Browse the complete archive of aerospace journalism with contextual analysis
Astronomers have discovered a rare, iron-deficient second-generation star in the dwarf galaxy Pictor II, providing valuable insights into the universe's chemical evolution. The star, named PicII-503, has an unusually low iron content and a high carbon-to-iron ratio, making it one of the most primordial stars ever found.
On March 18, 2026, two NASA astronauts performed the first US spacewalk in 10 months to prepare the International Space Station (ISS) for a new solar array, which will increase the station's electricity supply by 20-30%. This upgrade is part of ongoing efforts to enhance the ISS's power generation capabilities.
SpaceX successfully conducted a static fire test of its Starship V3 vehicle, marking a significant milestone in the development of the company's next-generation spacecraft. The test, which involved briefly igniting 10 of the vehicle's 33 Raptor engines, paves the way for future tests and launches.
The NASA Artemis 2 moon rocket has been rolled back to its hangar for repairs due to a helium system issue, delaying the launch until April 2026. The mission, which aims to send four astronauts on a 10-day trip around the moon, is a critical step towards establishing a sustainable human presence on the lunar surface.
NASA is revising its long-term plans for moon exploration, with the upcoming Artemis 2 mission set to send astronauts farther from Earth than ever before, carrying a crew of four to document the lunar surface in unprecedented detail. The mission marks a significant step towards re-establishing a human presence on the moon and paves the way for future lunar exploration.
The joint NASA and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) mission XRISM has observed a supermassive black hole awakening in a distant starburst galaxy, providing new insights into the behavior of these massive objects. The discovery was made possible by the XRISM spacecraft's advanced X-ray imaging and spectroscopy capabilities.
The first teaser trailer for Dune: Part Three has been released, providing a glimpse into the final installment of Denis Villeneuve's adaptation of Frank Herbert's classic novel. The movie takes place 17 years after the events of the previous film and follows an older Paul Atreides as he navigates his new role.
The search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) continues to intrigue scientists and theorists, with one prominent theory suggesting that advanced civilizations may deliberately choose not to communicate with others. This idea challenges traditional assumptions about the existence and behavior of intelligent life beyond Earth.
On March 17, 2026, SpaceX successfully launched its 10,000th active Starlink satellite into low Earth orbit, marking a significant milestone in the company"s effort to provide global broadband internet coverage. This achievement underscores the rapid expansion of the Starlink constellation, which is designed to offer high-speed internet services worldwide.
A rare daytime fireball was spotted over the midwestern US on March 17, 2026, producing a powerful sonic boom that was heard by residents and captured by a satellite in geostationary orbit. The event was recorded by the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration's GOES-19 satellite, providing valuable data for scientists to study.
NASA has delayed the rollout of the Artemis 2 moon rocket by one day due to an electrical harness replacement, pushing back the scheduled move to March 20. The mission aims to send astronauts on a 10-day trip around the moon, testing deep space life support systems and new lunar landers.
The upcoming Disney+ series, Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord, has released its second trailer, revealing a darker tone and unique art style, with the first two episodes set to premiere on April 6. The series follows Darth Maul's story post-Siege of Mandalore, offering fans a deeper look into the character's backstory.
Blue Origin has partnered with NASA to develop a mission aimed at defending Earth against potentially hazardous asteroids, leveraging the company's Blue Ring spacecraft platform. The collaboration will focus on integrating asteroid defense capabilities into the platform, utilizing techniques such as ion beam emitters to alter asteroid orbits.
By the end of 2026, Leonardo will conduct the first field test of its Michelangelo security dome architecture in Ukraine, marking a significant milestone in the development of an integrated, multi-domain structure for enhanced security and surveillance. The test is a crucial step towards the full operational capability of the Space Guardian constellation, expected in 2029.
On March 16, 2026, SpaceX successfully launched 25 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit using a Falcon 9 rocket, marking a significant milestone in the company"s satellite constellation program. This launch brings the total number of Starlink satellites in orbit to over 10,000.
On March 17, 2026, SpaceX will launch a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, carrying 29 Starlink V2 Mini Optimized satellites to low Earth orbit. The mission marks another step in the development of SpaceX’s low Earth orbit megaconstellation.
Astronomers may have found a new way to measure the expansion of the universe, suggesting that it is expanding more slowly than previously thought in our local vicinity. This discovery has significant implications for our understanding of the cosmos and the role of dark matter.
One hundred years ago, Robert Goddard successfully launched the first liquid-fueled rocket, laying the groundwork for modern space exploration. Today, this technology is crucial for NASA's Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the moon.
The season finale of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy has concluded, wrapping up several plot threads and setting the stage for season 2, which is expected to explore the characters" growth and development. The finale marks the end of the first stage of training for the cadets, directed by Olatunde Osunsanmi.
The Curiosity Mars rover has discovered a pitted rock face, dubbed "Timboy Chaco", on the eastern and southern borderlands of Mount Sharp, providing evidence of water flowing through the area and potentially shedding light on the presence of microbial life. This finding suggests that groundwater could have been present later in Mars' history than previously thought.
The upcoming film "Disclosure Day", directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Emily Blunt, Josh O"Connor, and Colin Firth, delves into a UFO whistleblower story and a cover-up related to the 1947 Roswell Incident. The movie is scheduled for release in summer 2026 and promises to explore themes of extraterrestrial life and government secrecy.
On March 16, 1926, Robert H. Goddard successfully launched the first liquid-fueled rocket, a milestone that paved the way for modern space exploration. This achievement, though brief with a flight duration of only 2 seconds, had significant implications for the development of rocket technology and the aerospace industry as a whole.
Astronomers are poised to detect neutrinos from supernovas that occurred billions of years ago using a powerful telescope in Japan, providing insights into the remnants of ancient star explosions. This breakthrough could significantly expand our understanding of the universe's history and evolution.
SpaceX successfully launched two sets of Starlink satellites on consecutive days, March 13 and 14, from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, bringing the total number of active Starlink satellites to 9,985. These launches mark another significant milestone in the expansion of SpaceX"s low Earth orbit satellite constellation.