Browse the complete archive of aerospace journalism with contextual analysis
The European Space Agency plans to launch its ExoMars Rosalind Franklin rover in 2028 to search for signs of life on Mars, focusing on clay deposits at the Oxia Planum landing site. The mission aims to provide ground truth for discoveries made from orbit and potentially uncover evidence of past life on the Red Planet.
The US government is exploring the possibility of launching commercial rockets from sea-based launch sites, aiming to increase capacity and flexibility for space launches, but the plan has raised concerns among environmental advocates about potential impacts on coastal ecosystems. The proposal is currently in the information-gathering phase, with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management seeking input on the feasibility and implications of such operations.
MDA Space has acquired a 70% stake in Collecte Localisation Satellites (CLS), a French Earth data analytics company, for $648 million, expanding its capabilities in the field of Earth observation. The deal is expected to close late this year or early next year, with CNES retaining its 30% stake in CLS.
On July 9, 2026, SpaceX successfully launched its Falcon 9 rocket for a record-breaking 36th time, carrying 29 broadband internet satellites to low Earth orbit as part of the Starlink constellation. This achievement marks a significant milestone in the company's reusable rocket technology and contributes to the expansion of global broadband internet access.
Japanese lunar exploration company ispace has announced a partnership with SpaceX to send larger payloads to the moon using the Starship lander, with the first mission scheduled for no earlier than 2030. This collaboration aims to enhance access to the lunar surface for various customers and marks a significant development in the commercial lunar payload services market.
The passage of a NASA authorization bill is facing potential delays due to disagreements between the House and Senate, despite its importance for funding NASA's programs, including the Artemis mission. The bill's outcome will have significant implications for the future of space exploration and the aerospace industry.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket has successfully launched for a record-breaking 36th time, carrying 29 Starlink broadband satellites to low Earth orbit, further expanding the company's megaconstellation. This achievement marks a significant milestone in the aerospace industry, demonstrating the reliability and reusability of the Falcon 9 vehicle.
ispace has secured a significant amount of cargo space on SpaceX's Starship for a mission to the moon, aiming to contribute to the development of a sustainable lunar economy. The booking is part of a broader effort to establish a human presence on the lunar surface and leverage its resources.
New research reveals that binary stellar pairings can lead to interacting supernovas, a phenomenon where a shockwave crashes into a pre-existing cocoon of material, potentially solving a long-standing mystery in astrophysics. This discovery highlights the complex dance between stars and their role in shaping the universe.
NASA has awarded Firefly Aerospace a $13 million subcontract to design and manufacture a protective aeroshell for the Skyfall spacecraft, a nuclear-powered interplanetary probe set to launch in 2028. The mission aims to demonstrate the applicability of onboard prospecting instruments and release three helicopters mid-descent to map resources on Mars' surface.
During the America 250 celebrations on July 4, President Trump presented a US flag from the Capitol to NASA astronauts, which will be planted on the Moon during a future mission. This gesture marks a symbolic step in the ongoing Artemis program aimed at returning humans to the lunar surface.
Pet technology company Fi has launched a dog tracker that leverages T-Mobile's Starlink-enabled T-Satellite service, allowing for connectivity across the United States. This innovation marks the first consumer product outside smartphones to feature Starlink Direct-to-Cell as a core component.
Venus Aerospace, a Houston-based propulsion startup, has raised $91 million in Series B funding to expand development and production of its rotating detonation rocket engine technology, which promises to revolutionize the field with its reusable and throttleable design. This significant investment will enable the company to scale up its operations and bring this innovative technology closer to commercialization.
The recent deployment of three BlueBird satellites into low Earth orbit by AST SpaceMobile highlights the growing efforts to establish a space-based cellular broadband network, but the satellite and telecommunications industries face significant challenges in working together due to differences in systems and processes. This collaboration is crucial for the success of upcoming projects, including Iridium's NTN Direct commercial launch.
American Earth-observation company Vantor has unveiled stunning 3D satellite views of Earth, capturing various targets in remarkable detail with a resolution of 12 inches, updating every 24 hours or less. This achievement has significant implications for spatial intelligence and autonomous navigation.
The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is set to launch on August 30, 2026, and is currently undergoing final preparations at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This highly anticipated mission aims to explore dark matter and dark energy, and will utilize its advanced Coronagraph Instrument to capture images of exoplanets.
The US Space Force has acquired a new electromagnetic warfare system, known as Meadowlands, designed to disrupt adversary satellites using beams of electromagnetic radiation. This development marks a significant milestone in the Space Force"s efforts to enhance its space-based capabilities and protect national security interests.
The European Space Agency (ESA) is hosting online media briefings to discuss the upcoming solar eclipse on August 12, 2026, which will be visible across large parts of Europe and the North Atlantic. This rare celestial event provides a unique opportunity for scientists to study the Sun and its interaction with Earth.
A recent incident at Cape Canaveral highlights the need for upgrades to US spaceport infrastructure, with NASA and the US Space Force receiving funds to address the issue. The development has significant implications for the aerospace industry, particularly with regards to launch capacity and national security.
The US Space Force has added Relativity Space and Impulse Space to its National Security Space Launch program, expanding the pool of companies eligible to compete for national security launch contracts. This move reflects an evolution in the Space Force's approach to launch services, emphasizing integrated transportation solutions.
The New Horizons spacecraft, launched by NASA, has awakened from a nearly year-long hibernation approximately 6 billion miles away from Earth, beyond Pluto, and is now preparing to transmit collected data and study hydrogen in the outer heliosphere. This significant event marks a new phase in the mission, which aims to expand our understanding of the outer reaches of the solar system.
Skyroot Aerospace is set to attempt its first orbital launch as early as July 12, marking a significant milestone for the Indian space industry. The mission will test the capabilities of the company"s Vikram-1 rocket, which is designed to carry multiple payloads into low Earth orbit.
D-Orbit has signed a launch services contract with Japanese startup ArkEdge Space to provide a series of launches aboard its ION Satellite Carrier, marking a significant step in the company's Asia-Pacific expansion. The agreement will enable ArkEdge Space to access sun-synchronous orbit in 2027 and 2028, supporting its constellation programs.
Orbit Fab has hired a new CEO, Peter Shaper, and raised $25 million in funding to support its satellite refueling business, with plans to demonstrate the technology within the next 18-24 months. This development marks a significant step forward for the company as it aims to provide on-orbit refueling services to the aerospace industry.