Cosmic News & Space Discoveries

SAN DIEGO, CA, November 10, 2026 – Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc., a technology company in defense, national security, and global markets, today announced a long-term agreement with Seagate […] The post Kratos and Seagate Space Partner to Advance Mobile Offshore Launch Capabilities for National Security Missions appeared first on SpaceNews.

German launch company Isar Aerospace could attempt the third flight of its Spectrum rocket from Andøya Spaceport in Norway as early as 26 November, according to an aviation notice published on 28 October. The notice, published by Norwegian air navigation services provider Avinor, outlines a launch window for the flight opening on 26 November 2026 […] The post Isar Aerospace Could Launch Third Spectrum Rocket as Early as 26 November appeared first on European Spaceflight.

Low clouds trace the branching valleys of the Appalachian Plateau and the Cumberland River, then burn off by afternoon.

The German Aerospace Center (DLR) is preparing to purchase 80 Red Kite solid rocket motors from German defence company Bayern-Chemie to support future sounding rocket missions. According to a procurement notice published on 2 November, DLR plans to acquire 80 ITAR-free solid-fuel rocket motors for the agency’s Mobile Rocket Base (MORABA) team, which conducts sounding […] The post DLR to Purchase 80 Red Kite Sounding Rocket Motors appeared first on European Spaceflight.

Launched nearly 50 years ago in 1977, NASA’s Voyager 1 on Wednesday, Nov. 18 will have traveled one light-day from Earth, which is more than 16 billion miles (25.9 billion kilometers). Voyager 1 is the most distant human-made object, and any light from Earth would take 24 hours to reach the spacecraft. NASA will highlight […]

NASA will welcome home the Expedition 74 crew during a public event at Space Center Houston following their return from a long-duration mission aboard the International Space Station. NASA astronauts Jessica Meir, Jack Hathaway, and Chris Williams; ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Sophie Adenot; and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud‑Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev will share mission […]

The Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA) Mission 2 crew arranged photos around a boot print in the simulated Martian sand outside their habitat on Aug. 31, 2026. The crew recently exited their habitat on Saturday, Oct. 31, after 378 days of isolation in a facility at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Health […]

"NASA advised that Vast’s submission in some locations substituted 'the PAM Provider' for Axiom"

The LISA (Laser Interferometer Space Antenna) observatory, now in development, will detect gravitational waves, the tiny ripples in space-time caused by orbiting masses. Now two studies led by NASA astrophysicists show in new detail how LISA could reveal a new and unique population of exoplanets — worlds beyond our solar system — throughout our galaxy.  […]

Two NASA smallsats are headed toward Mars after completing flybys of Earth nearly a year after their launch. The post ESCAPADE on its way to Mars after Earth flybys appeared first on SpaceNews.

APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 November 10 –… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss   APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. Saturn Behind the […]

Written by Susanne P. Schwenzer, Professor of Planetary Mineralogy at The Open University, UK Earth planning date: Friday, Oct. 23, 2026 As regular readers of this blog will know, we returned to the area where we found disc shaped inclusions in the rocks, which we interpreted as potential crystals. If they are indeed crystals, and […]

By Remington Free, Operations Systems Engineer, NASA-JPL Earth planning date: Friday, Oct. 30, 2026 Today’s plan covered 3 sols, 5060, 5061, and 5062, as we take a few recharging sols before getting back to our normal drilling activities. As you may know if you have been following the blog closely, we are in the middle […]

NASA provided another update on the Moon Base project this weekend in conjunction with the MAX POWER airshow at Kennedy Space Center. Billions of dollars were awarded or soon will […]

The ozone hole ranked seventh largest by area in 48 years of monitoring, but it was not as deep as other large holes on record.

German launch company Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) has confirmed that it is now targeting 2027 for the inaugural flight of its RFA ONE rocket from a Scottish launch facility. The revised target for the rocket’s inaugural flight was announced in a post published on the company’s LinkedIn page on 3 November. The post detailed a […] The post RFA Confirms Inaugural RFA ONE Launch Has Slipped to 2027 appeared first on European Spaceflight.

On Nov. 6, 2026, Purpose Entertainment hosted the Artemis Celebration Gala at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Merritt Island, Florida. Held on the eve of NASA’s MAX POWER event, the gala celebrated the explorers, innovators, and visionaries advancing the next era of human spaceflight. The event honored the successful completion of the agency’s […]

Washington — The Computer & Communications Industry Association today released Connecting the World: Unlocking the Potential of Satellite Connectivity, a new report examining how satellite technology can expand internet access, […] The post CCIA Report Highlights Satellite Connectivity’s Potential to Expand Internet Access and Drive Economic Growth appeared first on SpaceNews.

After 378 days without windows, the sounds of the outside world, or real-time calls with family and friends, four research volunteers stepped out of NASA’s Mars Dune Alpha habitat on Oct. 31, completing the agency’s second yearlong Mars surface simulation.  Ross Elder, Ellen Ellis, James Spicer, and Matthew Montgomery entered the roughly 1,700-square-foot, 3D-printed habitat at […]

"Grok analyzing the same video is 99.9 percent perfect."

Read this release in English here.El domingo 8 de noviembre de 2026, la NASA anunció la convocatoria del reto estudiantil Base Lunar, dotado con un millón de dólares, durante un acto de MAX POWER celebrado en el Complejo de Visitantes del Centro Espacial Kennedy, en Florida. En el marco de una edad de oro de […]

APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 November 9 –… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss   APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. Rigel and the […]

Mid-power (3-7 kW) Hall effect thruster systems have been identified by government and industry stakeholders as critical capabilities for satellite, defense, and exploration missions. Given the need for this capability, NASA is launching the Advanced Mid-Power Electric Rocket (AMPERE) Challenge. The NASA AMPERE Challenge invites U.S. commercial companies to develop and demonstrate mid-power Hall effect […]

Using NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory, astronomers have discovered what is triggering repeated outbursts from a giant, unstable star. A new study, published Monday in the latest issue of The Astrophysical Journal, details the discovery of a previously hidden companion object that keeps pulling material away from the massive star every 113 days as they orbit […]

Read this release in English here.La NASA busca a los exploradores que ayudarán a escribir el próximo capítulo de los vuelos espaciales tripulados. Ya está abierto el plazo de inscripción para la próxima promoción de astronautas de la agencia, que se incorporarán a la NASA en un momento en el que Estados Unidos regresa a […]

Written by Tasha Coelho, Mastcam-Z Student Collaborator at Arizona State University Nov. 1, 2026 Perseverance’s most recent abrasion “Pumbe” bears a striking resemblance to an earlier abrasion, “Badger Peak.” That’s no coincidence. As previously reported, that rock had a hardness too high to core. However, the team felt strongly that it was worth the effort […]

Written by Roger C. Wiens, SuperCam Principal Investigator for NASA’s Perseverance rover at Purdue University Nov. 4, 2026 Exploration on Mars turns up the unexpected. Perseverance is equipped with a fantastic set of instruments for studying the rock record of this ancient planet. Both PIXL and SuperCam have great capabilities for detecting all kinds of […]

Seven rockets from four countries are set to launch this week. Starship is set to… The post Launch Preview: Starship, Vulcan, and Electron launches scheduled for busy week appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.

The UK Government has secured a stake of more than 25% in SaxaVord Spaceport following the completion of a £60 million public-private investment agreement in late October. According to a filing submitted to Companies House on 6 November, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) became a “person” with significant control of Shetland Space […] The post UK Government Investment Secures More Than 25% Stake in SaxaVord appeared first on European Spaceflight.

NASA’s two ESCAPADE (Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers) spacecraft have each successfully completed a powered Earth flyby, using Earth’s gravity in combination with a sustained engine burn to slingshot themselves toward Mars. With these successful maneuvers complete, the twin spacecraft are on target to reach the Red Planet in September 2027. “This is […]

Thousands gathered over several days in early November to experience MAX POWER – NASA’s first exhibition of America’s superiority in space, aeronautics, and technology on and around the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The multi-day, family-friendly event honored the nation’s 250th anniversary and served as a culmination of the agency’s Inspiration Tour. Among the […]

APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 November 8 –… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss   APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. Major Fireball Meteor […]

As part of a wide-ranging update, NASA has booked PROMISE a ride to the lunar… The post NASA’s Moon Base plan gains a PROMISE appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.

On Sunday, NASA announced the opening of its $1 million Moon Base Student Challenge during a MAX POWER event at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida. As part of a Golden Age of Science, the competition invites student teams at U.S. high schools and post-secondary schools to contribute designs for the Moon Base. “We’re […]

Here is SpacePolicyOnline.com’s list of space policy events for the week of November 8-14, 2026 and any insight we can offer about them. The House and Senate are in session […]

NASA announced a suite of awards and mission updates on Saturday to expand the agency’s Moon Base exploration, science, and infrastructure capabilities. The investments will advance commercial robotic deliveries, a nuclear-powered rover named PROMISE, launch and orbital transfer services, and surface infrastructure as the agency works with American industry to establish a sustained presence on […]

NASA is looking for the explorers who will help write the next chapter of human spaceflight. Applications are now open for the agency’s next class of astronauts, who will join NASA as America returns to the Moon, builds the Moon Base, and lays the groundwork for the first crewed missions to Mars. The next generation […]

For the first time in two years, NASA is opening applications for its next astronaut… The post NASA announces search for new astronauts appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.

APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 November 7 –… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss   APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. De Gerlache-Kocher Massif […]

The company behind the Bluebird direct-to-cell satellite constellation said the addition of its own heavy-lift rocket is the final piece of its plans for vertical integration.

This NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image released Nov. 5, 2026, provides a lesson in galactic history. The sparkling collection of stars is named Messier 30 (M30) after the French astronomer, Charles Messier, who cataloged M30 and other diffuse objects that might be mistaken for comets in the early telescopes of Messier’s time. M30 lies about […]

"The Blacklift rocket is the springboard to significantly expand our total addressable market."

Booster 22 and Ship 42 are in final checkouts for a no-earlier-than 13 November launch… The post Starship Flight 15, a dual catch attempt, awaits FAA green light appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.

Stoke Space has been granted Right of Entry by Space Launch Delta 45 to property… The post Stoke Space evaluating expansion of Cape site for second Nova pad appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.

Liftoff from pad 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base is scheduled for 4:48 p.m. PST (7:48 p.m. EST / 0048 UTC). The mission is thought to be carrying satellites based on SpaceX’s Starshield platform.

APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 November 6 – A… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss   APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. A Farewell […]

Italian rocket manufacturer Avio has scaled back plans to develop two liquid-fuelled rocket demonstrators intended to validate technologies for a future reusable launch vehicle. In its half-year financial report published on 10 September, Avio disclosed that it had agreed to revise the scope and funding of its Space Transportation System (STS) programme, which originally aimed […] The post Avio Scales Back Demonstrator Programme Amid Technical Challenges appeared first on European Spaceflight.

Supercomputing 2026 Join NASA in the Exhibit Hall (Booth #4038) for presentations by NASA experts. Full Tech Demo schedule below. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17 10:00 AMType-safe Templates in Fortran 2028Tom Clune10:30 AMType-safe Templates in Fortran 2028Tom Clune11:00 AM Type-safe Templates in Fortran 2028Tom Clune1:00PM Mixing and Matching and Multiple Versions, Oh My!Brad Richardson1:30 PMMixing and Matching and Multiple […]

The San Juan River has carved deep, improbably curvy meanders into the desert landscape.

The International Space Station program completed a critical power upgrade that had been ongoing for… The post ISS astronauts install final iROSA solar panel to augment aging ISS power systems appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.

"This is going to be a game-changer."

Mozelos, Portugal, September 2, 2026 – Amorim Cork Solutions is contributing its P50 cork-based thermal protection material to DRACO, a European Space Agency (ESA) mission designed to capture rare in-flight […] The post Cork Takes the Heat So DRACO’s Data Can Survive appeared first on SpaceNews.

