Browse the complete archive of aerospace journalism with contextual analysis
In a remarkable experiment inspired by the novel and film The Martian, NASA astronaut Don Pettit has grown a potato in space aboard the International Space Station, demonstrating the feasibility of sustainable food production in microgravity environments. This achievement has significant implications for future long-duration space missions.
On April 29, 2026, SpaceX successfully launched a Falcon 9 rocket carrying 24 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit, marking the company"s 51st mission to deploy its broadband internet constellation this year. The launch is part of SpaceX"s ongoing efforts to expand its satellite network and provide global internet coverage.
On April 29, 2026, President Trump met with the astronauts of the Artemis 2 mission at the Oval Office, commending their bravery and achievement in flying around the moon and breaking the record for the farthest distance from Earth. The meeting marked a significant milestone in the Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the lunar surface by 2025.
The US Space Force has awarded a contract to startup company Tensor to develop compact radios for the Golden Dome program, a missile defense network aimed at protecting the US homeland from missile threats. The radios will utilize the Link-182 waveform to securely exchange data between satellites and interceptors.
The Ariane 6 rocket, Europe"s most powerful launcher, has successfully lifted off from the Guiana Space Centre carrying 32 Amazon Leo satellites to low Earth orbit. This launch marks a significant milestone in the deployment of Amazon"s constellation of internet satellites.
On April 27, 2026, United Launch Alliance (ULA) will launch its Atlas 5 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, carrying 29 Amazon Leo satellites into orbit. This mission marks ULA's sixth launch for the Amazon Leo broadband satellite constellation and sets a new record for the fastest turnaround at Space Launch Complex 41.
New research proposes that decaying dark matter could have provided the energy needed to form direct collapse black holes, which became the first supermassive black holes in the universe. This discovery has significant implications for our understanding of the early universe and the formation of its first galaxies.
SpaceX successfully launched its 50th mission of the year, deploying 25 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit using a Falcon 9 rocket, marking a significant milestone in the company's launch schedule. This achievement underscores SpaceX's consistent and reliable launch capabilities, further solidifying its position in the aerospace industry.
A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket launched 29 of Amazon's internet satellites into low Earth orbit on April 27, 2023, as part of the Amazon Leo broadband constellation, which aims to provide global internet coverage. The mission is a significant step in the development of Amazon's satellite-based internet services, rivaling SpaceX's Starlink megaconstellation.
A stunning image of the Small Magellanic Cloud, a dwarf galaxy nearly 200,000 light-years away, was captured using a camera and a wide-aperture telephoto lens from a mountain in Chile. The successful capture demonstrates the accessibility of advanced astronomical imaging to amateur astronomers under optimal conditions.
Astrobotic has completed a series of hot-fire tests of its rotating detonation rocket engine prototype, marking a significant step towards bringing this innovative propulsion technology to flight readiness. The successful tests demonstrate the potential of rotating detonation rocket engines to provide efficient and continuous thrust for future space missions.
As part of its Artemis program, NASA intends to send a fleet of drones to the lunar south pole to scout and prepare the surface for astronaut missions scheduled for 2028. This endeavor aims to leverage technology proven by the Ingenuity Mars helicopter to enhance the success of future human exploration on the Moon.
On April 26, 2026, SpaceX successfully launched its 50th Falcon 9 rocket of the year from Vandenberg Space Force Base, carrying a payload of 25 Starlink V2 Mini broadband internet satellites. This achievement marks a significant milestone in the company"s efforts to expand its satellite constellation and provide global internet coverage.
The SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket has launched for the first time since October 2024, carrying the ViaSat-3 F3 communications satellite into space from NASA"s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This marks the 12th launch of the Falcon Heavy, demonstrating its capabilities and reliability in the aerospace industry.
The Pentagon has completed a $1 billion investment in L3Harris Technologies" missile business to expand US production of solid rocket motors, with L3Harris retaining roughly 80% ownership of the business. This investment reflects a broader shift by the Pentagon toward more direct intervention in the defense industrial base.
On April 23, 2026, Vantor"s WorldView Legion satellite captured a remarkable image of the Hubble Space Telescope from a distance of 61.8 km, showcasing the satellite"s high-resolution imaging capabilities. This achievement marks a notable technical milestone in the field of space-based observation.
On April 25, 2026, Russia launched the Progress 95 cargo ship from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, carrying approximately 3 tons of supplies to the International Space Station (ISS), with docking scheduled for April 27. This mission marks the second Progress launch of the year, highlighting the ongoing importance of reliable resupply missions to the ISS.
The eROSITA space telescope has detected X-ray emissions resulting from the interaction between the solar wind and Earth's atmosphere, providing new insights into the solar system's dynamics. This observation has significant implications for our understanding of the solar system and its interaction with the interstellar medium.
Scientists have discovered evidence that asteroid Ryugu was bombarded by tiny space rocks, known as micrometeorites, approximately 1,000 years ago, leaving behind a fine layer of sodium on its surface. This finding, based on samples returned to Earth by Japan's Hayabusa2 spacecraft, provides valuable insights into the asteroid's history and the effects of solar winds on its composition.
Following her historic 10-day mission on Artemis 2, astronaut Christina Koch experienced difficulties with balance and walking due to the effects of microgravity on her body. Her recovery journey highlights the challenges astronauts face readapting to Earth"s gravity after space travel.
A Lego set based on the movie 'Project Hail Mary' was launched into the stratosphere using a high-altitude balloon, reaching an altitude of 114,790 feet and setting a new Guinness World Record for the highest altitude launch and retrieval of a Lego set. This achievement marks a unique collaboration between Sony Pictures Releasing UK and Sent in Space.
NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has captured an image of melting ice on Mars’ northern ice cap during the Martian spring, providing valuable insights into the planet’s climate and geological processes. This observation was made possible by the orbiter’s High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera.
The sun recently unleashed two X2.5 solar flares within a span of 7 hours, resulting in strong radio blackouts on our planet. These events are part of an active sunspot region's activity before it rotates out of view.
The Trump administration's latest budget proposal includes a 23% reduction in NASA's overall budget, with a nearly 50% cut to the agency's science funding, sparking concerns about the impact on upcoming missions like Artemis 2. The proposed cuts are expected to be met with resistance from Congress.