Labs announced an indefinite suspension of satellite imagery covering Iran and surrounding Middle East conflict zones, following a direct request from the U.S. national‑security team. The blackout, retroactive to March 9, replaces the previous 14‑day delay...
NASA’s Fiscal Year 2027: Thumbs Up…Thumbs Down?
The White House’s FY 2027 budget request proposes a 23% cut to NASA’s overall funding, slashing the agency’s budget to roughly $11 billion. Within that, the Science Mission Directorate would be reduced by 47%, dropping from $7.25 billion to about $3.9 billion. The Planetary...
