Browse the complete archive of aerospace journalism with contextual analysis
On August 12, 2026, NASA and ESA spacecraft, including the International Space Station and Proba-3 mission, captured a total solar eclipse from space, providing unique views of this rare celestial event. The eclipse was observed from multiple angles, with the Proba-3 mission recording a rare double eclipse.
Sophie Adenot, a European astronaut, has become the first French woman to conduct a spacewalk outside the International Space Station, marking a significant milestone in the history of space exploration. The spacewalk, which lasted 6.5 hours, was performed to replace a critical space-to-ground antenna on the ISS.
The National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) has awarded a contract to HawkEye 360 to provide commercial radio-frequency intelligence, leveraging the company's constellation of small satellites in low Earth orbit. This development marks a significant expansion of the intelligence community's use of commercial RF data.
Hybrid Earth Orbit (HEO) has partnered with Planet to access the company's SkySat high-resolution satellites for non-Earth imaging, enhancing its capability to observe other space objects. This partnership will initially provide NEI imagery to HEO's U.S. government customers.
The European Union has sanctioned several high-ranking officials in Russia's space industry, including the director general of a Roscosmos subsidiary, in response to the country's ongoing military activities in Ukraine. These sanctions target individuals involved in the development of military space technologies, such as synthetic aperture radar systems.
The Hubble Space Telescope has discovered evidence of a significant collision and merger between the Milky Way galaxy and a dwarf galaxy approximately 11.8 billion years ago, an event that added substantial mass to the Milky Way and potentially spurred a burst of star formation. This ancient merger has had a lasting impact on the chemical evolution of the Milky Way.
China has bounced back from a recent Long March 7A rocket explosion by completing two successful space missions, launching 24 internet satellites into low Earth orbit and delivering the SEO satellite for the United Arab Emirates to its planned orbit. These launches demonstrate China"s capabilities in space exploration and its commitment to advancing its space program.
L3Harris Technologies has named Sam Mehta as its new chief executive officer, following the departure of Christopher Kubasik, and is positioning itself for increased growth in missile defense and national security space programs. This leadership transition occurs amidst significant strategic moves, including the planned public offering of its Missile Solutions business and a major investment from the Defense Department.
SEOPS has announced the addition of a second dedicated rideshare mission, Waymaker-1, scheduled to launch on a Falcon 9 in early 2028, following strong demand for access to mid-inclination orbits. This development underscores the growing need for flexible and efficient launch services in the aerospace industry.
Scientists have identified three supermassive black holes in a galaxy 12.5 billion light-years away, providing evidence for black hole growth through mergers. This discovery, made using the James Webb Space Telescope, sheds new light on the formation and evolution of these cosmic phenomena.
On August 17, 1877, astronomer Asaph Hall discovered Phobos, the largest moon of Mars, using a 26-inch refractor telescope at the U.S. Naval Observatory. This discovery marked a significant milestone in the exploration of the Martian system and expanded our understanding of the planet"s celestial companions.
China has launched the 24th operational batch of its Guowang megaconstellation satellites, bringing the total number in orbit to 195, and also launched a satellite for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on a separate rocket. This achievement marks a significant step forward for China's space program and highlights its growing capabilities in the aerospace industry.
A discarded SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage crashed into the lunar surface at high speed, prompting concerns about the lack of guidelines for disposing of spacecraft in lunar orbit and the potential risks to future missions. The incident has sparked a renewed focus on developing protocols to mitigate the impact of space debris on the Moon.
Mike Gold, president of Redwire Space, discusses his work on NASA"s UAP study team, which consisted of 16 experts investigating Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena. The team"s efforts have significant implications for the broader aerospace industry and our understanding of unidentified aerial phenomena.
Satellite operators such as AST SpaceMobile, HawkEye 360, and Spire Global have secured launch deals with prominent launch providers like SpaceX, Blue Origin, and United Launch Alliance to ensure the deployment of their constellations in a constrained market. This strategic move highlights the importance of launch capacity planning for satellite operators amidst rising demand and limited supply.
NASA is funding a project to develop spherical aerobots, called SPARK, which will utilize ion thrusters for propulsion and are designed to navigate through Titan's unique karst terrain. The SPARK aerobots may be added to the upcoming Dragonfly mission, scheduled to launch in 2028, to explore the caves of Saturn's moon Titan.
The Artemis II crew recently spoke at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, recounting their experiences during a 10-day mission to the moon, which marked the first crewed flight beyond low Earth orbit in 53 years. The event highlighted valuable lessons learned about habitability and life support systems, with significant implications for future space exploration.
The US Defense Innovation Unit and Space Development Agency have selected three companies to study options for providing satellite deorbiting services, aiming to develop a viable solution for relocating spacecraft in low-Earth orbit. The study will focus on preliminary design and risk-reduction activities for deorbiting satellites that were not designed to be serviced.
On August 15, 2026, SpaceX successfully launched two Falcon 9 rockets just 38 minutes apart, setting a new record for the shortest time between orbital flights and demonstrating its capabilities in rapid launch sequences. This achievement marks a significant milestone for the company and the broader aerospace industry.
NASA plans to award three new lunar missions, including an orbiter that will replace the aging Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, as part of its Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program. These upcoming missions will contribute to a growing presence on the Moon, with significant implications for the broader aerospace industry.
On August 15, 2026, at 9:12 p.m. EDT, SpaceX will launch eight Globalstar satellites into low Earth orbit from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, marking a significant replenishment of Globalstar's infrastructure. This mission aims to sustain and strengthen Globalstar's satellite constellation.
On August 15, 1977, a strong, unexplained radio signal was detected by Ohio State University"s Big Ear radio telescope, lasting for 72 seconds and sparking significant interest in the search for extraterrestrial life. This event remains one of the most intriguing examples of an unexplained phenomenon in the history of astrobiology, with the signal continuing to be a topic of discussion and research to this day.
The United States, China, and international partners are engaged in a new era of lunar exploration, with NASA evolving to incorporate commercial enterprise and considering the establishment of a permanent lunar base. This development has significant implications for the broader aerospace industry, as lunar commerce becomes an increasingly important area of interest.
The US Space Force has successfully deployed its second space-surveillance sensor on a Japanese navigation satellite, expanding its capability to monitor objects in geosynchronous orbit and enhancing its space domain awareness. This deployment is part of the Quasi-Zenith Satellite System-Hosted Payload (QZSS-HP) program, a bilateral agreement between the US and Japan.