CesiumAstro Inc., a global leader in space and defense communications systems and satellites, today announced the closing of $730 million in Series D financing, valuing the company at more than […] The post CesiumAstro Secures $730 Million in Janus Henderson-Led Series D at a Valuation Above $4.5 Billion; Unveils Synchronicity Satellite Constellation Following Fully Successful Element-1 Mission appeared first on SpaceNews.

Spacewalking astronauts Joshua Kutryk and Anil Menon unfurled the last of eight new solar arrays outside the International Space Station Thursday, working through an unexpected power snag to complete a five-year upgrade designed to keep the orbiting laboratory running through its retirement in 2030.

City lights from the Midwestern United States to the East Coast sparkle across the landscape a couple of hours before sunrise on Oct. 18, 2026. Major urban areas visible in the photograph include Chicago, Illinois; Detroit, Michigan; and the New York metropolitan region. The International Space Station was orbiting 259 miles above Earth when this […]

The announcement was made during an invite-only event ahead of the weekend’s, NASA-backed Max Power airshow at the Kennedy Space Center.

Blue Origin chief executive Dave Limp has unveiled a third stage for New Glenn and… The post Blue Origin unveils New Glenn GS3 third stage and Northstar booster engine appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.

During Thursday’s spacewalk, the astronauts will install the eighth and final International Space Station Roll-Out Solar Array, or IROSA.

Swiss space startup Stellar Alpina has unveiled plans to develop a lunar lander powered by the company’s rotating detonation rocket engine. In a 2 November announcement, the company unveiled its planned Morpho lunar lander and an orbital transfer vehicle called Monarch. According to the company, it intends to initially focus on Monarch, using the spacecraft […] The post Swiss Startup Plans Lunar Lander Powered by Rotating Detonation Engine appeared first on European Spaceflight.

APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 November 3 –… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss   APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. Comet PanSTARRs and […]

Hera, the European Space Agency’s first mission for planetary defence, arrives at its target body during November, with the goal of gathering precious data on the kinetic impact method of asteroid deflection – while also solving various scientific enigmas.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman has addressed the ongoing debate about the Hubble Space Telescope’s long-term… The post Avoiding an uncontrolled reentry; boost Hubble and keep the science – Isaacman appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.

The tumbling crisis: why dead satellites threaten orbit Every year, hundreds of satellites reach end-of-life, most are deorbited, but some fail abruptly. Yet, even when properly decommissioned, some dead satellites […] The post DETUMBLER: Airbus’ Passive Spin Stabilization Solution appeared first on SpaceNews.

As of Monday, the U.S. Space Force predicted Swift would re-enter Earth's atmosphere at approximately 3:30 a.m. EST Wednesday, Nov. 4, somewhere within about 21 degrees north or south of the equator — a band that is mostly ocean.

Students across the country will have the opportunity to connect directly with the International Space Station during a live, interactive in-flight call with NASA astronaut Anil Menon and Mark Rober STEM content creator and founder of ClassCrunchLabs Foundation. The event, hosted by NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement, celebrates National STEM Day by bringing real‑world science, […]

For more information, contact Joel W. Sills, Langley Research Center, joel.w.sills@nasa.gov. Download PDF here Chip resistors are widely used in NASA projects, yet cases of alumina substrate cracking during environmental testing are rare. Two instances of thick-film chip resistor cracking were observed during thermal cycling after vibration, with fractures occurring across the short axis due […]

CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Joshua Kutryk is pictured during the Oct. 29, 2026, spacewalk. The International Space Station was soaring 267 miles above the South Atlantic Ocean at the time of this photograph. Kutryk and NASA astronaut Anil Menon installed a new roll-out solar array on the space station and performed some get-ahead work […]

Is that water in your spacecraft, or are you just happy to see the delta-V.

Czech company Spacemanic and Belgian optical leader Simera Sense are teaming up to deliver a new dual-use satellite solution that can compete with bigger and heavier satellites. Simera Sense xScape200 […] The post Simera Sense and Spacemanic to Collaborate on a New Complete Dual-Use Mission Solution appeared first on SpaceNews.

China is sharing more information about how it plans to land taikonauts on the Moon by 2030. Development of the Long March-10 rocket, Mengzhou crew spacecraft, and Lanyue lunar lander […]

Super Typhoon In-fa developed an unusually large eye, and the remnants of Typhoon Champi transitioned into an extratropical storm that targeted Alaska.

Eight launches are expected this week, from launch sites in the United States, China, New… The post Launch Preview: Falcon 9 to launch USSF missions, China to launch internet satellites appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.

The European Space Agency has announced plans to support industry-led flight demonstrations of reusable rocket first stages and boosters as part of a new phase of its Boosters for European Space Transportation (BEST!) initiative. On 27 October, ESA published a call for its BEST!2 Flight Demonstrations initiative, which is intended to “accelerate the development and […] The post ESA to Support Industry-Led Reusable Booster Flight Demonstrations appeared first on European Spaceflight.

Amid the warm hues of fall foliage, Pine Creek Gorge forms a deep scar in the Allegheny Plateau.

The four-member Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA) crew poses outside for the first time in more than a year following the end of their simulated Mars journey on Oct. 31, 2026. Crew members Matthew Montgomery (left), James Spicer (middle left), Ross Elder (middle right), and Ellen Ellis (right) spent more than a year […]

Meteor Showers, a Spacecraft Milestone, and a Supermoon Catch Taurid and Leonid meteors, spot Mars near Jupiter, celebrate Voyager 1’s light-day milestone, and watch November’s supermoon. Skywatching Highlights Transcript A month of meteor showers … a close pairing of Mars and Jupiter … and a supermoon! That’s What’s Up for November. November offers a buffet […]

Media accreditation is open for the next launch to deliver NASA science investigations, supplies, and equipment to the International Space Station. A Northrop Grumman Cygnus XL spacecraft will launch in November to the orbital laboratory on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket for NASA. The mission is known as NASA’s Northrop Grumman Commercial Resupply Services 25, […]

The plan does not include a mission similar to Apollo 8 or Artemis II.

NASA’s Hubble studied 37 nearby dwarf galaxies and found that much of the oxygen they expected to see is missing.

Despite it being a complex operation, ERMIS-3, an 8U CubeSat developed by the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, has established a link with an optical ground station marking an important step in validating optical communications on small satellites. The demonstration, supported by the European Space Agency (ESA) and achieved using optical terminals developed by Lithuanian company Astrolight, happened only weeks after the satellite’s commissioning.

APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 November 2 – A… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss   APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. A Long […]

The space industry launched more rockets into orbit last year than ever before, yet satellite operators are confronting an unexpected problem: There still aren’t enough rides to go around. And […] The post How to Expand Reliable, Flexible Access to Space appeared first on SpaceNews.

For more information, contact Joel W. Sills, Langley Research Center, joel.w.sills@nasa.gov. Download the PDF version An instrumented hammer test does not require an idealized single half-sine waveform. When the complete force and response are measured accurately, crest ripples and separated contacts remain known inputs. Force shape changes excitation, but does not inherently invalidate the record. […]

Sixty-five years ago, a bold vision took root in Houston: a NASA center dedicated to human spaceflight. Since its founding, NASA’s Johnson Space Center has helped lead the nation’s human spaceflight program, supporting missions from Project Mercury through Artemis. Today, Johnson serves as NASA’s Center of Excellence for Human Spaceflight, and its workforce is helping […]

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman has spoken on the planned architecture and contingencies for the Artemis… The post Isaacman outlines Artemis III multi-launch checkout sequence and Blue Origin priority appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.

Here is SpacePolicyOnline.com’s list of space policy events for the week plus a day of November 1-8, 2026 and any insight we can offer about them. The House and Senate […]

APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 November 1 –… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss   APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. Colors of the […]

Canadian space technology company MDA Space has signed an agreement with Thales Alenia Space to begin work on digital antennas for the first 66 satellites of the European Union’s IRIS2 secure connectivity constellation. The agreement comes as Canada and the EU have announced plans to explore Canadian participation in the programme. In a 30 October […] The post Canadian MDA Space Secures €64 Million IRIS2 Antenna Agreement appeared first on European Spaceflight.

APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 October 31 –… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss   APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. Night on a […]

In eight days, SpaceX completed all engine testing for Flight 15, some cryo-proof and catch… The post SpaceX Completes Three Static Fires in Three Days for Flight 15 appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.

The Starlink 15-18 mission will add another 27 Starlink V2 Mini Optimized satellites to SpaceX’s megaconstellation. Liftoff from pad 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base is scheduled for 9:02 p.m. PDT (12:02 a.m. EDT / 0402 UTC).

There's no evidence that Starship will launch traditional satellites, either.

The sight of an icy skull-like visage on the Antarctic island could make one’s blood run cold.

APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 October 30 –… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss   APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. Haunting the Cepheus […]

Description This global map of Mars shows 13 locations that match the mineralogy and chemistry of Teghaza 001, one of the most ancient Martian meteorites ever found on Earth. While scientists can never know for sure where a Martian meteorite originated, Teghaza 001 includes clues that link it to highlands in the southern hemisphere of […]

From the ESA Blogs.

Twin Travelers In 1977, NASA launched twin spacecraft Voyager 1 and 2, taking advantage of a once-every-175-year planetary alignment of the four largest planets in our solar system: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Using six gravity assists between them, this Grand Tour gave us up-close views of the gas and ice giants, including several moons. […]

The French space agency CNES has announced the start of ground qualification testing for the Callisto reusable rocket demonstrator at the Guiana Space Centre. A full-scale mockup of the vehicle has been erected at the space centre’s former Diamant launch facility, which is being redeveloped to support the programme. In a 29 October announcement, CNES […] The post Ground Qualification Testing Begins for Callisto Reusable Rocket Demonstrator appeared first on European Spaceflight.

Week in images: 26-30 October 2026

NASA issued a Request for Information Oct. 29 to learn more about industry capabilities for in-space servicing to support the agency’s Hubble Space Telescope.

This is the first of a pair of Turkish flights to the Moon. The first will be an orbiter with several scientific instruments and the second will be a lander.

October was a month of discoveries and milestones. ESA’s Rosalind Franklin rover team trained in Spain’s desert, preparing for Mars. Our Smile mission captured the full ring of northern lights around Earth, while Mars Express uncovered new clues about a giant Martian cloud. ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot returned to Earth after 237 days in space, and Hera captured its first images of the asteroids it will study to help protect our planet. Meanwhile, ESA welcomed thousands of visitors for Open Days and teamed up with Pokémon to bring space science to new audiences.

Intricate structures within the Cat’s Head Nebula are illuminated in this mid-infrared view from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope released on Oct. 29, 2026. The distinctive “cat’s head” shape of the nebula was likely sculpted over time by the intense ultraviolet radiation and winds from massive stars in the Carina Nebula. As this stellar feedback […]

Government spending on civil space activities is more than just NASA. A new Aerospace Corporation report details the $42.6 billion allocated for civil space in FY2026 and compares it to […]

Oct. 30, 2026 – ESI Motion Inc. is proud to announce that it is supplying the Solar Array Drive Electronics (SADE) to Lockheed Martin for its work on the Space […] The post ESI supplying solar array components to missile defense programs appeared first on SpaceNews.

America’s newest aerospace expo and air show – MAX POWER – is fast approaching, and NASA has announced key events beginning Friday, Nov. 6, and running through Sunday, Nov. 8, hosted on and near the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Through multiple park experiences at MAX POWER, NASA and a variety of external collaborators […]

The Quantum-Enabled Predictive Preclinical NAMs for Toxicity and Safety (QuSAFE) Challenge, a collaboration between the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and NASA, advances quantum-enabled sensing for in vitro NAMs, such as organoids and microphysiological systems (MPS), to improve drug safety while reducing animal use. In vitro NAMs, such as organoids and microphysiological systems (MPS), can […]

The first named storm of the North Indian Ocean’s cyclone season made landfall along the coast of Andhra Pradesh.

