Browse the complete archive of aerospace journalism with contextual analysis
On March 1, 2026, SpaceX successfully launched a Falcon 9 rocket carrying 25 Starlink V2 Mini satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The launch marked another milestone in the expansion of SpaceX"s Starlink internet service.
NASA's Artemis program has undergone significant changes to accelerate lunar return, while a new report emphasizes the search for life as a top priority for the first human mission to Mars. These developments signal a shift in the role of humans in space exploration, with implications for the broader aerospace industry.
NASA has revised its Artemis 3 mission, abandoning plans for a lunar landing in favor of demonstrating key technologies in low Earth orbit. The new mission will feature the Orion crew capsule rendezvousing with commercial landers, potentially including Blue Origin's Blue Moon lander.
NASA has revised its plans for the Artemis program, changing the objectives of the Artemis 3 mission and postponing the first crewed moon landing to 2028 with the Artemis 4 mission. This adjustment reflects a shift in strategy towards a more sustainable and efficient approach to lunar exploration.
SpaceX successfully launched three Falcon 9 rockets carrying a total of 83 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit between February 24-27, 2026, expanding its megaconstellation to over 9,850 units. This series of launches marks a significant milestone in the development of SpaceX"s satellite internet network.
Researchers have made a significant discovery about the moon's early history, finding that it once generated a powerful magnetic field, but only for short periods of time. This breakthrough sheds new light on the moon's formation and evolution, with implications for our understanding of the lunar body.
The US Air Force is developing an experimental aircraft, the X-68A, as part of the LongShot program, which can launch from another aircraft and deploy its own air-to-air weapons, potentially increasing the reach of fighter jets while minimizing pilot risk. The first test flights of this uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) are expected to occur by the end of this year.
NASA has revised its plans for the Artemis program, adding a new test flight of lunar landers in low Earth orbit and canceling planned upgrades to the Space Launch System (SLS), with the goal of increasing the flight rate and reducing delays. The first crewed lunar landing is now scheduled for 2028.
NASA has announced a significant overhaul of its Artemis moon program, adding an extra flight in 2027 to test commercial lunar landers in low-Earth orbit, with the goal of accelerating the pace of Space Launch System rocket launches. This revised plan aims to pave the way for at least one lunar landing mission in 2028.
The Curiosity rover has discovered web-like rock formations on Mars, providing new clues about the planet's watery past and potentially refining timelines for when liquid water existed near the surface. These findings have significant implications for our understanding of Martian geology and the search for life beyond Earth.
China is set to launch its first one-year duration human spaceflight mission, marking a significant milestone in the country's space program, while also confirming a short visit by an international astronaut to the Tiangong space station. This endeavor showcases China's growing capabilities in space exploration and its commitment to global cooperation.
A recent analysis of solar superflares suggests that delaying the launch of NASA's Artemis 2 mission until late 2026 may be a safer decision, as powerful solar flares could disrupt critical systems. The new predictions are based on a formula developed from half a century of X-ray observations of the sun.
On Friday, SpaceX will launch 29 Starlink satellites into orbit using a Falcon 9 rocket, marking the company's 25th Falcon 9 launch of the year. The mission is scheduled to take place at 5:20:50 a.m. EST (10:20:50 UTC) from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
The US Space Force is exploring the possibility of deploying personnel to space in the future, although no concrete plans are currently in place. This development reflects the growing importance of space-based operations and the potential for human presence in low Earth orbit.
Virgin Media O2 has launched a commercial Starlink Direct-to-Cell service in the UK, offering satellite connectivity to select smartphones, marking a significant expansion of its coverage area. This development is part of a broader partnership between SpaceX and cellular providers to enhance mobile network coverage using satellite technology.
Astronomers have witnessed a rare celestial event in which a star, WOH G64, transformed into a yellow hypergiant, a phase that could precede a powerful supernova explosion. This transformation, observed in the Large Magellanic Cloud approximately 163,000 light-years away, provides valuable insights into the life cycles of massive stars.
NASA has replaced two leaders in its human spaceflight program after a critical report on Boeing's Starliner astronaut taxi, with Joel Montalbano and Dana Hutcherson taking over as acting leaders. This change comes as NASA continues to work towards returning humans to the lunar surface through its Artemis program.
The European Space Agency (ESA) and the Chinese Academy of Science (CAS) have launched the Smile mission, a collaborative effort to study Earth's magnetic field and its interaction with the solar wind. The mission aims to improve understanding of solar storms and geomagnetic storms, with significant implications for the broader aerospace industry.
The China National Space Administration"s (CNSA) Tianwen-2 spacecraft is operating normally as it approaches near-Earth asteroid 469219 Kamoʻoalewa, where it will conduct sampling and deliver material to Earth before heading to a main-belt comet. The mission marks a significant milestone in the CNSA"s deep space exploration program.
The LOFAR Two-meter Sky Survey has completed the largest radio survey of the universe, uncovering 13.7 million cosmic objects and events, including jets from supermassive black holes, colliding galaxies, and supernova explosions. This groundbreaking survey provides new insights into the universe, demonstrating the vast diversity of celestial phenomena that can be observed using radio waves.
Airbus Defence and Space and Leonardo's Space division have reported increased revenues in their respective space businesses for 2025, with Airbus earning 13.4 billion euros ($14.5 billion) and Leonardo earning slightly above 1 billion euros ($1.08 billion). This growth reflects the companies' expanding involvement in various European space programs.
Airbus and Leonardo have reported substantial increases in their space revenues for 2025, with Airbus" Defence and Space division seeing an 11% increase to 13.4 billion euros and Leonardo"s Space division reporting a revenue of slightly above 1 billion euros. This growth underscores the expanding role of these companies in the global aerospace industry.
The EarthDaily constellation, comprising 10 satellites, is set to provide daily global coverage with 22 spectral bands, offering unparalleled scientific rigor and long-term measurement integrity. This achievement marks a significant milestone in the field of Earth observation, enabling high-quality data collection for various applications.
The EarthDaily constellation, consisting of 10 spacecraft each equipped with 16 independent imaging assemblies, is designed to provide daily global coverage with 22 spectral bands, offering high-quality imagery for applications such as agriculture and geospatial analysis. This mission aims to deliver scientifically reliable data with high radiometric and geometric stability.