The Sun's Red Dwarf Neighbors Provide Clues to Origins of Carbon and Oxygen
Astronomers led by Darío González Picos measured rare carbon‑13 and oxygen‑18 isotopes in 32 nearby M‑dwarf stars using high‑resolution spectra originally collected for exoplanet hunting. The precise isotope ratios reveal that stars with lower metallicity contain fewer of these minor isotopes, confirming long‑standing predictions of galactic chemical evolution models. By repurposing archival data from the Canada‑France Hawai‘i Telescope, the team demonstrated a new way to trace the cosmic history of carbon and oxygen production. The findings deepen our understanding of how essential life‑forming elements are forged and dispersed across the Milky Way.
NASA Awards Global Modeling, Assimilation Support Contract
NASA has awarded ADNET Systems, Inc. a five‑year, cost‑plus‑fixed‑fee contract to provide global modeling and data assimilation support for the Goddard Space Flight Center. The indefinite‑delivery/indefinite‑quantity agreement caps at roughly $84 million and begins on March 15, 2026. ADNET will maintain the Goddard...
After Review of 60 Programs Last Year, 2026 Is SSC’s Year of Execution, Maj. Gen Purdy Says
The Space Systems Command (SSC) reviewed 60 programs in 2023, applying new acquisition directives that emphasize fixed‑price contracts, smaller satellites, and three‑year fielding cycles. Acting service acquisition executive Maj. Gen. Stephen Purdy says 2026 will be the "year of execution,"...
Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin Will Refly Booster on Next Launch of Powerful New Glenn Rocket
Blue Origin announced that its New Glenn NG‑3 mission, slated for late February, will reuse the first‑stage booster from the NG‑2 flight that delivered NASA’s ESCAPADE probes. The launch will place AST SpaceMobile’s large Block 2 BlueBird satellite into low‑Earth orbit, advancing...
Spire to Support AiDash With Weather Intelligence Data
Spire Global has signed a weather‑intelligence agreement with AiDash, a vegetation‑risk and grid‑monitoring provider. The partnership embeds Spire’s high‑resolution satellite‑derived forecasts into AiDash’s AI‑driven outage and wildfire prediction platform for North American utilities. By merging detailed weather data with vegetation...
AFRL Selects Aalyria for Space Data Network Experimentation Program
The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory’s RAPID program has selected Aalyria’s Spacetime software for its Space Data Network Experimentation (SDNX) initiative. The effort, part of the STAR‑FISH fast‑track, will evaluate how Spacetime can orchestrate hybrid constellations across space, air, land,...
Red, Green Light Show
NASA released a striking photograph taken from the International Space Station on Jan. 19, 2026, showing a green and red aurora streaming across the horizon above Europe. The ISS was orbiting 262 miles over the Mediterranean at roughly 10:02 p.m. local time when the...
Filling the Manufacturing Gap: How SCCI Revived a Critical Canadian Capability
Space Credibility Canada Inc. (SCCI), a 2023 startup built from former Leonardo DRS assets and staff, has re‑established Canada’s space‑qualified manufacturing capability. The firm specializes in low‑volume, high‑mix circuit card assembly and recently won a $2 million contract to supply 16...
A 13-Solar-Mass Star Just Vanished in Andromeda: What Happened?
Astronomers observed the yellow supergiant M31-2014-DS1 in Andromeda brighten in 2014 before fading completely by 2018, without the expected supernova explosion. Two recent studies offer competing explanations: a failed supernova that collapsed directly into a black hole, and a stellar...
The Essential Reading Series: Understanding Elon Musk
An article curates a selection of bestselling non‑fiction books that dissect Elon Musk’s role as a technologist, entrepreneur, and industrial leader. The list spans biographies, investigative reports, and industry analyses covering Tesla, SpaceX, and Musk’s broader influence on platform economics....
The Essential Reading Series: Asteroids
The Essential Reading Series introduces a curated list of ten nonfiction titles covering asteroid science, planetary defense, and space resource utilization. The selections range from practical guides on detection and deflection of near‑Earth objects, such as Carrie Nugent’s *Asteroid Hunters*...