APOD Science APOD APOD: 29 October 2026 – The… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss   APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. The Horns […]

Japanese space technology company Astroscale has officially announced that its UK-based subsidiary has been awarded a £15 million (€17.9 million) Ministry of Defence contract for Project LEDA. While few details about the initiative were shared, an MoD official said it would “form part of the permanent pathway for UK’s understanding of orbital warfare.” Although the […] The post UK MOD Awards £15 Million Orbital Warfare Project to Astroscale appeared first on European Spaceflight.

"NASA desperately needs SpaceX, and SpaceX knows it, and Elon knows it."

Jared Spiers had an interest in contributing to NASA’s mission long before becoming a civil servant for the agency. Growing up close to NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, and hearing about his father’s work there, he gained a firsthand connection to the nation’s space program. Before graduating high school, he knew […]

The NASA/ESA Hubble and the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescopes recently stared at an eerie star-forming scene within the Carina Nebula, a massive gas and dust cloud located approximately 7500 light-years away from Earth. The two telescopes offer complementary views of the shadowy form, nicknamed the Cat’s Head Nebula, which reflects the 'magical'' process of star formation. Hubble’s visible-light view shows the cat as a dark, elongated dust pillar and hints of young forming stars, while Webb’s infrared-light imagery unveils many stars and other hidden details.

Like a spectral form rising out of a cold mist, NASA’s Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes have captured a hauntingly dynamic star-forming scene. It lies within the vast Carina Nebula, a diffuse star-forming region located about 7,500 light-years away from Earth. The small, select area both telescopes observed is nicknamed the Cat’s Head Nebula […]

A sweeping barred galaxy takes center stage in this Oct. 22, 2026, image, but the gravitational lensing at bottom right is the real target. This observation is one of many gravitational lensing images taken by NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope in preparation for science with the new Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. Astronomers will use these […]

When companies began approaching NASA’s Langley Research Center, asking to be included in the In-Space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (ISAM) State of Play for access to competitive intelligence, the team knew they had crossed an inflection point. “We’ve had some unnamed companies ask if we have any proprietary information,” says Dale Arney, senior team lead […]

You may never soar under the clouds or over the organic sands of Saturn’s moon Titan, but your name can. NASA is inviting the public to send their names aboard the agency’s Dragonfly rotorcraft and be part of the first science mission to fly and explore the surface of another world.   To have your […]

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman has named Troy Asher director of the agency’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. Asher, a veteran test pilot and aerospace engineer with decades of experience in flight research and operations, has served as the center’s acting director since March. “Troy has spent his career pushing the boundaries of flight, […]

When a rose-colored meteorite was found in the Sahara Desert in 2022, no one knew how old it was or where it came from. Not until NASA-funded scientists age-dated its minerals did they realize the nearly 2-pound (800-gram) rock was a piece of Mars that formed more than 4.1 billion years ago, making it one […]

With Blue Origin moving towards a potential return to flight by late 2026, NASA has… The post Blue Origin attempts end of year return and eyes Artemis IV selection appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.

Although no ghouls, goblins, or trick-or-treaters come knocking at the International Space Station’s front hatch, crew members aboard the orbiting laboratory still like to get in the Halloween spirit. Whether individually or as an entire crew, they dress up in sometimes spooky, sometimes scary, but always creative costumes, often designed from materials available aboard the […]

NASA astronaut Anil Menon and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk successfully installed and unfurled the seventh of eight new solar panels designed to power the outpost through its retirement in 2030.

Description This slice of Teghaza 001, one of the most ancient Martian meteorites ever found on Earth, was used to determine the age of the rock. Reflected light images like these serve as a scientist’s road map, helping them find minerals of interest to analyze by different instruments. Figure A is the same image with […]

Read this release in English here. Puede que nunca llegues a surcar los cielos bajo las nubes o sobre las arenas orgánicas de la luna Titán de Saturno, ¡pero tu nombre sí puede hacerlo! La NASA invita al público a enviar su nombre a bordo de la aeronave de ala giratoria Dragonfly de la agencia […]

NASA astronaut Anil Menon and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk are performing a spacewalk to install the 7th of 8 ISS Roll-Out Solar Arrays (iROSA) to upgrade the orbiting outpost's power system.

In this episode, Mike Gruss speaks with Laura Crabtree, the CEO of Epsilon3, who is also a former SpaceX astronaut trainer. They talk about ways that space companies can organize […] The post Advice for optimizing the space industry with Laura Crabtree appeared first on SpaceNews.

Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman has been named Caltech associate vice president and deputy director of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. The emeritus astronaut and retired U.S. Navy captain begins his new role at NASA’s center of excellence for robotics and deep space exploration and at Caltech, which manages JPL for NASA, on […]

– Two demonstration missions planned aboard SpaceX Falcon 9, one each in 2027 and 2028 – Satoro to provide “Satellite-as-a-service” solution; Flexell Space to supply solar cells and test modules […] The post Flexell Space and Satoro Agree to Collaborate on In-Orbit Demonstration of Next-Generation Space Solar Cells appeared first on SpaceNews.

In this Webb image released on Oct. 22, 2026, we see a turbulent cauldron of star formation filled with dense clumps of gas. This region is named N159 and is located 161,000 light-years away in the Large Magellanic Cloud, one of the satellite galaxies orbiting the Milky Way galaxy. This region has a lower metallicity […]

So far, 2026 has seen a flood of successes for volunteers who do NASA science, exemplifying NASA’s commitment to gold-standard science—transparent, reproducible and intrinsically collaborative. The Backyard Worlds: Planet 9 project announced that their project volunteers have now discovered most of the known brown dwarfs, celestial objects that are similar to planets. The Zooniverse platform, […]

Five years ago, Gavin Gardner was a Michigan State University engineering student researching next-generation drone technology as part of a NASA grant. Garder expected the research to be demanding – but he was surprised that navigating the financial side of the work presented an even greater challenge. Although Gardner was used to leading fellow students […]

NASA’s Artemis III SLS (Space Launch System) core stage is integrated alongside the twin solid rocket boosters on Oct. 28 inside the Vehicle Assembly Building’s High Bay 3 at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.   Technicians lifted the 212-foot rocket stage from the facility’s High Bay 2 using a one-of-a kind lifting beam designed […]

It has been nearly a year since any space tourism flights occurred.

NASA is two spacewalks away from completing a major, years-long upgrade to the International Space Station that will power the orbiting lab through to its planned decommissioning in 2030.

In the world of spaceflight, launch infrastructure is critical for rocket launches. For agencies and… The post Comparing KSC, Starbase construction timelines to understand the development of Starbase, Louisiana appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.

A national monument since the 1920s, Chiricahua is America’s newest national park.

The anticipated launch will be the first for the heavy-lift rocket since a mid-flight nozzle failure on a solid rocket booster. The rocket will carry 40 Amazon Leo satellites to orbit.

The Socialist Republic of Vietnam became the 78th nation to sign the Artemis Accords, joining a growing coalition of like-minded nations committed to the peaceful, transparent, and responsible exploration of space.   “Vietnam is joining at an important point in the development of its own space program,” said NASA Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson in recorded remarks […]

On 27 October 2026, Indra Space celebrated the signature of two contracts with the European Space Agency, European Commission and EU Agency for the Space Programme to develop new ground stations for the second generation of Galileo, Europe’s satellite navigation system.

The anticipated launch will be the first for the heavy-lift rocket since a mid-flight nozzle failure on a solid rocket booster. The rocket will carry 40 Amazon Leo satellites to orbit.

Written by Lucy Lim, Planetary Scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center Earth planning date: Friday, Oct. 16, 2026 Following the Basque Lakes drill campaign, Curiosity has returned to a spot just a few meters away from the “Chiu Chiu” block to conduct our next drill campaign. “Chiu Chiu” itself wasn’t a good candidate for […]

APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 October 28 – The… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss   APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. To view […]

The companies said the experimental spacecraft, launched Oct. 1, could lead to a Ukrainian-controlled satellite network The post Ukrainian startup, GomSpace test satellite for future communications network appeared first on SpaceNews.

Liftoff of the Starlink 15-16 mission from Space Launch Complex 4E is currently scheduled for 10:46 p.m. PDT (1:46 a.m. EDT / 0546 UTC).

APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 October 27 –… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss   APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. Noctilucent Clouds over […]

When Rice University student Malvika Bhardwaj asked her mentor Daniel Cohen, a Guidance, Navigation & Control (GN&C) engineer at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, whether he had time to keep teaching interns with his busy workload, he answered, “You decide what’s important.”  In honor of National Mentoring Day on Oct. 27, Bhardwaj reflects on how Cohen’s […]

The European Space Agency (ESA) has extended ongoing contracts to build four additional Galileo Second Generation (G2) satellites, ensuring the long-term continuity of the constellation and supporting the rollout of new services. With this procurement, the Galileo Second Generation fleet grows to 16 satellites.

Craft Prospect is working with Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics (Fraunhofer CAP) and Vector Photonics on a new project exploring the potential of next-generation laser technology for high-performance optical communications […] The post Craft Prospect kicks off PERSEUS project to advance optical communications for space appeared first on SpaceNews.

On September 28, NASA and Boeing provided an update on the Starliner spacecraft’s Return to Flight, progress made since the

This is the first known instance of a satellite conducting a close rendezvous with a non-consenting target, and likely represents a serious violation of international law.

The European Space Agency’s Hera spacecraft for planetary defence has resolved its two target asteroids separately for the very first time, revealing the binary nature of the Didymos system, currently some 197 million km away from Earth.

The European Space Agency’s (ESA) INVICTUS hypersonic aircraft programme has cleared its first major requirements review and moved into the next phase of development, with a second review expected in October 2027. Stephan Carroll, INVICTUS chief engineer at Frazer-Nash, confirmed on LinkedIn on 23 October that the programme had successfully completed its first System Requirements […] The post ESA’s INVICTUS Hypersonic Programme Clears First Major Review appeared first on European Spaceflight.

A small red star is pulling gas from a brown dwarf as the pair circles every 87 minutes, packed into an orbit that could fit inside the Sun. Material strikes the star’s surface and lights up a hot spot, marking a meal that could continue for billions of years. The system, ZTF J0440+2325, lies a […] The post A small star is eating a brown dwarf so slowly that the meal could last billions of years, and the two orbit each other every 87 minutes inside a space that would fit within the Sun appeared first on Space Daily.

A technician inspects the large sunshade of NASA’s Near-Earth Object (NEO) Surveyor mission in this image released on Oct. 26, 2026. The sunshade structure, which stands 20 feet (6 meters) tall and measures 8 feet (2.4 meters) wide at its base, will keep the infrared space telescope cool as it searches for near-Earth asteroids and […]

The Antarctic iceberg made a relatively quick exit from the Weddell Sea, only to slow at the edge of a remote island’s underwater shelf.

The four volunteers who lived and worked in a simulated NASA Mars mission for more than a year will exit their habitat on Saturday, Oct. 31, after 378 days of isolation in a facility at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Health and performance data collected from the simulation can help NASA develop methods […]

Four rockets are set to launch this week from the United States and India. SpaceX… The post Launch Preview: Falcon 9 and GSLV rockets scheduled to launch appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.

APOD Science APOD 2026 October 26 – M42: The… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss   APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. M42: The […]

The Australian government has submitted a counteroffer to the European Space Agency (ESA) to secure a flight to the International Space Station for Australian astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg. Support for the mission is not universal in Australia, with one government official calling the spending “reckless.” Australian Minister for Science Tim Ayres confirmed on 23 October that […] The post Australia Counters ESA’s Offer for Mission to ISS for Bennell-Pegg appeared first on European Spaceflight.

