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French ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot will hold a press conference on February 15 to discuss her first mission to space, dubbed "εpsilon", where she will conduct scientific experiments on the International Space Station. The mission is scheduled to launch no earlier than February 15 and will take place in Low Earth Orbit.
SpaceX is preparing to launch its 160th Falcon 9 rocket of 2025, carrying 27 broadband internet satellites to low Earth orbit as part of its Starlink megaconstellation. The mission aims to further expand SpaceX"s satellite network, with the Falcon 9 booster targeting a landing on the droneship "Of Course I Still Love You".
A team of astronomers has observed the longest gamma-ray burst ever recorded, lasting approximately 7 hours, which could be the result of an intermediate-mass black hole devouring a star. This discovery was made possible by NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope and other ground-based telescopes.
China has successfully launched three Long March rockets in less than 19 hours, setting a new national record for launch cadence and extending its yearly orbital-launch tally to 83. This achievement demonstrates China's growing capabilities in space exploration and its commitment to advancing its aerospace industry.
On December 9, 2025, Chinese astronauts performed an 8-hour spacewalk to inspect the damaged Shenzhou 20 spacecraft, which was deemed unsafe for return to Earth due to a space junk strike. The successful inspection paved the way for a new rescue plan, involving the launch of a replacement spacecraft, Shenzhou 22.
The US military is developing a comprehensive missile defense system, called Golden Dome, to safeguard the homeland from various types of missile threats by 2028 at an estimated cost of $175 billion. This system will utilize hundreds or thousands of Space-Based Interceptors deployed on satellites in low-Earth orbit.
A recent astronomical observation has revealed a supermassive black hole generating powerful winds at approximately 60,000 km/s, triggered by a rapid burst of X-ray light. This phenomenon, studied using the XMM-Newton and XRISM space telescopes, provides new insights into the behavior of active galactic nuclei.
Lunar Outpost"s Mobile Autonomous Prospecting Platform (MAPP) rover will be the first robotic rover to operate on the moon alongside astronauts during the Artemis IV mission in 2028, supporting the DUSTER investigation to study the dust and plasma environment on the lunar surface. The mission aims to find solutions to the challenges posed by dust on the lunar surface, marking a significant step in NASA"s Artemis program.
A new report outlines the primary scientific goals for human missions to Mars, including searching for life and understanding the planet's geology, providing a rationale for sending astronauts over robotic explorers. The report highlights the need for significant funding and resources to support these ambitious endeavors.
SpaceX has launched a classified payload for the National Reconnaissance Office on a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, marking the 10th and final NRO launch of 2025. The mission utilized a previously flown Falcon 9 first stage booster and may be the last time SpaceX uses Landing Zone 2 for a landing.
The Soyuz MS-27 spacecraft, carrying NASA astronaut Jonny Kim and two Russian cosmonauts, has safely landed in Kazakhstan after an eight-month mission to the International Space Station. The crew traveled over 104 million miles during their time in space, conducting research and maintenance activities.
A recent report by the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine recommends that the first astronauts on Mars should prioritize searching for signs of life, outlining 11 science objectives for the human Mars exploration campaign. The search for life is considered the top priority, with four possible three-mission campaigns proposed to achieve these objectives.
In late October, astronauts aboard the International Space Station captured a striking view of the Earth"s atmosphere glowing green due to a phenomenon known as airglow. This observation highlights the complex interactions between the Earth"s atmosphere and external energy sources.
Aetherflux, a space-based solar technology company, has announced plans to launch a constellation of solar-powered satellites for artificial intelligence data center production, aiming to speed up AI computing power without bulky infrastructure. The first node of the Galactic Brain constellation is set to launch in 2027.
On December 9, 2025, SpaceX launched a classified payload for the US military on a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, marking the company's third mission for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) and US Space Systems Command this year. The launch is part of SpaceX's ongoing partnership with the NRO to provide launch services for national security payloads.
A Russian Soyuz spacecraft safely landed in Kazakhstan, marking the end of an eight-month mission to the International Space Station for two Russian cosmonauts and one American astronaut. The successful landing brings to a close Expedition 73 and paves the way for Expedition 74.
Researchers have observed frequent flares from the ultracool red dwarf star TRAPPIST-1, which may provide new insights into the search for habitable planets beyond Earth. The study, conducted using the James Webb Space Telescope, found that the star's energy bursts could have implications for the potential habitability of its seven Earth-size planets.
The Subaru Telescope has successfully discovered a massive exoplanet and a brown dwarf, marking its first major findings as part of the OASIS program, providing valuable insights into celestial bodies beyond our solar system. These discoveries have significant implications for the broader aerospace industry, particularly in the study of exoplanets and the testing of upcoming space telescopes.
The first stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket has successfully landed for the 32nd time, setting a new record for a "flight-proven" booster and bringing the company closer to its goal of flying its Falcon 9 first stages 40 times. This achievement marks another significant step forward in reusable rocket technology and highlights the progress of SpaceX"s Starlink satellite constellation.
Scientists have re-evaluated the possibility of an atmosphere on TRAPPIST-1e, one of seven Earth-size exoplanets in the TRAPPIST-1 system, after new observations from the James Webb Space Telescope. The findings suggest that previous hints of an atmosphere may be due to noise from the host star, leaving the question of whether TRAPPIST-1e has an atmosphere still uncertain.
The US Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation has voted to move Jared Isaacman’s nomination as NASA chief to the full Senate for confirmation. If confirmed, Isaacman, who has flown to space twice aboard SpaceX Crew Dragons, will lead the agency.
A recently discovered vulnerability in NASA spacecraft communications, which had gone undetected for three years, was identified and fixed by an AI algorithm within four days, averting a potential threat to billions of dollars in space infrastructure. The swift resolution highlights the critical role AI can play in enhancing cybersecurity in aerospace.
Recent infrared observations using the James Webb Space Telescope have shed new light on the small inner moons of Uranus, revealing surfaces that are significantly redder, darker, and more water-poor than those of the larger moons. This discovery provides valuable insights into the composition and formation of these enigmatic celestial bodies.
Jared Isaacman appeared before the Senate committee on December 3 for his second nomination hearing as NASA chief, discussing the agency's moon and Mars goals amidst uncertainty over NASA's funding. The hearing marked a significant step in Isaacman's potential leadership of the agency.