Browse the complete archive of aerospace journalism with contextual analysis
A six-year analysis of data from the Dark Energy Camera has provided new insights into dark energy and its role in the expansion of the universe, doubling the strength of constraints on its effect. This breakthrough offers a clearer picture of the universe's composition and evolution.
The U.S. Space Force is set to launch its ninth third-generation Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite into medium Earth orbit on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, marking the third time a GPS satellite has been switched from a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Vulcan rocket to a Falcon 9. The launch is scheduled for January 26, 2026, after being delayed one day due to weather concerns.
A new program aims to deliver telescopes and lesson plans to rural schools across the US, providing students with hands-on STEM learning experiences in astronomy. By leveraging the naturally darker skies in these areas, the initiative seeks to inspire a new generation of astronomers and scientists.
The damaged Shenzhou-20 spacecraft, which experienced a suspected debris impact, has safely returned to Earth after undergoing internal repairs in orbit, marking a significant achievement for China"s space program. The successful reentry and landing of the spacecraft demonstrate the country"s capabilities in responding to emergencies in space.
On January 26, 2026, SpaceX successfully launched 25 of its Starlink V2 Mini Optimized satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, sending them into a polar low Earth orbit. This launch marks another step in the expansion of SpaceX"s satellite constellation, aimed at providing global broadband internet coverage.
On January 22, 2026, Blue Origin launched its New Shepard vehicle from Launch Site One in West Texas, carrying five paying customers and one company employee to a peak altitude of 106 kilometers. The mission marked the first of several planned New Shepard flights for the year.
The NASA Artemis 2 mission, a pivotal step towards returning humans to the lunar surface, has reached a critical stage with the arrival of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket at the Kennedy Space Center launch pad, marking the beginning of final preparations for a 10-day journey around the moon with four astronauts on board. This mission is scheduled to last 10 days and is a crucial step in NASA"s plans to establish a sustainable human presence on the lunar surface.
Blue Origin is set to launch its New Glenn rocket for the third time, featuring a reusable first stage and carrying a Block 2 BlueBird satellite to low Earth orbit. The mission, scheduled for late February from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, marks a significant step in the development of the New Glenn rocket and its capabilities.
Open Cosmos has successfully deployed two satellites to activate Ka-band spectrum filings, marking a significant step forward in its broadband plans. The deployment brings the company closer to meeting its deployment deadlines for sovereign and enterprise broadband services.
China"s Chang"e 6 sample-return mission has provided new insights into the moon"s formation, discovering unusual potassium isotope ratios in lunar basalt samples from the South Pole-Aitken Basin. This finding supports the theory that a massive impact affected the moon"s asymmetry.
The Houston Texans recently hosted a Space City Day event to celebrate the upcoming Artemis 2 mission, a 10-day lunar flyby that will send four astronauts around the moon and back to Earth. This mission marks a significant step towards NASA"s goal of returning humans to the lunar surface by 2025.
The fifth season of Apple TV"s space saga For All Mankind is scheduled to premiere on March 27, 2026, picking up where the previous season left off with the aftermath of the Goldilocks asteroid heist and the growth of Happy Valley into a thriving Martian colony. This new season promises to continue exploring the complexities and challenges of space exploration and colonization.
A critical test of Rocket Lab"s Neutron rocket has ended in a significant setback after its fuel tank ruptured, forcing a delay in the vehicle"s debut launch until 2026. This incident marks a challenging moment for Rocket Lab as it aims to position the Neutron as a competitor in the medium-lift launch market.
Researchers have identified a potential new process by which life-supporting chemicals may be transported to the subsurface ocean of Jupiter's moon Europa, involving the sinking of surface ice through a geological process known as lithospheric foundering. This discovery has significant implications for the search for life beyond Earth and our understanding of the moon's subsurface environment.
The Artemis 2 mission, aiming to send four astronauts on a lunar journey, has marked a notable milestone as NASA astronaut Chris Williams spotted the moon rocket from the International Space Station. This observation precedes the mission"s critical crewed flight test, slated to be the first for the Orion spacecraft.
On January 22, 2026, Blue Origin launched its New Shepard vehicle from a West Texas launch site, sending six passengers to suborbital space, marking the company"s 17th human spaceflight. The mission provided the passengers with a brief experience of weightlessness and a view of Earth against the blackness of space.
On January 22, 2026, SpaceX successfully launched 25 new Starlink satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base, adding to the growing number of active units in its megaconstellation and further expanding global internet access. This launch marks another significant milestone for the company's ambitious satellite internet project.
Researchers have successfully utilized the James Webb Space Telescope to study the aftermath of a luminous red nova, an explosive event resulting from the merger of two stars, providing valuable insights into these rare celestial occurrences. This discovery sheds light on the formation of supermassive stars and the potential creation of raw materials for life.
On January 22, 2026, Rocket Lab launched its first mission of the year, deploying two satellites for Open Cosmos into a circular orbit 1,050 kilometers above Earth. This dedicated mission marks an important step in Open Cosmos" planned telecom constellation in low Earth orbit.
The Virtual Telescope Project will provide a live stream of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS as it moves out of the solar system, offering a rare glimpse of this celestial object. The comet, first detected in July 2025, is now visible in the Earth's sky, albeit only through large telescopes due to its faint magnitude.
Researchers at the European Southern Observatory have conducted a study on star formation in the GAL316 region using the CAFFEINE survey, revealing new insights into the processes that govern the birth of stars. The findings suggest that densest star-forming regions are not more efficient at forming stars, and other factors like internal motions and young star influence may play a significant role.
A team of astronomers has detected a gas giant exoplanet, HD 206893 B, with a significant wobble in its orbit, suggesting the presence of a massive exomoon, which could have major implications for our understanding of planetary formation and evolution. The discovery was made using the GRAVITY instrument at the Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Chile.
The James Webb Space Telescope has successfully imaged the Helix Nebula, a planetary nebula located 650 light-years away from Earth in the constellation Aquarius, providing valuable insights into the death of stars and the formation of planetary nebulas. This achievement marks a significant milestone in the study of celestial objects and the life cycle of stars.
SpaceX successfully launched its first West Coast Starlink mission of 2026, sending 25 Starlink V2 Mini Optimized satellites into a polar low Earth orbit. This launch marks the company"s sixth Starlink mission this year, further expanding its megaconstellation.