The Essential Reading Series: Mars Exploration
The Essential Reading Series curates a selection of non‑fiction titles that chronicle Mars exploration from early telescopic observations to the latest rover missions. Highlights include insider accounts of Spirit, Opportunity, Curiosity, and Pathfinder, as well as broader histories and forward‑looking...
The Essential Reading Series: Earth Observation
The Essential Reading Series on Earth Observation compiles a curated selection of ten foundational remote‑sensing textbooks, ranging from introductory physics to advanced digital image analysis. Each title delves into core concepts such as sensor fundamentals, spectral interpretation, classification algorithms, and...
A Colossal Asteroid May Have Warped the Moon From the Inside Out
Chinese scientists analyzing basalt samples returned by Chang’e 6 have found an elevated potassium‑41 to potassium‑39 ratio in the South Pole–Aitken Basin. The isotopic anomaly points to massive volatile loss during the basin‑forming impact 4.2‑4.3 billion years ago. This loss likely depleted water...
This Startup Will Send 1,000 People’s Ashes to Space — Affordably — in 2027
Space Beyond, founded by former Blue Origin engineer Ryan Mitchell, announced its "Ashes to Space" program that will launch up to 1,000 people’s cremated remains on a CubeSat via a SpaceX Falcon 9 rideshare in October 2027. The service costs just $249...
Greenland Guidebook: Answers to Your Questions
Greenland is transitioning from a remote ice‑covered island to a strategic asset, driven by vast rare‑earth deposits, expanding mining projects, and its pivotal role in Arctic defense. The Kvanefjeld and Tanbreez sites host some of the world’s largest neodymium and...
AMS 2026 Hyperwall Schedule
NASA will host a Hyperwall storytelling series at the 106th American Meteorological Society meeting Jan. 26‑29, 2026, showcasing Earth‑science missions, space‑weather research, and new data‑access tools. Sessions feature experts discussing satellite‑derived precipitation, solar observations, aerosol monitoring, and the One Health...
From Lunar Nights to Martian Dust Storms: Why Batteries Struggle in Space
Space agencies are racing to establish permanent lunar bases and Mars outposts, but battery technology remains a critical weak point. Extreme temperature swings, intense radiation, and vacuum conditions cause conventional lithium‑ion cells to fracture, overheat, or degrade rapidly. Researchers are...
Halley's Comet Wrongly Named: 11th-Century English Monk Predates British Astronomer
Recent interdisciplinary research reveals that 11th‑century monk Eilmer of Malmesbury recorded two appearances of the comet now known as 1P/Halley—in 989 and again in 1066—centuries before Edmond Halley identified its 76‑year cycle. The observations, cited in William of Malmesbury’s chronicles,...
Multiwavelength Variability Reveals Dust Structure in Quasars
An international team analyzed optical, near‑infrared, and mid‑infrared variability of four quasars to map dust structures around their central black holes. By measuring inter‑band time delays, they derived a graphite‑to‑silicate particle size ratio of about 0.4, indicating graphite dominates near‑infrared...
Houston Texans Celebrate Upcoming Artemis 2 Mission | Space Photo of the Day for Jan. 23, 2025
On Jan. 4, 2026 the Houston Texans hosted a Space City Day celebration at NRG Stadium, featuring NASA‑dressed Johnson Space Center staff in bright orange Orion Crew Survival System suits. The event highlighted Artemis 2, NASA’s upcoming 10‑day crewed lunar flyby slated for...
Astrophysicists Discover Largest Sulfur-Containing Molecular Compound in Space
Astrophysicists at the Max Planck Institute and the Centro de Astrobiología have identified 2,5‑cyclohexadiene‑1‑thione (C₆H₆S), the largest sulfur‑bearing molecule ever detected in space, within the molecular cloud G+0.693–0.027 near the Milky Way’s centre. The molecule, a thirteen‑atom cyclic compound, was...
TESS Status Updates
NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) entered safe mode on Jan. 15, 2026 after its solar arrays failed to track the Sun during a slewing maneuver, causing a slow battery discharge. The spacecraft automatically protected itself and resumed normal science operations...
Jan. 23, 2003: Pioneer 10’s Last Words
Pioneer 10, launched in 1972, became the first spacecraft to fly past Jupiter and later crossed Saturn, Uranus and Neptune before entering interstellar space. After enduring severe radiation damage that darkened its optics and fried transistors, it continued its mission and...