Falcon 9’s retirement could leave the market up for grabs, as SpaceX finds themselves still in the process of developing and marketing Starship as a worthy successor.

SAN FRANCISCO —October 26, 2026—Today, Astranis announced it has upgraded its 4th launch to a dedicated mission aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket set to launch in 2028, allowing it […] The post Astranis Upgrades Falcon 9 Launch Contract to Dedicated Mission for Entire Block 4 Production Run of Satellites appeared first on SpaceNews.

NASA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding expanding cooperation in Earth observation, geospatial analytics, and advanced data technologies, supporting USDA’s data modernization plan for United States agriculture. “NASA develops some of the most advanced sensing, computing, and analytical capabilities in the world, and we should put those tools […]

With its solar arrays integrated and key qualification reviews under way, Europe’s new ice-monitoring satellite, CRISTAL, is moving from assembly into the demanding testing phase that will demonstrate its readiness for the rigours of launch and life in orbit.

NASA test pilot Mike Lippert poses for a photo ahead of his first time flying the agency’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft on Oct. 21, 2026. The X-59 has flown numerous times since its inaugural flight in November 2025; its first supersonic flight was on June 5, 2026. Lippert took off from NASA’s Armstrong Flight […]

Members of the media are invited to tour a new lunar landing simulator at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California's Silicon Valley on Thursday, Oct. 29, and Friday, Oct. 30.

The NASA STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Enhancement in Earth Science (SEES) Internship Program at the University of Texas Center for Space Research places high school students on small, mission-focused research teams mentored by NASA, academic, and industry experts. During summer 2026, the SEES Mission Architecture Tool for Research, Integration, and eXploration (MATRIX) team […]

– Paris-based FLEXELL SPACE FRANCE SAS creates a local business hub in Europe– New entity to support ongoing contract and volume-production discussions with European customers, from technical reviews to supply […] The post Flexell Space Establishes French Subsidiary to Strengthen European Presence appeared first on SpaceNews.

Description The large sunshade of NASA’s Near-Earth Object (NEO) Surveyor mission is inspected by a technician at BAE Systems Space & Mission Systems in Boulder, Colorado, in late July.  Built by Applied Aerospace in Stockton, California, the sunshade structure was outfitted with its solar cells by SolAero Technologies in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in January. Environmental […]

Description The large sunshade of NASA’s Near-Earth Object (NEO) Surveyor is mounted on an assembly ring during inspections in a clean room at BAE Systems Space & Mission Systems in Boulder, Colorado, in July 2026.  The sunshade structure stands 20 feet (6 meters) tall and measures 8 feet (2.4 meters) wide at its base. Its two flat […]

Over 1,645 Martian days, NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover measured the fine and ultrafine Martian dust particles found clinging to samples of spacesuit materials that are carried aboard the rover, including some that are small enough to penetrate the lungs and enter the bloodstream. The findings will be published Tuesday, Oct. 27, in the Proceedings of […]

Written by Margaret Deahn, Ph.D. candidate at Purdue University Oct. 19, 2026 Once upon a time, NASA’s Mars 2020 rover investigated the southern border of “Idubi,” an outcrop composed primarily of an igneous mineral geologists call olivine. The rover’s “eyes” captured a very exciting geologic feature during its traverse — a contact between distinct rock […]

Description This 360-degree look at Neretva Vallis within Mars’ Jezero Crater was stitched together using 217 images acquired by the rover’s Mastcam-Z on May 20, 2024, the 1,155th Martian day, or sol, of the mission. While it is a wind-swept dusty vista today, billions of years ago it was home to a river channel that fed fresh water into […]

As SpaceX prepares to fly Flight 15 in November, with a successful Static Fire test… The post Possible Roberts Road Expansion as SpaceX pushes for Flight 16 appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.

APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 October 25 – Dark… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss   APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. Dark Matter […]

Here is SpacePolicyOnline.com’s list of space policy events for the week plus a day of October 25-November 1, 2026 and any insight we can offer about them. The House and […]

NASA released its October Artemis Update on Friday, covering the near-term status of the Space… The post NASA Artemis Update: SLS Stacking, Sortie Suit, Dual 2028 Paths appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.

APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 October 24 –… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss   APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. Rosetta’s Selfie Explanation: […]

Join us to explore how emerging technologies and commercial capabilities are transforming satellite operations The post Nov. 5: Satellite Mission Management at the Edge appeared first on SpaceNews.

From the ESA Blogs.

"We believe Canada should be able to reach orbit on its own terms."

NASA officials projected confidence today in their plans to launch the Artemis III earth-orbital test flight in mid-2027 and land American astronauts on the Moon in 2028.  Whether SpaceX’s Starship […]

"We have the mandate, we have the resources, and the support from our stakeholders."

The European Space Agency’s (ESA) Director of Space Transportation, Géraldine Naja, said on 22 October that she was uncertain whether the agency would be able to complete the first flight of its Themis reusable rocket demonstrator before the end of the year. Speaking at a media briefing following ESA’s 350th Council meeting in Paris, Naja […] The post ESA Director “Not Sure” Themis Will Make Its First Flight in 2026 appeared first on European Spaceflight.

APODScienceAPODAPOD: 2026 October 23 –…Today’s APODArchiveSubmissionsIndexSearchCalendarRSSEducationAboutDiscuss  APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. Andromeda in Southern Spring Explanation: Looking toward the north from Mullion, New South Wales, Australia, the Andromeda […]

A 35-year satellite altimetry record lets scientists hold this year’s El Niño up against its strongest predecessors.

NASA is helping to foster long-term energy security in Virginia.  NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, is partnering with the Virginia Department of Energy to support informed decisions for effective energy generation, delivery and use by providing solar, meteorological, and future weather risk datasets for energy system modeling and planning purposes. Under a new […]

Teams at NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi tested RS-25 engine No. 10001 on Oct. 21, 2026. The hot fire test lasted for almost eight-and-a-half minutes (500 seconds), the same amount of time RS-25 engines fire during launch of NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket, with a 111% power level. For each […]

Before astronauts return to the lunar surface, NASA will first conduct one of the most ambitious and complex test missions in the agency’s history.  Launching in 2027, Artemis III will send NASA astronauts Randy Bresnik, Frank Rubio, Andre Douglas, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Luca Parmitano aboard the Orion spacecraft into low Earth orbit […]

NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory has ended its science mission now that the spacecraft is orbiting less than 171 miles (275 kilometers) above Earth’s surface. The greater atmospheric drag at this height prevents the satellite’s telescopes from steadily gazing at their astronomical targets. Swift conducted its final observation on Oct. 20. It is expected to […]

As NASA returns humans to the lunar surface and establishes a long-term presence on our closest celestial neighbor, the agency and commercial human landing system providers Blue Origin and SpaceX have streamlined the designs and changed both concepts of operations for its future crewed landers. Since NASA established initial contracts with Blue Origin and SpaceX […]

NASA’s Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel will soon open a formal recommendation that NASA re-examine plans for the Artemis IV mission.  Currently that will be a landing at the Moon’s South […]

From the ESA Blogs.

Week in images: 19-23 October 2026

NASA Science wants to deliver science faster, so we’re changing how we compete and select missions. On Monday, October 26, we will host a virtual NASA Science Town Hall.

Members of the media are invited to join NASA at the 2026 von Braun Space Exploration Symposium from Monday, Oct. 26, to Wednesday, Oct. 28, at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. This year’s symposium is focused on humanity’s return to the Moon, sustainable lunar infrastructure, advanced space propulsion, and the evolving space workforce. Panels […]

Emissions on both sides of the island are unusually high as human-set fires spread in a landscape parched by drought.

APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 October 22 – The… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss   APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. The First […]

From the ESA Blogs.

From the ESA Blogs.

The European Space Agency Council has approved the appointment of two new directors: Andrzej Banasiak as Director of Commercialisation and Industry Partnership, and Nicolaus Hanowski as Director of Space Operations.

ESA Open Days 2026 welcomed over 23 000 visitors across its six establishments, giving the public the opportunity to discover more about Europe’s space activities, meet the people behind the missions and explore how ESA is shaping the future of space.

A small rover is alone on the Moon, with no signal and no idea of its position. All it has is a panoramic camera and an aerial map of the Moon’s surface. The lunar night is fast approaching… can you help the rover find its way before it’s too late?

The five-year mission will return samples from Mars’ moon Phobos and answer long-standing questions about the moon’s origin.

Resilience, maritime and drone applications, and alternative navigation technologies were on the menu of the sixth edition of the European Space Agency's (ESA) NAVISP Industry Days, which brought together over 350 participants in Rome, Italy for two days of discussions, networking and collaboration.

Watch the replay of the media information session where ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher and ESA Council Chair at delegate level Juan Carlos Cortés outline the key decisions and main outcomes of the 350th Council meeting held at ESA Headquarters in Paris on 21—22 October 2026.

The European Space Agency (ESA) has provided new details about the failed Space Rider drop test, confirming that the vehicle’s parafoil detached during deployment, sending the full-scale test model back to terra firma more rapidly than planned. Speaking at an ESA media briefing on 22 October, Géraldine Naja, the agency’s Director of Space Transportation, provided […] The post ESA Provides New Details on Failed Space Rider Drop Test appeared first on European Spaceflight.

In this episode, SpaceNews’ Mike Gruss talks with the CEO of Aalyria Brian Barritt about how networks are evolving, what scaling the company means and the role of software interoperability […] The post Rethinking networks in space with Aalyria’s Brian Barritt appeared first on SpaceNews.

Expedition 75 aboard the International Space Station gained four new crew members at the beginning… The post ISS receives new cargo from Dragon as Crew-12 hands over to Crew-13 appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.

"We need to keep our eyes on numerous required fuelings for the lander."

A new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine identifies four locations on the Moon separate from the South Pole where human exploration could yield valuable scientific […]

This NASA Hubble Space Telescope image released on Oct. 16, 2026, features the edge-on, intermediate spiral galaxy NGC 1827, located roughly 37 million light-years away in the constellation Columba, the Dove. Hubble captured the image as part of a survey looking at 260 satellite galaxies around 22 Milky Way-like host galaxies within a radius of […]

LOS ALAMOS, N.M. — October 21, 2026 — Space Nuclear Power Corporation (SpaceNukes) announced today that the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has awarded the company an Other Transaction […] The post Space Nuclear Power Corporation Awarded DARPA Agreement for Ground Test of Autonomous Nuclear Reactor Controller appeared first on SpaceNews.

The powerful low-pressure system formed over the North Atlantic out of the remnants of Hurricane Isaias.

APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 October 21 – New… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss   APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. OriginalAnnotated New […]

Galileo is a system in perfect synchronisation: satellites orbiting above, atomic clocks setting the tempo, and ground stations listening and refining below. Each plays its part. Together, they create the precision behind the signal that guides us all. See how it all comes together in Finding Our Way: Inside the Galileo Project.

It started with a bold idea: Europe should find its own way. Finding Our Way: Inside the Galileo Project tells the story of the vision, perseverance and people behind Galileo, Europe’s global navigation satellite system, and the decades-long journey that turned an idea into the signal that guides us all. 

At its heart, Galileo is a story about people: engineers, operators and programme leaders working across Europe, united by a shared mission to strengthen Europe’s technological sovereignty while delivering a secure, resilient signal that supports safety, innovation and economic growth across the globe. Finding Our Way: Inside the Galileo Project celebrates the unseen work behind the signal that guides us forward.

Glasgow, UK | 21 October 2026 – The pace of development in quantum technologies continues to accelerate, and over the past few months, space engineering company Craft Prospect has been […] The post Summer of Quantum: Building momentum for space-based QKD appeared first on SpaceNews.

SAN FRANCISCO – Wi-Fi technology from Solstar Space connected NASA’s R5-S10 cubesat with Momentus’ Vigoride-7 orbital service vehicle during proximity operations and relayed data to NASA’s Johnson Space Center, Solstar […] The post Solstar provides Wi-Fi connectivity for NASA proximity operations demonstration appeared first on SpaceNews.

