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A team of researchers has discovered a sugar compound called erythrulose in the interstellar medium near the center of the Milky Way galaxy, a finding that could provide insights into the origins of life. This detection is significant as it suggests that the building blocks of life are widespread in the universe.
SpaceX aborted the launch of its Starship test flight, Flight 13, on July 16 due to engine ignition issues, with two Raptors set to be removed and replaced for the next attempt. The mission aims to carry 20 functioning Starlink V3 satellites into suborbital space.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket has launched 21 satellites into low Earth orbit as part of the Space Force’s Space Development Agency’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture, marking a significant milestone in the development of the US military’s first operational low Earth orbit data network. The launch restarts the deployment of the network after a months-long pause due to hardware and software issues.
SpinLaunch, a pioneering company in the aerospace industry, is developing a novel launch system that aims to reimagine the way spacecraft are launched into orbit. This new approach has significant implications for the global space community, particularly in building constellations and adapting to changing customer demands.
Swissto12 has raised $70 million to accelerate its small geostationary satellite manufacturing business, with plans to utilize the funds to meet growing demand and complete projects such as the HummingSat for SES by 2027. This investment is expected to have significant implications for the aerospace industry, particularly in the realm of small satellite technology.
SpaceX is preparing to launch its Starship rocket on a suborbital test flight, marking the debut of its Starlink Version 3 satellites and testing various mission objectives. The launch, scheduled for July 16, 2026, will not include recovery of the booster or upper stage, as the company focuses on achieving a monthly launch cadence.
On July 16, 2026, SpaceX will launch a Falcon 9 rocket carrying 21 communications satellites designed to enhance secure communication between the US military and its allies. The satellites are part of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) constellation and will operate in Low Earth Orbit.
The US Space Force has awarded Slingshot Aerospace a $69.2 million contract to develop artificial intelligence-based training environments, enabling military operators to rehearse complex satellite defense missions. This investment aims to address the challenges of training personnel for potential conflict scenarios in orbit.
Gen. Chance Saltzman, the US Space Force chief, has cautioned that a conflict in space would put every nation's satellites at risk and emphasized the importance of building military capabilities to deter such a war. The US Space Force is focusing on developing space control and counterspace capabilities to protect its interests and those of its allies.
A Florida-based startup, Satellite Orbital Access and Removal (SOAR), has partnered with the University of Texas, El Paso, to develop a passive system for capturing small space debris, addressing a critical issue in the aerospace industry. This collaboration seeks to counter the growing problem of orbital debris, which poses significant risks to operational satellites and spacecraft.
NASA and its stakeholders are engaged in comprehensive planning for a human mission to Mars, emphasizing the need for integrated approaches across multiple disciplines to overcome the significant challenges involved. The success of this endeavor relies on lessons learned from the Artemis missions to the moon and careful consideration of key factors such as planetary protection.
The Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft will undock from the International Space Station ahead of reentry and landing in Kazakhstan.
On 12 August 2026, a solar eclipse will be visible across parts of Europe and the north Atlantic. The path of totality will cross Greenland, Iceland, Spain and a small area of northeastern Portugal. Other parts of Europe will see a partial solar eclipse.
Third flyby of ESA's Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice) mission on its way to the Jovian system.
Orbital insertion around Mercury of the ESA-JAXA BepiColombo mission.
Solar Orbiter, a partnership between ESA and NASA, will perform a gravity assist maneuver with Venus on December 24, 2026. Throughout its mission it also makes repeated gravity assist flybys of Venus to get closer to the Sun, and to change its orbital inclination, boosting it out of the ecliptic plane, to get the best – and first – views of the Sun’s poles.