Launch Operators Are the Rocket Fuel Required to Galvanize Spaceports in Europe
Europe is poised to launch satellites from its own mainland, with new spaceports at SaxaVord, Andøya and Esrange reshaping the continent’s launch landscape. The article argues that infrastructure alone is insufficient; a vibrant launch‑operator sector is essential to generate sustained...
House Appropriator Sees ‘Room for Improvement’ in NASA Funding for 2027
The House Commerce, Justice and Science subcommittee approved a $24.438 billion NASA budget for FY2026, overturning a proposed 25% cut. Science funding was lifted to $7.25 billion, nearly matching FY2025 levels, and STEM education dollars were restored. Rep. Grace Meng, the subcommittee’s...
The Essential Reading Series: NASA Artemis
The Essential Reading Series: NASA Artemis compiles curated book lists that break down the Artemis lunar program, Space Launch System, Orion spacecraft, and related technologies into plain‑language guides. It balances introductory overviews with deeper technical works, giving readers—from educators to...
Rocket Lab Faces Setback in Neutron Rocket Development After Stage 1 Tank Rupture
Rocket Lab disclosed on Jan 21 2026 that the Stage 1 propellant tank of its upcoming Neutron medium‑lift rocket ruptured during a hydrostatic pressure test at its Maryland facility. The failure adds to a series of schedule slips that have already moved the...
NASA’s Antarctic Balloon Fleet Hits Record Heights in the Search for Dark Matter
NASA’s Antarctic balloon program completed its latest long‑duration campaign, deploying four zero‑pressure balloons that floated above 100,000 feet for up to 25 days. The flagship flight focused on detecting rare antimatter particles that could signal dark‑matter interactions, while a companion balloon...
Türkiye Aims for the Stars as Antalya Prepares to Host World’s Biggest Space Congress
Turkey is set to host the International Astronautical Congress in Antalya from October 5‑9, 2026, drawing over 10,000 scientists, astronauts, and industry leaders. The event underscores Ankara’s broader strategy to translate its expanding space budget, new satellite and launch projects,...
Open Cosmos Launches First Telecom Sats
Open Cosmos launched the first two Ka‑band broadband satellites on a Rocket Lab Electron from New Zealand, marking its entry into the commercial sat‑com market. The launch follows a Liechtenstein‑issued Ka‑band license that enables high‑capacity, low‑latency data links. The company will...
Eastern Range Ready for Same Day Fueling of Space Launch System, Vulcan Rockets
The Eastern Range has successfully deconflicted resources to enable same‑day fueling of NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) and United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket on Feb. 2, 2026. The coordination includes shared GN2 pipelines and additional truck capacity to meet both missions’...
Drones and Satellites Can Measure Methane Emissions From Ruminants
A multinational research team has demonstrated that drones equipped with methane sensors, combined with flux‑tower wind data and hyperspectral satellite imagery, can accurately quantify methane emissions from African livestock, including cattle, goats, sheep, and camels. Test flights in Norway and...
Space Force’s Acquisition Arm Races to Rebuild Contracting Workforce After Civilian Cuts
Space Systems Command (SSC), the Space Force’s acquisition arm, is scrambling to rebuild its contracting workforce after shedding roughly 780 civilian staff – about 14% of its civilian headcount – during last year’s federal downsizing. The loss of contracting officers...
Colorado Springs Opposes Lawsuit to Keep Space Command HQ
Colorado’s Chamber & Economic Development Corp., along with the El Paso County Board and the Colorado Springs City Council, filed a brief opposing the state’s lawsuit aimed at keeping U.S. Space Command in Colorado. The lawsuit challenges former President Trump’s reversal...
Hubble Uncovers the Secret of Blue Straggler Stars that Defy Aging
The Hubble Space Telescope’s ultraviolet survey of 48 Milky Way globular clusters has produced the largest catalog of blue straggler stars, exceeding 3,000 objects. Analysis shows these anomalously young‑looking stars are far more common in low‑density clusters than in crowded...