From orbit, today’s space-based laser instruments measure Earth’s forests and terrain one narrow line at a time. Between those lines are enormous gaps that include millions of acres of land scientists never directly measure. NASA’s CASALS instrument will blend machine learning with an ultra-compact lidar instrument to adaptively ‘sweep’ large swaths of Earth’s surface. This […]

Airbus Netherlands has delivered the first lightweight Vulcain Aft Bay for Ariane 6 as part of the rocket’s Block 2 upgrades. The total weight reduction, however, appears to be more modest than originally anticipated. In a 21 October LinkedIn post, Airbus Netherlands President Rob Postma announced that the upgraded structure, designated Flight Model 16 (FM16), […] The post Airbus Ships First Lightweight Vulcain Aft Bay for Ariane 6 Block 2 appeared first on European Spaceflight.

TechnoMile, the leading AI solution that unifies growth, contracts, compliance, and security workflows, has been named a 2026 Inc. Power Partner Awards winner, recognizing the company among the leading B2B […] The post TechnoMile Recognized as a 2026 Inc. Power Partner Award Winner appeared first on SpaceNews.

Written by Vandi Verma, Chief Engineer for Robotic Operations at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory Oct. 12, 2026 Since the last blog update, Perseverance has achieved a major milestone on Mars. On Sol 2006 (Oct. 11, 2026), its odometer reached 45.22 kilometers (28.10 miles), setting a new record for the farthest distance driven on another celestial […]

As part of the agency’s Inspiration Tour, NASA will conduct a flyover at the University of Alabama vs. Texas A&M football game in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, on Saturday, Oct. 24. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman will pilot one of three F-5 fighter jets during the flyover, highlighting NASA’s contributions to aeronautics and the agency’s continued commitment to […]

"We have had significant constructive engagement with the FAA."

Interstellar probes. Lunar drones. Helicopters on Mars. When a group of Caltech graduate students and enthusiasts began conducting rocket-propulsion tests in Pasadena’s Arroyo Seco on Oct. 31, 1936, they had no idea that their work marked the inception of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Ninety years later, the lab, now managed by Caltech for NASA, isn’t […]

As its launch cadence continues to grow, China is stepping further towards reusable rockets as… The post China readies first commercial resupply craft, first booster reflight, and next landing attempt appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.

NASA tested RS-25 engine No. 10001 on Oct. 21 on the Fred Haise Test Stand at NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. Test teams fired the developmental engine for almost eight-and-a-half minutes (500 seconds), the same amount of time RS-25 engines fire during launch of NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket. During […]

Paris, France | October 2026 – Global satellite services revenues are forecast to grow 44% to reach $145 billion by 2035, according to the 33rd edition of Novaspace’s Satellite Connectivity […] The post Global Satcom Services Revenues to Reach $145 Billion by 2035 appeared first on SpaceNews.

NASA astronaut and Expedition 75 flight engineer Jessica Watkins works inside the Kibo laboratory module’s Life Science Glovebox on Oct. 9, 2026, safely mixing living cell samples with a bioink and then filling a special cartridge with the cell‑ink mixture. The advanced research operations were part of the InSPA‑Auxilium Bioprinter‑Cell Printing investigation, which explores 3D […]

The California launch comes hours after the company reported its second quarter of earnings as a publicly traded company. Liftoff from pad 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base is scheduled for 4:10 p.m. PDT (7:10 p.m. EDT / 2310 UTC).

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency successfully launch the Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission this afternoon EDT. MMX will not land on Mars, but instead explore its two moons, Phobos and […]

Written by Alex Innanen, Atmospheric Scientist at York University Earth planning date: Friday, Oct. 9, 2026 Happy New Mars Year! We mark the start of a new year on Mars at the beginning of the northern hemisphere spring, or the vernal equinox. We then keep track of the seasons by counting degrees of solar longitude […]

ESA’s Lunar Link telecommunications element has completed its final major integration and testing campaign at Thales Alenia Space in Cannes, France. 

French lawmakers have proposed allocating a symbolic €1 for Dassault Aviation’s VORTEX spaceplane programme in an effort to compel the government to clarify its financial commitments to the project. In a 16 October amendment to France’s proposed 2027 budget, 71 MPs from the La France Insoumise party proposed creating a dedicated budget line for VORTEX […] The post French MPs propose symbolic €1 budget line for VORTEX spaceplane appeared first on European Spaceflight.

Human activities have become intertwined with how water is distributed across the continents. A new study brings their effects into sharper focus.

Twelve Galileo Second Generation (G2) satellites will join the current fleet in the coming years. They will deliver unprecedented positioning, navigation and timing capabilities thanks to an array of new features, including a new signal generation module, the ‘brain' of the spacecraft. 

From the ESA Blogs.

The Republic of Uzbekistan became the 77th signatory of the Artemis Accords during a ceremony in Samarkand on Monday, committing to the practical principles that guide safe, transparent, and responsible civil space exploration. “Uzbekistan joins the Artemis Accords at a pivotal moment,” said NASA Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson. “President Trump has directed NASA to build […]

An image from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope released on Oct. 6, 2026, reveals a cauldron of cosmic creation. Webb has unveiled numerous stars formerly hidden by clouds of dust in a stellar nursery known as NGC 7129, which resides about 3,300 light-years from Earth. Learn more about this region – and tour it in […]

LOS ANGELES — October 20, 2026 AnySignal, a leading provider of software-defined radios and space-based networking, today announced an agreement with Reflect Orbital to deliver space-to-earth communications for Reflect Orbital’s inaugural […] The post AnySignal to Deliver Space-to-Earth Communications for Three Reflect Orbital Missions appeared first on SpaceNews.

A full-scale drop test of the European Space Agency’s Space Rider spaceplane ended abruptly after the test model’s parafoil failed to deploy as expected. This marks the second time this year that a Space Rider drop test has been interrupted by an anomaly, following an aborted attempt in May. The incident occurred during the vehicle’s […] The post Space Rider test model lost following failed drop test appeared first on European Spaceflight.

As NASA works to build the Moon Base, crewed and robotic lunar rovers will play a crucial role during early development through technology demonstrations, astronaut transport, terrain mapping, scientific investigations, and resource prospecting. Data from these early missions will inform future mobility systems and infrastructure needed for astronauts to live and work on the Moon. […]

APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 October 20 – An… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss   APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. An Anticrepuscular […]

"I do think there's a lot of merit to combining the companies."

NASA researchers are developing the future of flight on Mars, laying the groundwork for helicopters with the ability to fly higher and farther while conducting science on the Red Planet. Using high-fidelity computer simulations and wind tunnel tests, engineers are reimagining the rotorcraft blades that could carry the next generation of Mars flyers.

Nine rockets are set to launch this week from California, Florida, New Zealand, Japan, and… The post Launch Preview: H3, Falcon 9, Electron, and others to launch during busy week appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.

Destined for Mars and beyond, NASA’s Space Reactor-1 (SR-1) Freedom will be humanity’s first fission-powered spacecraft to travel outside Earth’s orbit. Announced during NASA’s “Ignition” event, this mission will demonstrate nuclear electric propulsion in deep space, and progress is underway on its key element: the nuclear power module. To expedite development of the spacecraft, NASA […]

Ars Technica is here to help with a guide to the medium-lift space race.

To measure airflow and sound, research teams at the NASA Glenn Research Center use special instrumentation like particle image velocimetry, hot wire anemometry, Raman spectroscopy, microphones in phased arrays or continuously rotating rakes. The global aviation noise reduction community relies on data from NASA GRC experiments to validate theory and noise prediction software. Rotating Rake […]

The four crew members in NASA’s simulated Mars mission have spent the past year living and working in isolation in a confined habitat at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Research teams at the NASA Glenn Research Center perform experiments in world-class facilities such as the 9- by 15-Foot Low-Speed Wind Tunnel (9 x15 LSWT), the Aero-Acoustic Propulsion Laboratory (AAPL), the Small Hot Jet Acoustic Rig (SHJAR), the Nozzle Acoustic Test Rig (NATR), the DGEN AeroPropulsion Research Turbofan (DART), and the Acoustical Testing Laboratory (ATL). […]

Research teams at NASA’s Glenn Research Center are involved in developing theory and software to predict the noise from aircraft engines. This software helps engineers to design and analyze new and improved aircraft propulsion systems. Copies of our software can be requested from NASA’s Software Catalog. JeNo Development of jet noise prediction codes is multifaceted. […]

Rockets vibrate, shake, and flex intensely as they climb into space, and spacecraft packed with delicate scientific instruments must survive those forces. Before any rocket leaves the ground, NASA engineers work to predict how those stresses will affect every part of a spacecraft. To do that, engineers in the Dynamic Environments Group with NASA’s Launch […]

This will be the second launch of SpaceX’s uncrewed reentry capsule, Starfall. Liftoff from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station is scheduled during a one-hour window that opens at 6:30 a.m. EDT (1030 UTC).

Here is SpacePolicyOnline.com’s list of space policy events for the week of October 18-24, 2026 and any insight we can offer about them. The House and Senate are in recess, […]

Following on from the successful Transporter 18 mission at the beginning of the month, SpaceX’s… The post Falcon 9 set to launch Bandwagon-5 rideshare mission from Florida appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.

SpaceX is advancing toward its next two Starship missions as the company looks to close… The post SpaceX working through Starship Flight 15 and 16 milestones appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.

APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 October 18 –… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss   APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. Sonified: Eagle Nebula […]

APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 October 17… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss   APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 3D 67P Explanation: Put […]

The infrastructure is designed to support multiple flights per week by the end of the decade.

Rocket Lab has delayed its Neutron launch vehicle once again after carbon fibre manufacturing problems… The post Carbon Fibre Troubles Force Rocket Lab to Delay Neutron Debut to No Earlier Than 2027 appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.

High-definition images of nighttime lights show where the hurricane knocked out power along the Florida Panhandle and how quickly the lights came back.

APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 October 16 –… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss   APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. To view this […]

From the ESA Blogs.

This NASA Hubble Space Telescope image features the edge-on, intermediate spiral galaxy NGC 1827, located roughly 37 million light-years away in the constellation Columba, the Dove.

The UK Space Agency (UKSA) is expected to award a £25 million contract for a ground-based space surveillance radar in July 2027. The call, published in late September, follows several changes to the government’s procurement plans for the installation. According to the call, the contract will cover the development and manufacture of a high-power radar […] The post UK to Award £25M Space Surveillance Radar Contract in July 2027 appeared first on European Spaceflight.

As the supercooled propellant flowed into the core stage, and NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket roared to life, Allison Mjoen and her family watched with awe and pride. Mjoen, NASA’s operations manager for the agency’s Exploration Ground Systems program, helped shape the systems and ground operations that will one day send humans back to […]

Shortly after NASA’s Artemis II mission splashed down on April 10, 2026, U.S. Navy divers captured underwater imagery of the Orion spacecraft’s heat shield. In the months after, the agency measured whether the thermal protection system effectively safeguarded the crew and Orion systems as the spacecraft reentered Earth’s atmosphere. This rigorous analysis confirmed that the […]

The launch infrastructure improvements also include a substantial manufacturing expansion at Rocket Park and the addition of new landing barges.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman has named Stephen Cash director of the agency’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, effective Monday, Oct. 19. Cash, a veteran NASA engineer and aerospace executive, returns to lead the center where he began his career more than four decades ago. “Marshall contributions to NASA’s missions are historic and it’s […]

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is getting ready to launch its Martian Moons eXploration mission early next week. The spacecraft will collect samples of Phobos, one of the moons […]

Liftoff from pad 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 15, at 4:57 p.m. PDT (7:57 p.m. EDT / 2357 UTC).

