Browse the complete archive of aerospace journalism with contextual analysis
NASA has revised its plans for the Artemis program, selecting a new upper stage for the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and adopting a standardized configuration to establish a long-term human presence on the lunar surface. This change aims to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of future lunar missions.
The Hubble and Euclid space telescopes have captured a new image of the Cat's Eye Nebula, a planetary nebula located 4,400 light-years away from Earth in the constellation Draco, revealing stunning details about the end of a star's life cycle. This discovery provides valuable insights into the final stages of stellar evolution.
Lux Aeterna has raised $10 million to develop fully reusable satellites, which could significantly reduce costs and increase flexibility in the space economy. This breakthrough technology has the potential to transform the aerospace industry by enabling satellites to return to Earth and relaunch almost instantly.
The Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission has achieved a significant milestone by altering the orbit of the asteroid Dimorphos around its binary companion Didymos and the sun. This accomplishment demonstrates the effectiveness of kinetic impactor technology in deflecting asteroids, with implications for future planetary defense strategies.
On March 10, 2026, SpaceX launched the EchoStar XXV TV satellite into a geosynchronous transfer orbit on its 30th mission of the year, marking another milestone in the company's busy launch schedule. The successful launch will provide TV signals for Dish Network customers.
SpaceX successfully launched the EchoStar 25 satellite on a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, marking a significant milestone in the deployment of direct television satellites. The satellite will operate in geostationary Earth orbit, providing critical communications services to customers across the continent.
China is planning to land its first astronauts on the moon before the end of the decade, with the Rimae Bode region identified as a priority candidate landing area due to its diverse landscape of volcanic plains and ancient highlands. The mission will utilize a lunar lander and an unpressurized rover for sampling, marking a significant step in China"s space exploration program.
The development of smart telescopes has significantly impacted the field of astronomy and astrophotography, offering users a simple and immersive experience with advanced technology such as Newtonian design and OLED micro-displays. These innovative devices have made it easier for both beginners and experienced enthusiasts to explore the night sky.
SpaceX has successfully completed cryoproof operations for its Ship 39, a crucial step towards the vehicle"s first flight, marking a significant milestone in the development of the Starship program. This achievement paves the way for Ship 39 to embark on its maiden voyage, designated as Flight 12.
A meteorite pierced the roof of a house in Koblenz, Germany, on March 8, 2026, following a widely observed fireball event that was reported by over 2,800 witnesses across western Europe. The incident resulted in no injuries and provided scientists with a rare opportunity to study a freshly fallen meteorite.
The final teaser trailer for the movie Project Hail Mary, based on the novel by Andy Weir and starring Ryan Gosling, has been released, confirming a March 20, 2026, release date. A limited number of IMAX screens will show the movie a week early.
The International Space Station is expected to remain in operation until September 30, 2032, following the advancement of a NASA Authorization bill that extends its retirement by two years. This decision aims to maintain continuous human presence and capabilities in low Earth orbit (LEO) while also supporting U.S. interests in human spaceflight.
On Sunday, March 8, 2026, SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket carrying 25 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit, marking the company"s 29th launch of the year and bringing the total number of active Starlink satellites to 9,915. This launch demonstrates SpaceX"s continued progress in deploying its satellite constellation.
The US space policy now emphasizes commercial integration, with private companies like SpaceX providing key services, but this shift raises concerns about structural vulnerabilities and dependence on a single company. The NASA Reauthorization Act of 2026 and the U.S. Space Force’s 2024 Commercial Space Strategy highlight the government’s efforts to partner with American commercial providers.
NASA has chosen United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) Centaur 5 upper stage to be used in its Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, starting with the Artemis 4 mission scheduled for early 2028. This decision marks a significant change in NASA’s plans for the SLS rocket, which was originally designed with a different upper stage in mind.
The European Space Agency"s (ESA) Proba-3 mission has experienced a significant setback after losing contact with one of its two spacecraft, the Coronagraph vehicle, due to an anomaly that caused it to lose orientation. The incident occurred on February 14, 2025, and the ESA is currently investigating the cause of the anomaly.
Researchers have made a significant breakthrough in the field of astrophysics, doubling the catalog of gravitational wave sources, including black hole mergers and neutron star collisions, with the discovery of 128 new gravitational wave sources. This achievement provides valuable insights into the universe's most violent and energetic events.
Eutelsat has successfully completed a €5 billion refinancing plan, which will be used to refresh its OneWeb low Earth orbit broadband constellation and support Europe's IRIS² sovereign connectivity program. This move is expected to have significant implications for the aerospace industry, particularly in the development of low Earth orbit connectivity technologies.
On March 5, Rocket Lab launched a spacecraft into a 470-kilometer mid-inclination orbit from its Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand, marking the company's fourth Electron launch of 2026. The mission was conducted for an undisclosed customer, likely Earth observation firm BlackSky.
The space industry is undergoing a significant transformation with the emergence of hyperscalers, large cloud and network providers, and the increasing importance of power efficiency in satellite technology. As companies like SpaceX achieve notable advancements in power-per-mass efficiency, the sector is poised for further innovation and competition.
NASA has announced a significant overhaul of its Artemis program, aiming to accelerate the pace of its lunar missions by shortening the time between launches to 10 months. This revamped approach will involve key changes to the program's hardware and mission schedule.
A team of astronomers has successfully captured a high-resolution image of the RCW 36 nebula, located 2,300 light-years away in the Vela constellation, using the Very Large Telescope's (VLT) HAWK-I instrument. The image reveals a vast, glowing nebula resembling a cosmic hawk swooping down on its prey, providing valuable insights into the formation and evolution of stars and brown dwarfs.
A recent study has found that the hardy bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans can withstand pressures similar to those generated by asteroid impacts, implying that microbes could potentially survive interplanetary journeys and seed life on other worlds. This discovery has significant implications for the search for life on Mars and beyond.
The European Space Agency (ESA) has launched its Celeste LEO-PNT in-orbit demonstration constellation, with the first two satellites lifting off on March 24 aboard Rocket Lab"s Electron rocket from New Zealand. This mission marks a significant step forward in the development of next-generation satellite navigation technologies.