Browse the complete archive of aerospace journalism with contextual analysis
The Artemis 2 mission, launched on April 1, 2026, has successfully captured an image of the moon"s far side during a lunar flyby, marking the first crewed mission to the moon since 1972. This achievement signifies a major milestone in NASA"s efforts to return humans to the moon and beyond.
Researchers have proposed that dwarf spheroidal galaxies evolve into a stable configuration known as a dynamical attractor, potentially resolving the long-standing cusp-core problem. This discovery has significant implications for our understanding of dark matter and galaxy formation.
The US Space Force has partnered with SpaceX to launch the GPS III SV10 satellite, the last in a series of advanced navigation satellites, which will provide improved positional accuracy and jam resistance. The launch is scheduled for Monday, April 20, at 2:57 a.m. EDT (0657 GMT) from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
On Sunday, April 19, Blue Origin successfully recovered its first reused orbital-class rocket, the New Glenn, following a launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. However, the mission's payload, the BlueBird 7 satellite, was placed into an off-nominal orbit, potentially impacting future launches, including a planned uncrewed moon landing.
On April 19, 2026, Blue Origin successfully launched its New Glenn rocket for the third time, reusing the first-stage booster core and carrying a satellite to low Earth orbit. This achievement marks a significant technical milestone for the company and the aerospace industry as a whole.
Blue Origin successfully launched its third New Glenn rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, carrying the AST SpaceMobile"s BlueBird 7 satellite into low Earth orbit, marking a critical milestone for the company"s heavy-lift rocket with the first reuse of its booster. This achievement demonstrates significant progress in reusable launch technology, following in the footsteps of SpaceX.
NASA has selected SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket to launch the European Space Agency's Rosalind Franklin rover mission to Mars in 2028, despite earlier proposals to cancel support for the mission. The $175.7 million contract award underscores NASA's commitment to international cooperation and the search for life beyond Earth.
Turion, a company founded in 2021, has announced the close of its Series B financing, which will accelerate its spacecraft manufacturing and expand its Starfire software platform, marking a significant step towards enhancing U.S. space superiority. This development comes as Turion has already made notable strides, including launching DROID.001 and securing over 25 U.S. government contracts.
The Artemis 2 mission has achieved a historic milestone by breaking the record for the farthest distance between humans in space, with the four astronauts on board the Orion capsule reaching a maximum distance of 260,754 miles from the three crewmates aboard China’s Tiangong space station. This feat marks a significant step in NASA’s plans to return humans to the lunar surface.
NASA's Artemis 2 mission has achieved a significant milestone with the successful testing of its heat shield, while SpaceX continues to push the boundaries of space technology with its next-generation Starship. These developments mark important steps forward in the pursuit of space exploration and have significant implications for the broader aerospace industry.
NASA has awarded a contract to SpaceX to launch the European Space Agency's Rosalind Franklin rover, Europe's first Mars rover, on a Falcon Heavy rocket in late 2028. This mission marks a significant milestone in the search for life on Mars and demonstrates international cooperation in space exploration.
On Saturday, March 13, 2026, SpaceX successfully launched its Falcon 9 rocket on a Starlink mission, marking the company"s 600th Falcon booster landing. The mission added 25 broadband internet satellites to the Starlink constellation, further expanding the network.
On April 19, Blue Origin successfully launched its New Glenn rocket for the third time, carrying the BlueBird 7 satellite to low Earth orbit and marking the first reuse of a previously flown New Glenn rocket stage. This achievement demonstrates the company's capability for reusable orbital rockets, a significant milestone in the aerospace industry.
The Hubble Space Telescope has successfully imaged the barred spiral galaxy IC 486, located approximately 380 million light-years from Earth, providing valuable insights into the structure and composition of this type of galaxy. The image showcases the galaxy's distinctive central bar-shaped structure and active galactic nucleus.
The Artemis 2 mission has achieved a significant milestone with the successful reentry of its Orion capsule, whose heat shield withstood the extreme temperatures of Earth"s atmosphere with minimal damage. This outcome is crucial for future crewed missions to the Moon and beyond.
Taiwan"s space agency has proposed a shared satellite communications constellation with other countries, aiming to provide global internet coverage and leverage its semiconductor manufacturing capabilities in the face of growing geopolitical pressure. This move highlights the increasing importance of international collaboration in the space sector.
The Giant Magellan Telescope project has reached its final design phase and is seeking further funding to move forward, with the National Science Foundation capping its budget at $1.6 billion. The project"s outcome will have significant implications for the field of astronomy and the broader aerospace industry.
The recent Artemis 2 mission, which successfully completed a 10-day journey around the moon, has provided valuable insights and paved the way for future lunar landings. The mission tested the Orion spacecraft"s life support systems and verified its ability to sustain a crew during a lunar mission.
Blue Origin has completed a crucial static fire test of its New Glenn rocket, keeping the vehicle on track for a planned reflight mission. The successful test paves the way for the reuse of a booster from a previous flight, marking an important milestone in the development of reusable launch technology.
The European Space Agency (ESA) and Canada have signed a General Security of Information Agreement to facilitate the exchange of classified information, enhancing collaboration in space-based surveillance, disaster response, and security-related technologies. This agreement marks a significant step forward in their longstanding partnership, which began in 1979.
Blue Origin has conducted a successful static fire test of its New Glenn rocket, marking a significant milestone in the vehicle"s development and paving the way for a potential launch as early as April 19. The test demonstrated the rocket"s capability to perform a brief, 20-second firing of its seven BE-4 engines.
Lithuania is rapidly developing its space industry, with a complete ecosystem of technology firms, scientific labs, and highly trained professionals, securing significant contracts and collaborating with major agencies like NASA and ESA. The country's growth in the space sector has major implications for the broader aerospace industry.
Scientists have identified a rare, ancient star devoid of heavy elements, providing valuable insights into the formation of the first stars in the universe. This discovery has significant implications for our understanding of the early cosmos and the evolution of stellar populations.
Astroscale, a Japanese space-sustainability company, is set to launch the In-situ Space Situational Awareness-Japan 1 (ISSA-J1) mission in 2027 to inspect two retired Japanese satellites in near-polar orbit. The mission aims to demonstrate new capabilities for satellite operators and enhance space situational awareness.