Browse the complete archive of aerospace journalism with contextual analysis
On November 15, 2025, SpaceX launched two Falcon 9 rockets from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, deploying a total of 58 Starlink V2 Mini satellites into low Earth orbit. This achievement marks a significant milestone in the expansion of SpaceX"s Starlink constellation, which now comprises nearly 9,000 satellites.
On November 14, 2025, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched the Starlink 6-89 mission from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, supporting the company’s Starlink broadband satellite internet constellation. The mission marked another successful launch and recovery for SpaceX, with the B1092 booster landing on the drone ship ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas’.
On November 13, 2025, Blue Origin launched its New Glenn rocket from Cape Canaveral, carrying two NASA satellites destined for Mars as part of the ESCAPADE mission. The successful launch and subsequent first landing of the New Glenn rocket mark significant milestones in collaborative space exploration between private industry and government agencies.
The European Space Agency (ESA) has signed a Letter of Intent to construct a new building for the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany, with a total budget of 20 million euros, aiming to complete the project by the end of 2028. This expansion will create highly skilled jobs and strengthen European expertise in human and robotic exploration.
The European Space Agency (ESA) has announced the formation of an industrial consortium for the Argonaut programme, a lunar lander mission aimed at providing Europe with autonomous access to the Moon. This development marks a significant step towards supporting European-led missions to study the Moon and de-risk key technologies for human exploration.
NASA is set to launch the Artemis II mission in early 2026, which will send four astronauts on a 10-day journey around the Moon and back, marking the first lunar mission with a crew in over 50 years. The mission builds upon the success of the Artemis I mission and paves the way for future human exploration of the lunar surface.
The European Space Agency (ESA) has signed arrangements with key industry partners to ensure the exploitation of its next-generation Ariane 6 and Vega-C launch vehicles, securing Europe"s autonomous access to space. This development marks a significant step forward in the agency"s efforts to maintain its position in the global launch market.
The Solar Wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (Smile) mission, a joint effort between the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), has successfully passed its qualification and flight acceptance review, paving the way for its launch on a Vega-C rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana between 8 April and 7 May 2026. This mission aims to study the Earth’s reaction to solar wind and radiation, providing valuable insights into our planet’s magnetic field and upper atmosphere.
The European Space Agency (ESA) has signed contracts with several companies to develop its lunar lander programme Argonaut, a key part of its lunar strategy to support future robotic and crewed missions. This programme will contribute to international efforts to establish a long-term human presence on the Moon.
The next mission of the Starliner spacecraft, scheduled to launch in April 2026, will carry cargo to the International Space Station, marking a significant step towards the vehicle"s operational use. This development follows rigorous testing and addresses previous development challenges faced by Boeing.
The first next-generation Super Heavy booster, a crucial component of SpaceX's Starship program, was damaged during a test on November 21, 2025, at the company's Starbase facility in Texas. The incident may impact the development schedule and has implications for NASA's Artemis lunar landing plans.
Rocket Lab has successfully completed 17 Electron missions, breaking its annual launch record, and is nearing the launch pad debut of its Neutron rocket. The company"s achievements have significant implications for the broader aerospace industry, with collaborations including a key role in supporting Firefly"s Blue Ghost mission to the Moon.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has lifted its daytime launch curfew, while companies like SpaceX, Blue Origin, and others continue to make strides in rocket technology and space exploration. These developments have significant implications for the aerospace industry, with potential advancements in areas such as hypersonic propulsion and space-based defense.
NATS Services and Bayanat Engineering have formed a partnership to deliver advanced air traffic management solutions across the Middle East and Africa, focusing on digital tower technology and modernised airspace systems. This collaboration aims to support the region’s growing requirements for efficient air traffic management.
Stoke Space is establishing a presence in the aerospace industry with its new launch site at Cape Canaveral and a focus on developing reusable rockets, having secured $9.1 million in seed funding and leased Launch Complex 14 from the US Space Force. This move marks a significant step towards the company's goal of achieving full and rapid rocket reuse.
Stoke Space, a newly established rocket company, has begun constructing its launch site at Cape Canaveral, Florida, with plans to launch its reusable Nova rocket, following the securing of $9.1 million in seed funding and the lease for Launch Complex 14 in 2022. This development marks a significant step for the company as it aims to enter the competitive orbital launch market.
Blue Origin has announced significant upgrades to its New Glenn rocket, introducing a new variant called the New Glenn 9×4, which boasts enhanced super-heavy lift capability and the ability to carry over 70 metric tons to low-Earth orbit. This development marks a crucial step forward in the company's pursuit of advancing space technology and exploration.
Blue Origin has successfully launched its second orbital rocket, New Glenn, and recovered the booster by landing it on a barge named Jacklyn, marking a significant step forward for the company as it ramps up production to meet growing demand for launches. This achievement paves the way for future missions, including the launch of the Blue Moon Mark 1 lunar lander.
Blue Origin"s New Glenn rocket has successfully landed after its second orbital launch, marking a significant technical milestone for the company, which plans to increase its launch cadence in 2026. This achievement sets the stage for future missions, including carrying the Blue Moon Mark 1 lunar lander.
The ESCAPADE mission, comprising two spacecraft named Blue and Gold, has launched on a New Glenn rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, to investigate Mars' hybrid magnetosphere and space weather. The mission aims to provide valuable insights into Mars' climate history and the loss of its atmosphere.
Three Chinese astronauts have returned to Earth after a 204-day mission, leaving behind three crewmates on the Tiangong space station with a damaged lifeboat due to a minor crack in the return capsule window glass. The incident has prompted changes to the space station's flight plan and highlights the challenges of long-duration spaceflight.
Blue Origin has successfully landed its New Glenn rocket on a floating platform in the Atlantic Ocean after launching from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, marking a significant technical milestone for the company. This achievement demonstrates Blue Origin"s capabilities in recovering orbital-class rocket boosters, a crucial step towards reusable launch systems.
Archer Aviation has signed an agreement with The Helicopter Company and Red Sea Global to develop, test, and potentially integrate its electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft into projects in Saudi Arabia. The trials will examine the aircraft's performance in operational settings and support Saudi Arabia's efforts to develop sustainable, advanced aviation.
ZeroAvia has partnered with Hybrid Air Vehicles to develop a hydrogen-electric version of the Airlander 10 aircraft, aiming to achieve zero-emission in-flight operations for aircraft capable of carrying over 100 passengers. This collaboration marks a significant step towards reducing emissions in the aerospace industry.