Browse the complete archive of aerospace journalism with contextual analysis
On December 27, 2025, SpaceX will launch the Cosmo-SkyMed Second Generation Flight Model 3 satellite for Italy on its final Falcon 9 flight of the year, marking a significant mission for Earth observation and emergency prevention. This launch will place the satellite in a Sun-synchronous polar orbit to monitor the Earth for various purposes.
A recent emergency launch to the Tiangong space station was prompted by a tiny piece of space debris that cracked a window on the Shenzhou-20 capsule, highlighting the growing threat posed by orbital debris to spacecraft and satellites. The incident underscores the need for a coordinated approach to mitigating the risks associated with space debris.
CACI International has announced the acquisition of space technology firm ARKA Group in an all-cash transaction valued at $2.6 billion, expanding its footprint in space-based sensing and intelligence systems. The move is expected to enhance CACI's capabilities in supporting national security missions through advanced space-based sensors and ground-based software processing.
Tory Bruno, the chief executive officer of United Launch Alliance (ULA), has resigned from his position after a 12-year tenure to pursue another opportunity, with John Elbon set to take over as interim CEO. This change in leadership comes at a significant time for ULA and the broader aerospace industry.
Researchers suggest that dark matter may be composed of large, exotic astrophysical objects such as boson stars and Q-balls, and propose a new method for detecting these objects by observing interstellar space. This approach could potentially reveal new insights into the nature of dark matter.
According to the Big Bang theory, approximately 5% of the universe's contents should be composed of atoms made of protons, neutrons, and electrons, but most of these atoms are not found in stars and galaxies. Researchers have discovered that the missing matter is likely distributed throughout the dark space between galaxies, known as the cosmic web.
Tory Bruno, the former President and CEO of United Launch Alliance (ULA), has joined Blue Origin as the president of its National Security Group, bringing significant experience to the company. This move comes as Blue Origin continues to expand its presence in the national security launch market.
The year 2025 saw the release of several notable sci-fi space games, including The Outer Worlds 2 and Dune: Awakening, which were released on October 29, 2025, and June 10, 2025, respectively. These games represent a continuation of the sci-fi space theme in the gaming industry.
Tory Bruno, the longtime CEO of United Launch Alliance (ULA), has announced his resignation after nearly 12 years at the helm, citing the completion of his mission to develop and launch the Vulcan Centaur rocket. His departure marks a significant shift in leadership for the company as it continues to evolve and compete in the rapidly changing aerospace industry.
The US Space Force has introduced its new service dress uniforms, a significant step in establishing the branch's identity and legitimacy. This development marks a key milestone in the Space Force's ongoing efforts to define its role and capabilities within the US military.
The Wolf Amendment, enacted in 2011 to prevent collaboration between the US and China in space, has hindered NASA's ability to cooperate with China on space-related projects, but some argue it has outlived its usefulness. As China continues to advance its space program, there are growing calls to repeal the amendment and explore new opportunities for international cooperation.
The 2025 Arctic Report Card has revealed that the Arctic is warming at a rate more than twice as fast as the Earth as a whole, resulting in significant changes to sea ice, snow, and ecosystems. This rapid transformation has major implications for global climate patterns and highlights the need for continued monitoring and research.
Google plans to launch a constellation of 81 satellites into low Earth orbit to power AI data centers, but the mission faces significant challenges from space debris in an already crowded orbit. The project aims to reduce the environmental impact of traditional data centers by utilizing solar energy and beaming data back to Earth.
NASA engineers have completed a thorough inspection of the Roman Space Telescope's primary mirror in a cleanroom at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, a crucial step towards ensuring the telescope's optics meet the strict standards required for spaceflight. The successful inspection brings the Roman Space Telescope one step closer to its launch in 2025, when it will begin exploring dark energy and discovering new exoplanets.
NASA has initiated a project utilizing the AVIRIS-5 sensor to locate critical minerals in the American West, aiming to identify surface traces of these essential resources used in various technologies. This endeavor is part of the GEMx project, a collaborative effort with the USGS.
In 2025, China successfully launched over 80 orbital missions, breaking its single-year record, and made significant progress in its crewed lunar program, while also conducting a deep space mission and testing key hardware components. This milestone year for China's space program highlights the country's growing capabilities and ambitions in space exploration.
The Apollo 8 mission, launched by NASA in 1968, was the first crewed mission to orbit the moon, marking a historic milestone in space exploration. This achievement not only demonstrated the capabilities of NASA"s Saturn V rocket but also paved the way for future lunar missions, including the upcoming Artemis 2.
A NASA satellite has captured an image of the South Sandwich Islands, a remote island chain in the South Atlantic Ocean, providing valuable insights into the region's rugged volcanic terrain and icy shorelines. The image was taken by the Landsat 9 satellite on December 24, 2025, and highlights the importance of satellite technology in studying this inhospitable and rarely visited region.
China successfully launched its Long March 12A rocket into low-Earth orbit, but the first stage booster failed to recover, marking a partial success in the country"s second reusable launch attempt. The mission highlights China"s ongoing efforts to develop reusable technology and reduce the cost of accessing space.
Russian state-owned Energia rocket company has secured a patent for a novel spacecraft architecture designed to generate artificial gravity through rotation, which could significantly improve conditions for crews on long-duration space missions. This innovative design has the potential to mitigate the effects of microgravity on astronauts" health.
As NASA plans to send astronauts to the moon and Mars in the coming decades, protecting them from cosmic rays has become a major concern due to the potential health risks associated with deep space radiation exposure. Understanding and mitigating these risks is crucial for the success of future long-duration space missions.
A coronal mass ejection from the sun may cause the northern lights to be visible at high latitudes on December 24-25, offering a rare opportunity for stargazers to witness this phenomenon. The event is expected to be a minor geomagnetic storm, with solar wind speeds reaching up to 500 miles per second.
Jared Isaacman has been sworn in as the new NASA administrator, emphasizing the need to accelerate programs such as Artemis, with the goal of returning humans to the moon by 2028 and establishing a permanent lunar outpost by 2030. This shift in focus is expected to have significant implications for the broader aerospace industry.
Researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery of wobbling jets in the sun-facing anti-tail of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, providing new insights into its composition and rotation. This finding marks the first time such a phenomenon has been observed in an interstellar comet.