Browse the complete archive of aerospace journalism with contextual analysis
Mercury will be visible in the evening sky for viewers at mid-northern latitudes from February 6 to 18, 2026, offering a rare opportunity to observe the planet. This event is significant as it marks Mercury"s best evening apparition of the year, providing optimal viewing conditions.
Researchers have found that a toxic compound present in Martian soil can be utilized by bacteria to produce brick-like substances, potentially paving the way for the construction of habitats on Mars using local resources. This breakthrough could significantly impact future missions to the Red Planet by providing a sustainable and efficient method for building infrastructure.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman recently flew over the Artemis 2 moon rocket in his personal F-5 aircraft, marking a significant moment in the mission's preparation. The Artemis 2 mission is slated to be the first crewed flight of the Orion spacecraft, carrying four astronauts on a 10-day journey around the moon and back to Earth.
The NASA Artemis 2 mission has been postponed until March due to technical issues, while the agency continues to license and release official merchandise, including Lego sets, clothing, and patches. This development highlights both the challenges and opportunities in NASA"s ambitious plan to return humans to the lunar surface.
The SmallSat Alliance has shifted its focus from promoting the proliferation of small satellites to coordinating their use as a unified system, marking a significant change in strategy as the organization grows to over 50 member companies. This move reflects the increasing importance of small satellite constellations in low Earth orbit for national security and commercial applications.
The US Space Force is planning a broader role in the future, focusing on space superiority and dynamic space operations in response to growing threats in cislunar space. This expansion will involve increased personnel and a shift away from predictable satellite operations.
As commercial space exploration ambitions grow, a new study highlights the urgent need for research and guidelines on human reproduction in space, citing the lack of clear evidence and shared standards around reproductive health beyond Earth. This development underscores the importance of addressing this critical aspect of long-term space habitation.
A recent NASA supercomputer simulation has successfully modeled the merger of two neutron stars, providing valuable insights into these extreme celestial events and their role in forging heavy metals like gold and silver. This breakthrough simulation offers a unique glimpse into the chaotic and fascinating world of neutron star mergers.
The planned INNA green hydrogen plant near the European Southern Observatory's Cerro Paranal site has been cancelled, relieving astronomers who were concerned about its potential to increase light pollution by 35%. This decision preserves the Atacama desert's exceptionally dark skies, crucial for ongoing and future astronomical research.
NASA"s Juno spacecraft has provided new measurements of Jupiter"s size, indicating that the planet is approximately 5 miles smaller at the equator and 15 miles smaller at the poles than previously thought. These revised measurements have significant implications for our understanding of Jupiter"s composition and internal structure.
A team of astronomers has identified a possible rocky exoplanet, known as HD 137010b, located 146 light-years away, which could be a cold counterpart to our own planet if confirmed. The discovery was made using data from the Kepler Space Telescope's K2 mission and may have significant implications for the search for life beyond Earth.
Amazon has secured an additional 10 Falcon 9 launches from SpaceX to support the rapid deployment of its Amazon Leo broadband satellite constellation, aiming to meet regulatory deadlines. This move underscores the company's commitment to establishing a robust presence in the low-Earth orbit communications sector.
NASA"s Perseverance rover has successfully completed its first drive on Mars using a route planned entirely by artificial intelligence, demonstrating the potential for autonomous technologies to enhance the efficiency and safety of future planetary missions. This achievement marks a significant step forward in the development of AI-powered navigation systems for space exploration.
SpaceX has grounded its Falcon 9 rocket after an upper stage issue occurred during a recent launch, potentially impacting upcoming missions, including the Crew-12 astronaut mission to the ISS. The company is investigating the cause and working to resolve the problem as quickly as possible.
The Artemis 2 mission, a crucial step towards returning humans to the lunar surface, has been delayed to March 2026 due to a liquid hydrogen leak detected during a wet dress rehearsal. The delay will allow NASA to address the issue and ensure the success of the mission.
NASA has delayed the launch of its Artemis 2 mission to March after encountering issues during a wet dress rehearsal, a critical test of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket's fueling systems. The mission, which will send four astronauts on a 10-day trip around the moon and back to Earth, is now scheduled to launch in March with five potential launch dates available.
The Perseverance rover has discovered thousands of bleached rocks on Mars rich in kaolinite, a mineral that forms with long-term exposure to water, suggesting that Mars was warmer and wetter billions of years ago. This finding provides significant insights into the planet's past environment and its potential for supporting life.
NASA has completed a critical fueling test for the Artemis 2 mission's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, loading over 700,000 gallons of cryogenic liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, and resolving leaks that occurred during the process. The successful test brings the mission one step closer to its targeted liftoff on February 8.
Space industry leaders, including SpaceX and Blue Origin, are exploring the concept of building data centers in space to overcome terrestrial limitations, with proposals including a constellation of up to 1 million satellites. The idea, though promising, comes with significant economic and technical challenges.
Transcelestial has partnered with Gilmour Space to test its laser communication technology on a satellite launching later this year, aiming to deliver high-speed data transmission from spacecraft to ground at the lowest cost per bit. The demonstration will take place on SpaceX’s Transporter-18 rideshare mission.
Researchers utilizing an AI model called AnomalyMatch have discovered over 1,300 cosmic anomalies, including hundreds of previously undocumented phenomena, within the vast archive of images from the Hubble Space Telescope. This breakthrough significantly advances our understanding of the universe, particularly in the realm of astrophysics.
The upcoming Artemis 2 mission, scheduled to launch on February 8, marks a significant milestone in NASA"s lunar exploration program as the first crewed mission to the moon since Apollo 17. The mission aims to pave the way for future lunar missions, including the Artemis 3 mission, which will establish a sustainable presence on the lunar surface.
NASA has successfully completed a wet dress rehearsal for the Artemis II mission, a crucial step towards sending astronauts to the moon in 2026. The test, which included fueling the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, paves the way for the first manned lunar flight in over four decades.
On February 2, 2026, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched 25 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, marking the 14th launch for SpaceX this year and bringing the total number of active Starlink satellites to 9,628. This mission highlights SpaceX's continued efforts to expand its satellite constellation and enhance global internet connectivity.