The Essential Reading Series: The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence
The Essential Reading Series curates a dozen titles that map the scientific, cultural, and philosophical dimensions of the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI). From Carl Sagan’s fictional dramatization of a first contact signal to Jill Tarter’s biography of the field’s...
Accessing Water on Mars: Examining the Best Technologies for Future Missions
A new study in Advances in Space Research compares technologies for extracting water on Mars, focusing on subsurface ice, soil moisture, and atmospheric vapor. The analysis rates subsurface ice as the most viable long‑term source, while soil and air water...
Call for Abstracts for the NSS 2026 International Space Development Conference
The National Space Society is accepting abstract proposals for its International Space Development Conference (ISDC) from now until April 15, 2026. The event will take place June 4‑7, 2026 in McLean, Virginia, near Washington, D.C., under the theme “Space for...
How Machine Learning Improves Satellite Object Tracking
Machine learning is now central to satellite‑object tracking, where algorithms scan thousands of orbital coordinates to flag collision risks far earlier than traditional radar. With over 12,000 active satellites, manual monitoring is infeasible, prompting platforms like Orb to blend telescope,...
Telesat Calls Creditor Lawsuits ‘Without Merit’
Telesat announced that lawsuits filed by creditors over its September 2025 equity distribution are "without merit." The suits, brought in New York and Ontario, claim the company moved its Low‑Earth Orbit Lightspeed assets to shield them from creditors holding 90%...
As Satellites Become Targets, Space Force Plans for Growth and a Broader Role
The U.S. Space Force is poised to double its personnel to roughly 20,000 within the next decade as the Pentagon treats space as a contested warfighting domain. General Shawn Bratton said the service is being pressed by the Army, Navy...
STARCOM Commander Outlines Strategic Vision for Space Force
On 8 January 2026 Maj. Gen. James E. Smith released STARCOM’s strategic vision, outlining how the Space Training and Readiness Command will forge combat‑ready space forces for the U.S. Space Force. The plan centers on three pillars: enhancing Guardian warfighting skills through realistic...
Widely Attended Gatherings (WAGs) Determinations
NASA released a comprehensive set of Widely Attended Gatherings (WAG) determinations covering over 300 aerospace‑related events from 2023 through early 2026. The list includes high‑profile conferences, launch receptions, industry roundtables, and award galas across the United States and internationally. Each...
Seismometers Can Track Falling Space Junk
Seismic networks in southern California recorded shock‑wave vibrations from the re‑entry of China’s Shenzhou‑15 capsule on April 2, 2024. By analyzing arrival times at 127 stations, scientists reconstructed the breakup and derived a trajectory about 30 km south of the U.S. Space Command...
How Artemis 2 Will Communicate From Deep Space
Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen explains that Artemis 2 will rely on NASA’s Deep Space Network for most voice and data links, enabling near‑continuous contact with Mission Control. The crew will experience a roughly 45‑minute communications blackout while traversing the Moon’s far...
Resurrected Ancient Enzyme Offers New Window Into Early Earth and the Search for Life Beyond It
University of Wisconsin–Madison researchers have resurrected a 3.2‑billion‑year‑old nitrogenase enzyme and expressed it in modern microbes. Their experiments show the ancient enzyme produces isotopic signatures identical to those of contemporary nitrogenase, confirming the reliability of these signatures as biosignatures in...
AI Model that Found 370 Exoplanets Now Digs Into TESS Data
NASA’s Ames team upgraded its open‑source AI tool ExoMiner to ExoMiner++, now trained on both Kepler and TESS data. In its first run the model flagged roughly 7,000 TESS signals as exoplanet candidates, expanding the catalog beyond the 370 planets...
Dark Energy Survey Scientists Release Analysis of All Six Years of Survey Data
The Dark Energy Survey (DES) has released a comprehensive analysis that merges all six years of observations, covering 669 million galaxies across an eighth of the sky. By jointly exploiting weak lensing, galaxy clustering, baryon acoustic oscillations, and Type‑Ia supernovae, the...
Vaonis Hestia Smartphone-Powered Telescope Review
The Vaonis Hestia is a lightweight, smartphone‑powered lens that turns any phone into a low‑cost imaging tool for the Moon, Sun and bright stars. It lacks a built‑in computer or motors, relying on the free Gravity app for exposure control,...