On 14 October, at the NAVISP Industry Days in Rome, Italy, the European Space Agency (ESA) signed new contracts with three European companies that will support the development of innovative technologies for resilient rail transportation and aviation.

Join us for a conversation on how machine learning is transforming the GEOINT mission across different markets The post Oct. 29: Applying AI to the GEOINT Mission appeared first on SpaceNews.

Join us for a conversation on how machine learning is transforming the GEOINT mission across different markets The post Oct. 29: Applying AI/SI to the GEOINT Mission appeared first on SpaceNews.

During El Niño, a cascade of fires across the tropics begins in equatorial Asia and continues in the central and eastern Amazon.

APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 October 15 – The… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss   APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. The Milky […]

From the ESA Blogs.

From the ESA Blogs.

From the ESA Blogs.

From the ESA Blogs.

Arianespace has announced that the next Ariane 6 launch will take place no earlier than 23 November, marking the rocket’s return to flight after ground testing reportedly revealed an issue with one of its turbopumps. The flight will carry 36 Amazon Leo satellites aboard an Ariane 64, the rocket’s four-booster configuration. It will be the […] The post Arianespace Targets 23 Nov Ariane 6 Return Following Reported Turbopump Fix appeared first on European Spaceflight.

BELLEVUE, Wash., Oct. 15, 2026 — Agile Space Industries, a leading provider of in-space chemical propulsion solutions, has expanded into the Seattle metropolitan area with the opening of a new […] The post Agile Space Industries Expands to Seattle Area with New Bellevue Office appeared first on SpaceNews.

A formation of radio waves looks remarkably like a treble clef in this Oct. 14, 2026, image from NASA’s Chandra X-Ray Observatory. Researchers used Chandra to find that the Treble Clef is likely caused by an outburst from a supermassive black hole, followed by a collision of two galaxy clusters. Read more about this discovery. […]

NASA’s Artemis II mission sent four astronauts around the Moon and brought them safely back to Earth, laying a foundation for crewed flights to the Moon’s surface. Additional engineering data analysis of the Orion spacecraft’s heat shield confirmed initial data showing the heat shield performed as expected.   In particular, NASA measured whether the thermal protection […]

NASA is playing an important role in JAXA’s (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) MMX (Martian Moons eXploration) mission, to advance our understanding of Mars’ moons and build on the agency’s long history of exploring the Red Planet. The mission aims to characterize and determine the origin of Mars’ moons Phobos and Deimos and deliver a sample […]

NASA has selected 12 U.S. institutions to receive $12 million to accelerate academic research and technology development in support of the agency’s priorities for exploring the Moon, Mars, and deep space. Through NASA’s Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP) Space Technology Artemis Research (M‑STAR) initiative, selected institutions will each receive up to $1 million […]

Registration is open for the 2026 NASA Space Apps Challenge, a two-day global event on Saturday, Nov. 14 and Sunday, Nov. 15, where teams work to create solutions inspired by NASA’s most ambitious exploration goals and making use of the agency’s free and open data. The annual challenge, often called a hackathon, is an intensive, […]

From the International Space Station’s unique position 250 miles above Earth, the Sun is a vital source of energy. Solar power supports the station’s life support systems, daily activities, and hundreds of research investigations that improve life on Earth and prepare humans for deep space exploration. Over the past five years, NASA augmented the station’s […]

A phenomenon rarer than a solar eclipse and more powerful than any single storm system is unfolding this fall, and NASA is tracking it closely. El Niño is a natural climate pattern that emerges roughly every two to seven years marked by warmer-than-normal water temperatures in parts of the equatorial Pacific. NASA scientists are keeping […]

In this episode, SpaceNews’ Mike Gruss talks with NASA’s Shatel Bhakta, the principal systems engineer for Moon Base, about what’s needed between now and 2028 and the incremental steps to […] The post How NASA is thinking about a moon base appeared first on SpaceNews.

A NASA Dynamic Aviation A200 aircraft will conduct low-flying research flights over farmland near Transit, Texas, from Thursday, Oct. 22, through Monday, Nov. 9. These flights will measure gaseous and particulate emissions from animal feeding operations. Agricultural emissions represent an important and understudied part of Earth’s land and atmosphere systems. The FarmFlux mission will deploy […]

With both solid rocket boosters fully stacked and all four RS-25 engines now installed on… The post Artemis III SLS teams prepare short stack for pad tanking test appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.

On 28 September, ESA’s Juice mission reached another important Jupiter-bound milestone with its penultimate gravity assist manoeuvre: a flyby of Earth. This encounter, however, was not only an essential step on the road to Jupiter, but an opportunity to rehearse the observations and operations that will define Juice’s exploration of the Jovian system.  

The Dragon spacecraft will bring around 6,300 lbs of supplies, equipment, and human health experiments to the Expedition 75/76 crew.

When the European thermal-imagery company constellr began working with Space Inventor on its next generation of satellites, some of the most important details of the spacecraft had yet to be […] The post How mini-constellations could more quickly bring new tech to Europe, and to orbit appeared first on SpaceNews.

The Spanish government has approved a request from satellite operator Hisdesat to bring forward €65.8 million of a €1 billion loan for the PAZ 2 spy satellite programme to cover payments due earlier than originally anticipated. Published in Spain’s official gazette on 3 September, the adjustment increases the funding scheduled for 2026 from €179.8 million […] The post Spain Approves Early Release of €65.8 Million in PAZ 2 Spy Satellite Funding appeared first on European Spaceflight.

NASA will provide an update on its plans to return American astronauts to the surface of the Moon by 2028 at 2 p.m. EDT, Friday, Oct. 23, at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Learn where to watch online: https://www.nasa.gov/live Participants in the briefing include: The update will include details about NASA’s Artemis III […]

If you’ve ever had your car start sluggishly, or not at all, on a particularly frigid winter morning, you know standard batteries do not like extreme cold. That’s why NASA researchers are working to develop a battery that could function in the brutal cold of the Moon’s South Pole, where nighttime temperatures plunge to minus […]

Sunlight illuminates the exhaust plumes of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the company’s Dragon spacecraft on Oct. 13, 2026. This visual phenomenon is known as a “jellyfish”; it happens near sunrise or sunset when the exhaust plume from the rocket becomes brightly illuminated, creating a glowing shape resembling a jellyfish. The mission lifted off […]

Astronomers have used NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory to break down the cause of a remarkable formation of radio waves they have nicknamed the “Treble Clef” because its distinct shape strongly resembles the musical symbol. The researchers discovered the Treble Clef is likely caused by an outburst from a supermassive black hole, followed by a collision […]

Students in Florida will hear from NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins and Luke Delaney as they answer prerecorded STEM questions while aboard the International Space Station. The Earth-to-space call will begin at 12 p.m. EDT Friday, Oct. 16, and will stream live on the agency’s Learn With NASA YouTube channel. This event is hosted by Sally Ride Elementary School […]

NASA will preview two upcoming spacewalks to complete solar array installation and power augmentation of the International Space Station during a news conference at 2 p.m. EDT, Tuesday, Oct. 20, from NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. NASA will stream the event through a variety of platforms. Learn where to watch online: https://www.nasa.gov/live NASA participants […]

The Starship second stage of SpaceX’s Integrated Flight Test-13 is back at Starbase, TX after surprisingly surviving splashdown in the Indian Ocean in July. To date, it is the only […]

APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 October 13 –… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss   APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. OriginalAnnotated Desert Stairway […]

The Norwegian government has detailed plans to finance a second orbital launch pad at Andøya Spaceport, an initiative the country’s Minister of Trade and Industry first announced on 30 September. In its proposed state budget, published on 7 October, the government allocated NOK 323.3 million (€30 million) towards the project in 2027. NOK 223.5 million […] The post Norway Details Funding Allocation for Second Andøya Launch Pad appeared first on European Spaceflight.

ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot has returned to Europe following her 237-day εpsilon mission aboard the International Space Station. A press conference with Sophie and Director of Human and Robotic Exploration Daniel Neuenschwander took place on 13 October 2026 at 11:00 CEST in Cologne, Germany.

NASA’s SpaceX 35th commercial resupply mission lifted off at 6:33 a.m. EDT Tuesday aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, carrying more than 6,300 pounds of supplies and hardware, bound for the International Space Station. Following its successful launch, the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft will […]

Liftoff of the Falcon 9 rocket from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station is scheduled for 6:33 a.m. EDT (1033 UTC) on Tuesday, Oct. 13. The Cargo Dragon spacecraft will arrive at the space station following a two-day flight.

This week features a relatively quiet launch manifest, with SpaceX’s workhorse Falcon 9 comprising much… The post Launch Preview: Falcon 9, ZhuQue-2E to launch during quiet week appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.

The Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission is set to launch into space on a H3 rocket from the Tanegashima Space Center at 04:41 JST on 20 October 2026 (20:41 BST / 21:41 CEST on 19 October 2026). MMX will be the first mission to collect a sample from Mars’s moon Phobos and bring it back to Earth.

A commercial lander that will be at the forefront of NASA’s efforts to establish a Moon Base, humanity’s first lunar outpost, has passed a series of critical tests at the agency’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. The tests simulated the extreme temperatures and vacuum of space, as well as the intense shaking and ear-splitting […]

The sunrise launch on Oct. 13 was the 35th SpaceX flight under the Commercial Resupply Services 2 contract with NASA.

For more information, contact Joel W. Sills, Langley Research Center, joel.w.sills@nasa.gov Download the PDF version NASA’s Chemical Equilibrium with Applications (CEA) code is a foundational tool for propulsion system analysis. It provides equilibrium chemistry, rocket performance, shock, and detonation calculations used across NASA and the broader aerospace community. NASA Engineering and Safety Center (NESC) Activity […]

If the thought of extraterrestrial objects crashing into Earth weren’t creepy enough, behold Australia’s Spider Crater.

After 237 days and over 3,700 orbits around Earth aboard the International Space Station, Sophie Adenot is back on Earth!

The ice reached its third-lowest maximum extent since satellite observations began.

APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 October 12 –… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss   APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. Jupiter and the […]

MDA Space, a global leader in communications satellites, Earth and space observation, space exploration and infrastructure, will utilize Jena-Optronik’s ASTRO HP star sensor on a LEO mission. This milestone underscores […] The post Jena-Optronik is proud to partner with MDA Space for its first ASTRO HP mission. appeared first on SpaceNews.

NASA experiments focused on human and plant health and drug-resistant organisms will travel to the International Space Station aboard SpaceX’s 35th Commercial Resupply Services mission for the agency from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, advancing research that benefits life on Earth and future exploration. This research supports astronaut health during long-duration missions through […]

Liftoff off of the Starlink 15-25 mission from Space Launch Complex 4 East is scheduled for 5:28 p.m. PDT (8:28 p.m. EDT / 0028 UTC).

The European Space Agency’s (ESA) NovaMoon mission will improve positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) services on the Moon. It will help rovers, landers and astronauts navigate on the Moon like cars, planes and pedestrians navigate on Earth. 

From the ESA Blogs.

Before Rosalind Franklin can explore Mars, it has to get off its lander.

Before Rosalind Franklin can explore Mars, it has to get off its lander.

Before the Rosalind Franklin rover can explore Mars, it must first get off its lander.

The International Space Station, fresh off a crew handover and the return of Crew-12 to… The post CRS-35 set to launch to ISS with final iROSA arrays, experiments, and other items appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.

Here is SpacePolicyOnline.com’s list of space policy events for the week of October 11-17, 2026 and any insight we can offer about them. The House and Senate are in recess, […]

Teams using the James Webb Space Telescope and the Hubble Space Telescope — both jointly… The post Webb and Hubble observe stellar nurseries, galaxies, and gravitational lensing in new images appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.

APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 October 11 – Ice… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss   APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. Ice Fishing […]

Four months after Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket exploded on the launch pad, the company… The post Blue Origin Advances LC-36 Rebuild for Year-End New Glenn Return to Flight appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.

APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 October 10… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss   APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. Lunar Farside Explanation: Tidally […]

ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot has arrived back in Europe, landing in Cologne, Germany, following her return to Earth with Crew-12 after 237 days, nearly eight months, aboard the International Space Station for her εpsilon mission.

As part of the agency’s Inspiration Tour flyover, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman will pilot one of three F-5 fighter jets to kick off the New York Jets vs. Cleveland Browns game in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Sunday, Oct. 11. NASA team members will engage with fans at the agency’s Experience Zone, located at the […]

On 9 October, astronauts on the International Space Station begin supporting the final decommissioning of ESA's Fluid Science Laboratory (FSL), one of the longest-serving scientific facilities inside Europe's Columbus laboratory.

Heavy rains since mid-September have caused widespread flooding that has affected millions of people across the country.

APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 October 9… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss   APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. Stickney Crater Explanation: Stickney […]

From the ESA Blogs.

"I can say we’re weeks away from launching on Vulcan."

Week in images: 05-09 October 2026

The Italian Space Agency (ASI) is exploring the development of a dedicated orbital platform capable of generating artificial gravity to support scientific research and technology development. ASI announced the initiative on 8 October and expects to open a consultation with the scientific and technological community later this month to gather research requirements, ideas and potential […] The post Italy Explores Building an Artificial Gravity Research Platform in Orbit appeared first on European Spaceflight.

NASA is testing heat shields that can keep astronauts safe as they return from missions to the Moon and Mars in an unusual way: by taking out the trash. When Northrop Grumman 24th cargo resupply mission for NASA undocked from the International Space Station, it carried a fleet of 12 small, experimental capsules designed to […]

NASA is advancing American leadership in space by taking the next step toward a future where commercial space stations lead the way in low Earth orbit. On Friday, the agency released its final Request for Proposals inviting industry to submit plans for the next generation of commercial space stations. “In alignment with the President’s National […]

"We’ve made it clear that NASA will never give up its presence in low Earth orbit."

Liftoff of the Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California carrying satellites for the Space Development Agency’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture constellation is scheduled for 12:39 a.m. PDT (3:39 EDT / 0739 UTC).

Galaxies warp and multiply as if in a house of mirrors in this image from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope released on Sept. 29, 2026. The brilliant golden galaxies seen here are part of a galaxy cluster called MACS J0454.1-0300. The orange galaxies bunched together on one side of the image, however, are not actually […]

Ship 42 for Flight 15 has headed back out to Massey’s for more cryo-proof testing… The post Ship 40 Returns Home as Ship 42 gets more Cryo Proof Testing appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.

NASA’s Crew-12 mission splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California this morning, bringing the 237-day mission to an end. Their replacements on Crew-13 arrived a week […]

After more than seven months aboard the International Space Station, NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission safely splashed down Thursday in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Los Angeles. The crew members will discuss their science mission during a news conference at 3:30 p.m. EDT, Thursday, Oct. 15, at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. […]

In this episode, a panel of industry experts discuss what’s needed to build a moon base. During a live event at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center, leaders Astrolab, Firefly […] The post What will it take to build a moon base? appeared first on SpaceNews.

The Exploration Company has announced it will test a lunar hopper demonstrator called ONEIROS in the United Arab Emirates in 2027. ONEIROS is a privately funded initiative focused on validating technologies that could eventually support lower-cost access to the lunar surface. The company plans to build a one-tonne demonstrator that will use a throttleable methane-fuelled […] The post The Exploration Company to Test Lunar Hopper Demonstrator in 2027 appeared first on European Spaceflight.

First discovered in 2007, fast radio bursts are enigmatic, millisecond-long flashes of radio emission from the distant universe. Their origin remains uncertain, particularly since most are seen once and never again. Astronomers using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope have pinpointed the host galaxy of the most distant fast radio burst (FRB) seen to date. Their […]

NASA’s SPHEREx (Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization, and Ices Explorer) space telescope is shedding light on brown dwarfs, celestial objects that blur the line between stars and exoplanets. New findings published in The Astrophysical Journal show that these dark and cloudy worlds have chemically rich atmospheres not unlike the giant […]

The SpaceX Crew Dragon Freedom spacecraft is seen moments before splashing down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California in this Oct. 8, 2026, photograph. Aboard were NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 members NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev. The four spent […]

As the Golden Age of deep-space exploration begins, NASA and the U.S. Department of Energy are advancing the development of safe, reliable, next-generation nuclear technologies for space. Together, the agencies will supercharge civil space exploration, unlock bold scientific discovery, and solidify American leadership in space nuclear power and propulsion.  “We are entering the ‘Nuclear NASA-era,’ […]

Drought and an ailing aquifer were major topics of conversation when NASA scientists visited with farmers in the Texas High Plains.

APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 October 8 – The… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss   APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. The Saturn […]

In 2025, to celebrate thirty years of satellite navigation in Europe, the European Space Agency (ESA) commissioned a documentary to capture the history of Galileo, Europe’s satellite navigation system. Finding Our Way: Inside the Galileo Project will premiere on YouTube on 15 October 2026 at 18:30 CEST. Here, we sit down with Design & Data’s Johannes Walden, who directed the documentary.

For thousands of years, the night sky has inspired humanity, guided explorers and helped scientists unlock the mysteries of the Universe. As the number of satellites in orbit grows, their reflected light and radio frequency interference become a challenge for both professional astronomy and simple stargazing.

The European Space Agency-led Solar Orbiter spacecraft has flown through an S-shaped kink known as a ‘switchback’ in the solar wind’s magnetic field. By fingerprinting the elusive particles within the switchback, Solar Orbiter has traced its origin back to the Sun’s surface and revealed more about solar magnetism – the unruly instigator of dangerous solar storms.

Just two weeks after it was launched, the Copernicus Sentinel-3C satellite returned its first images and measurements from two of its key instruments – a major milestone that confirms the satellite is working well and on the road to monitoring the health of Earth’s oceans, land, cryosphere and atmosphere.

"If this was easy, everybody else would be doing it."

NASA has taken the next step in the process of developing a new all-glass telescope for the LISA (Laser Interferometer Space Antenna) mission, a space observatory designed to detect ripples in space-time called gravitational waves. L3Harris Technologies will design, assemble, and integrate the new telescope for NASA. Called the Engineering Test Unit, this contribution represents […]

A new NASA-supported spacecraft will get up close to satellites that are no longer in service, demonstrating technologies that could support future in-space repairs and reduce orbital debris. The Small Spacecraft Propulsion and Inspection Capability (SSPICY) mission launched Oct. 1 from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The mission is a technology demonstration where an […]

NASA is launching two new science and technology initiatives to deepen scientific understanding and accelerate the innovation that will shape America’s future in space. The initiatives are announced in conjunction with the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy’s (OSTP) “Golden Age Summit” in Washington on Thursday with top U.S. agency leaders. The programs […]

Media are invited to join NASA for a media teleconference at 4 p.m. EDT, Thursday, Oct. 15, to preview the agency’s contributions to JAXA’s (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission. The mission is scheduled to launch from JAXA’s Tanegashima Space Center in Japan on Monday, Oct. 19 EDT (Tuesday, Oct. 20 JST). […]

ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot returned to Earth with Crew-12 after her nearly eight-month εpsilon mission to the International Space Station, splashing down off the coast of California, USA, at 15:34 GMT/17:34 CEST on 8 October 2026. 

Scientists using the European Space Agency's Mars Express, in combination with a state-of-the-art meteorological model of the Red Planet, have found that there may be some very exotic physics behind Mars’s most curious cloud.

Satellite records show Arctic sea ice covering less of the ocean in both winter and summer.

APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 October 7 –… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss   APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. Supernova Remnant Pa […]

From the ESA Blogs.

The European Space Agency’s Hera planetary defence mission team is preparing to light a fire in the sky. On the early morning of 15 October the small-car-sized spacecraft will burn its Orbit Control Thrusters in the direction of its target asteroid system for a total of 93 minutes continuously. This braking manoeuvre will bring it near to matching the orbital velocity of the Didymos binary asteroids.

The European Space Agency’s Hera planetary defence mission team is preparing to light a fire in the sky. On the early morning of 15 October the small-car-sized spacecraft will burn its Orbit Control Thrusters in the direction of its target asteroid system for a total of 93 minutes continuously. This braking manoeuvre will bring it near to matching the orbital velocity of the Didymos binary asteroids.

The European Space Agency announced that ArianeGroup and Swedish Space Corporation completed a second wet dress rehearsal of the Themis reusable rocket demonstrator at Esrange in Sweden. ESA announced the completion of the latest rehearsal on 7 October, saying that the test had taken place on 29 September. As with the first wet dress rehearsal, […] The post ArianeGroup Completes Second Themis Wet Dress Rehearsal appeared first on European Spaceflight.

Meet Hera, our very own asteroid detective. Together with two CubeSats – Milani the rock decoder and Juventas the radar visionary – Hera is off on an adventure to explore Didymos, a double asteroid system that is typical of the thousands that pose an impact risk to planet Earth.

Launched two years ago today, the European Space Agency’s Hera mission for planetary defence has been hurtling away from Earth ever since. The small-car-sized spacecraft is now preparing for its single most challenging activity since lift-off: the sustained braking manoeuvres to slow it down to approach its target asteroids.

The future of European exploration and the decisions ahead took centre stage during ESA’s third day at IAC 2026. ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher joined representatives of ESA Member States to discuss Europe's ambitions in low Earth orbit, around the Moon and beyond. The day also saw ESA Director of Space Transportation Géraldine Naja receive the 2026 WIA-Europe Outstanding Achievement Award in recognition of her contribution to the European space sector.

A visualization of a dark Moon eclipsing the Sun is marked with handwritten notes in this April 6, 2026, screenshot from an Artemis II crew member’s tablet. NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman (in blue) and Victor “Ike” Glover (in green) and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) Jeremy Hansen (in red) observed impact flashes and their locations, which […]

Description NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover captured this panorama of sunrise illuminating distant, wind-carved features called yardangs on Aug. 11, 2026, the 4,982nd Martian day, or sol, of the mission. Scientists are eager to learn more about how the yardang layer formed. Figure A is a crop zooming in on the distant yardangs. Since 2014, Curiosity […]

Description NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover captured this view looking back at the floor of Gale Crater, with the crater’s rim visible in the distance, on Sept. 5, 2026, the 5,006th Martian day, or sol, of the mission. Just nine days prior, on Aug. 26 (Sol 4,996), Curiosity set a mission milestone by reaching 1 kilometer […]

Description This artist’s concept depicts the proposed design for NASA’s PRobe far-Infrared Mission for Astrophysics (PRIMA), which was selected by the agency in September 2026. The PRIMA observatory is the first in a new class of NASA astrophysics missions, called Probe Explorers, within the agency’s longstanding Explorers Program. By observing far-infrared light, PRIMA will enable scientists to study cosmic […]

NASA and SpaceX are targeting no earlier than Tuesday, Oct. 13 to launch scientific investigations, supplies, and equipment to the International Space Station.

NASA and SpaceX are targeting 6:33 a.m. EDT, Tuesday, Oct. 13, for the next launch to deliver science investigations, supplies, and equipment, including the final set of International Space Station Roll-Out Solar Arrays, to the space station. This is the 35th SpaceX commercial resupply services mission to the orbital complex for NASA. NASA also will […]

Meet the 43 leaders and accomplishments that exemplified excellence across the industry over the last 12 months The post Announcing the finalists for the 2026 SpaceNews Icon Awards appeared first on SpaceNews.

International cooperation remained at the heart of ESA’s participation in the 77th International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Antalya, Türkiye, as ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher held a series of high-level meetings with partners from around the world. The exchanges reflected ESA’s commitment to strengthening existing partnerships while broadening cooperation with both established and emerging space actors.

NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland is seeking Phase 1 proposals for the design and construction of the Aerospace Power Systems Laboratory. The principal purpose of this procurement is to deliver a laboratory facility to support the testing and development of power systems, with associated site work, infrastructure, and systems. The laboratory will provide modern […]

As an astronaut traverses the lunar South Pole, tribocharging from walking on the lunar surface and plasma charging from the ambient plasma generate electric charge on the spacesuit. This problem is severely compounded when entering lunar shadows and Permanently Shadowed Regions (PSRs). In these dark zones, the spacesuit can buildup a substantial negative potential due […]

Your challenge is to tell us the location of the satellite image and why it is interesting.

After delivering more than 11,000 pounds of supplies, science experiments, and other cargo to the International Space Station for NASA, Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus XL spacecraft is scheduled to depart Friday, Oct. 9, as part of the company’s Commercial Resupply Services-24 mission, or Northrop Grumman CRS-24. Watch NASA’s live coverage of undocking and departure beginning at 12:30 […]

Santa Rosa, CA — October 2026 — Deposition Sciences, Inc. (DSI), a leader in advanced thin film coatings, proudly announces the introduction of a new 12″ × 30″ format for […] The post Deposition Sciences, Inc. Expands Sunshade® Tape Offering with New 12″ × 30″ Format appeared first on SpaceNews.

A newly released panorama captured by NASA’s Curiosity rover offers the most detailed view yet of distant, wind-carved Martian cliffs, highlighting features the mission’s scientists have long been waiting to see up close. The scene was snapped at 8:30 a.m. local Mars time, showing striking blue hues in the foreground as bright morning light illuminates […]

Diligent sleuthing by astronomers uncovered a surprising chemical clue that indicates the white dwarf star HS 0209+0832 may host a second-generation planet. This artist’s concept released on Oct. 5, 2026, depicts that possible explanation. The white dwarf is the “dead” core of a star that burned through all of its nuclear fuel and lost its outer […]

The European Commission has extended the deadline for the SALTO reusable launcher project to the end of 2026, giving the programme another three months to complete the first hop test of Europe’s Themis reusable rocket demonstrator. According to the European Commission’s project database, the reuSable strAtegic space Launcher Technologies & Operations (SALTO) initiative is now […] The post The EU Extends SALTO Deadline Again as Themis Hop Test Slips appeared first on European Spaceflight.

For eight days, a Mars rover prototype travelled 220 metres across a barren landscape, following commands from a science team some 1200 kilometres away.

A research aircraft chased a sub-orbital rocket launch in Sweden to see how space agencies can better monitor and understand emissions in our atmosphere.

To date, this Atlantic tropics year has been exceptionally quiet.

After eight months aboard the International Space Station, NASA and SpaceX’s Crew-12 mission is scheduled… The post Crew-12 set to depart the ISS after eighth months in orbit appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.

Written by Alex Jones, Ph.D. candidate at Imperial College London Sept. 29, 2026 After spending the last six months exploring “Lac de Charmes,” a region of ancient rock beyond Jezero crater’s western rim, Perseverance has stumbled upon a vast field of light-toned rocks peppering the Martian surface.  Light-colored rocks are a strange sight on Mars, […]

On 7 October 2026, ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot and her Crew-12 crewmates will undock from the International Space Station at around 12:05 GMT/14:05 CEST to begin their journey back to Earth.  

Written by Michelle Minitti, MAHLI Deputy Principal Investigator Earth planning date: Friday, Oct. 1, 2026 The majority of Curiosity plans involve mosaics from Mastcam and ChemCam, chemistry analyses from ChemCam and APXS, images from MAHLI and MARDI, and systematic measurements from REMS, RAD, and DAN. It is only when we stop to drill that we […]

A cauldron of cosmic creation is being revealed in a new image from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope. Webb has unveiled numerous stars formerly hidden by clouds of dust in a stellar nursery known as NGC 7129, which resides about 3,300 light-years from Earth. Stars, the engines of elemental creation, have life cycles that begin […]

From the ESA Blogs.

NASA has stacked the center segments of both Artemis III solid rocket boosters on Mobile… The post NASA progress with SLS vehicles for upcoming Artemis missions appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.

APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 October 6 – A… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss   APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. ESA, CAS, […]

Dissolved organic matter and suspended sediment mingle in the southernmost extent of James Bay.

"The administrator's directive is a coherent and necessary vision for the future."

Stronger European capabilities and deeper international cooperation were at the heart of ESA’s first day at the 77th International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Antalya, Türkiye. From exploration to the contribution of space to society, ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher underlined the importance of Europe becoming a stronger and more capable partner in a rapidly changing space environment.

Presentations at Industry Space Days

DURANGO, Colo., Oct. 5, 2026 — Agile Space Industries today announced that Jonathan Baliff has joined its Board of Directors, bringing extensive experience in aerospace, finance, and corporate leadership. His […] The post Agile Space Industries Strengthens Board and Corporate Development to Support Continued Growth appeared first on SpaceNews.

German launch startup HyImpulse has pushed the second flight of its SR75 suborbital rocket into spring 2027. On 1 October, HyImpulse announced that it had secured a launch operator licence from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to operate its SR75 rocket from SaxaVord in Scotland. With the announcement, the company said the rocket’s first […] The post Second HyImpulse Suborbital SR75 Flight Slips to 2027 appeared first on European Spaceflight.

By Mail: National Aeronautics and Space Administration Langley Research Center Hampton, VA  23681-2199 By Phone: Operator: (757) 864-1000 Public & Media Inquiries: larc-dl-public-inquiries@mail.nasa.gov Partnerships:larc-partnerships@mail.nasa.gov Educational Inquiries:Langley Office of Education (757) 864-6300 See also: NASA Learning Resources Visitors Center: Virginia Air & Space Science Center Telephone: (757) 727-0900

New analysis of archival Hubble data points to the possibility of “dead” white dwarf stars hosting second-generation planetary systems.

NASA is leveraging its expertise and enhancing its test facilities to help address a rare but persistent aviation hazard: icing that occurs when aircraft encounter unusually large, very cold water droplets in clouds.   The problem, known as “supercooled large droplet icing,” occurs when aircraft fly through clouds containing unusually large drops of water that are […]

NASA astronaut and mission specialist of the agency’s Artemis II mission, Christina Koch, leads the fans in singing the Eagles Fight Song from the field at an NFL game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Los Angeles Rams at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026, in Philadelphia. NASA’s engagement at NFL games is […]

Amazon wants more than 5,000 satellites in orbit. Blue Origin has proposed another 5,400. Chinese companies have filed plans encompassing vastly more. Elon Musk has talked about a constellation numbering […] The post Resource competition intensifies with surge in megaconstellations appeared first on SpaceNews.

On the heels of an impactful few days of launches from SpaceX, this week shapes… The post Launch Preview: Flights from South Korea, China, USA planned for this week appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.

NASA and SpaceX are targeting no earlier than 8:05 a.m. EDT, Wednesday, Oct. 7, for the undocking of the agency’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission from the International Space Station, pending weather conditions. An Oct. 7 undock puts NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev […]

A bright lens of anorthosite, a rock type prevalent on the lunar surface, is cradled within sheared rocks in the country’s south.

APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 October 5 – M104:… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss   APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. M104: The […]

This video was published on social media by ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot with the following caption:

APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 October 4 –… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss   APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. Supernumerary Rainbows over […]

Written by Lucy Thompson, Senior Research Scientist, University of New Brunswick, Canada Earth planning date: Friday, Sept. 25, 2026 Before we landed, the area of Gale crater that we planned to explore was divided up into rectangular parcels with designated names. The names were chosen after small towns associated with significant geological features. Our selected […]

“I want to be able to look at a rocket launch and say, ‘I touched a piece of this.’” That’s how Richard Spolzino describes the thing he’s chasing. Not a title, not a specific mission, not even NASA itself, just the ability to point at something real and know his work made it possible. At […]

Following its launch in May and a multi-month commissioning period, the joint European Space Agency… The post ESA, CAS release first images from SMILE; officially begin science operations appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.

The Tranche 1 Transporter Layer A mission is the fourth flight supporting the Space Development Agency’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture constellation. Liftoff from pad 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base is scheduled for 1:17 a.m. PDT (4:17 a.m. EDT / 0817 UTC).

Here is SpacePolicyOnline.com’s list of space policy events for the week of October 4-10, 2026 and any insight we can offer about them. The House and Senate are in recess […]

The European Space Agency (ESA) recently started investigating options for a European-led space station. The… The post ESA to pursue crew transport and space stations as European launchers come online appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.

APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 October 3 –… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss   APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. Selfie at Vera […]

NASA is seeking leaders for one of the most esteemed positions on Earth for human spaceflight: flight director in mission control at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. This role is critical to advancing American leadership in space exploration, as NASA paves the way for a sustained human presence on the Moon. Applications for […]

NASA’s 13th operational Crew Dragon mission arrived at the International Space Station today about 8 hours after launch. That’s the fastest trip on a SpaceX Dragon thanks to an opportune […]

Join Us for Movie Night with NASA NASA’s mission is to pioneer the future in space exploration and scientific discovery. NASA+ documentaries allow you to come along for the ride. It’s free. It’s on demand. And no subscription is required. Grab some popcorn and come along for the journey. Other Worlds: Europa Cosmic Dawn Planetary […]

NASA should strive for clarity as to its exact intentions as it seeks to establish positive norms for lunar surface usage.

For ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot, her first steps into space were only the beginning.

From the ESA Blogs.

As part of NASA’s ongoing Inspiration Tour, NASA astronaut Christina Koch will highlight America’s strengths in space exploration and aeronautics innovation at the Philadelphia Eagles vs. Los Angeles Rams game in Philadelphia on Sunday, Oct. 4. A self-proclaimed Philadelphia sports fan, Koch is an explorer and engineer who spent a total of 338 days in […]

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission is ending, with the crew scheduled to return in early October. NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev will head home from the International Space Station after supporting research that benefits life on Earth and prepares humans for missions […]

The engineering development unit for NASA’s DAVINCI (Deep Atmosphere Venus Investigation of Noble gases, Chemistry, and Imaging) probe is photographed prior to a major thermal evaluation. The DAVINCI team put the yoga ball-sized vessel into a ceramic-lined chamber with heat-scorched walls and ratcheted up the temperature to 869 F, or 465 C, over the course […]

A newer program has been operational since 2011, and the next generation could launch within 12 months.

Lee esta nota de prensa en inglés aquí. La NASA busca líderes para uno de los puestos más prestigiosos de la Tierra en el ámbito de los vuelos espaciales tripulados: director de vuelo en el control de misión del Centro Espacial Johnson de la agencia, en Houston. Esta función es fundamental para reforzar el liderazgo […]

The Wildhorse grass fire in eastern Idaho erupted with a massive pulse of smoke. No one had expected it, but the wildfire had launched what’s known as a pyrocumulonimbus cloud, or pyroCb. It was an elusive weather phenomenon that scientists on NASA’s INSPYRE (INjected Smoke and PYRocumulonimbus Experiment) campaign spent weeks this summer hunting across […]

Groundbreaking tests at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, are paving the way for new wind tunnel capabilities for designing the aircraft technologies of the future.  In a first-of-its-kind test in NASA Langley’s Transonic Dynamics Tunnel, researchers used unsteady Pressure Sensitive Paint to study how air flows around a standard wind tunnel model known […]

Portuguese space technology group Omnidea has acquired most of Orbex’s intellectual property and UK assets after the rocket builder collapsed into administration in February. Omnidea plans to develop an evolution of Orbex’s small launch vehicle called PrimeNEO. Omnidea completed the acquisition of Orbex’s UK manufacturing assets, intellectual property and brand on 30 September. The company […] The post Portugal’s Omnidea Acquires Orbex Assets, Plans PrimeNEO Rocket appeared first on European Spaceflight.