Space News

Spaceflight NowJune 26, 2026

Rocket Lab launches 10th Synspective satellite

Rocket Lab launched a radar-imaging satellite for Japanese company Synspective on June 26, a flight delayed by a responsive space mission. The post Rocket Lab launches 10th Synspective satellite appeared first on SpaceNews.

Next-gen astronaut Moon rovers aim for deployment ahead of Artemis 4 crew arrival

On May 26, NASA selected two lunar terrain vehicle providers to create iterative versions of their prior LTV designs that can deploy to the Moon in more timely and cost-effective manner.

Spain-backed fund joins FOSSA’s sovereign satellite communications push

Spanish startup FOSSA Systems has raised about $10.5 million to expand its connectivity constellation in a funding round that included a technology investment vehicle backed by Spain’s government. The post Spain-backed fund joins FOSSA’s sovereign satellite communications push appeared first on SpaceNews.

NASA Announces Winners for 2026 Human Lander Challenge

NASA has announced the top student-developed solutions for environmental control and life support systems in future crewed lunar landers from participants in the 2026 Human Lander Challenge. The announcement marks the culmination of months of research by university teams working to advance technologies supporting the agency’s Artemis program that will return American astronauts to the […]

NASA Tests New Refuel Device for Future In-Space Refueling Missions

For NASA’s next generation of deep space exploration missions, spacecraft may need to refuel in Earth orbit before pushing farther into the solar system. Similar to how a gas pump needs a nozzle to fit your fuel tank, future spacecraft could require a special device in order to fill up prior to departure, known as […]

Partners, NASA Ready for June Launch of Swift Boost Mission

A mission to raise the orbit of NASA’s Swift observatory is poised for launch June 30.

NASA Identifies More Than 40 Space Technologies for Collaboration

NASA selected 41 proposals from 37 companies to advance technologies in support of the agency’s goals to establish a long-term presence on the Moon and enable human exploration of Mars. These American companies, picked from NASA’s 2025 Announcement of Collaboration Opportunity (ACO), will mature technologies creating solutions for space transportation, planetary surface operations, and lunar […]

Euclid Sees Heart of Milky Way

Euclid, an ESA (European Space Agency) mission with NASA contributions, took a new look at the heart of our Milky Way galaxy, seen in this image released on June 24, 2026. This observation overlaps with a region scientists will observe with NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, launching later this summer. This sneak peek gives […]

Bringing Signals to NASA

Growing up on the central California coast, watching rocket launches with his father was part of Eric Fernandez’s childhood routine. Fernandez had posters of rockets on the wall, but despite being fascinated by them, he never imagined one day this would be his career. Because both of his grandparents had served at Vandenberg Air Force […]

NASA’s PACE Mission Studies Smoke, Fires

With the North American fire season underway, and a record number of acres already burned nationwide, NASA’s Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, and ocean Ecosystem (PACE) satellite’s three instruments are observing vegetation precursors to fires, along with plumes of smoke and their movement. This data will help scientists piece together clues that deepen their understanding of wildfires. […]

Hubble Spies Starry Chandelier

This NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image features the globular cluster NGC 6723, sometimes called the Chandelier Cluster.

Starlink veterans launch startup to broaden megaconstellation ownership

Former SpaceX engineers who helped build and scale Starlink have launched a startup aiming to deliver megaconstellations for governments and companies seeking more control over space-based infrastructure. The post Starlink veterans launch startup to broaden megaconstellation ownership appeared first on SpaceNews.

ISS repair spacewalk highlights concerns about station health

NASA astronauts on the International Space Station are preparing for a spacewalk to repair a robotic arm as advisers raise concerns about the long-term health of the station and spacesuits. The post ISS repair spacewalk highlights concerns about station health appeared first on SpaceNews.

Europe’s next security challenge is in orbit

Across the European Union, satellite navigations alone is thought to underpin more than 10% of GDP. Satellite-dependent activity on the whole is responsible for much more. According to INSEE and […] The post Europe’s next security challenge is in orbit appeared first on SpaceNews.

The Battle for Sullivan’s Island

Marshy, sandy terrain and an impassable inlet helped colonial forces repel British forces during a pivotal battle on the barrier island near Charleston, South Carolina, on June 28, 1776.

Rocket Lab wins NASA award for three Electron launches

NASA has selected Rocket Lab to launch a pair of science missions on three Electron rockets in 2027. The post Rocket Lab wins NASA award for three Electron launches appeared first on SpaceNews.

Weather Stream releases first light imagery from GEMS2 microwave radiometer

Updated with comments from Weather Stream CEO Michael Hurowitz. SAN FRANCISCO – Weather Stream, a Boulder, Colorado, commercial weather satellite operator, is collecting global atmospheric observations with its GEMS2-Amethyst satellite. […] The post Weather Stream releases first light imagery from GEMS2 microwave radiometer appeared first on SpaceNews.

Space Force’s new MUOS satellites to use Boeing’s 702MP spacecraft platform

Boeing's 702MP platform has been used for commercial and wideband military missions The post Space Force’s new MUOS satellites to use Boeing’s 702MP spacecraft platform appeared first on SpaceNews.

NASAJune 25, 2026

Expedition 73 Crew Reflects on Science, Teamwork, and Life in Orbit

On June 16, astronauts and cosmonauts gathered at Space Center Houston to share stories from their missions aboard the International Space Station and recognize the teamwork and people on the ground that made their missions possible. The Expedition 73 Welcome Home Ceremony brought together members of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10, Soyuz MS-27, and NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 missions. […]

Ars TechnicaJune 25, 2026

Botswana signs the Artemis Accords

The African nation of Botswana is the latest country to sign the Artemis Accords outlining best practices for space exploration. The post Botswana signs the Artemis Accords appeared first on SpaceNews.

Planet orbits so close to its star that their magnetic fields connect

At the right point of the orbit and stellar cycle, the star's chromosphere brightens.

Small satellite operators confront a bottleneck to space access

For years, small satellite manufacturers have built their business plans around the idea that SpaceX could launch their payload to space. Through its Falcon 9 Transporter and Bandwagon rideshare missions, […] The post Small satellite operators confront a bottleneck to space access appeared first on SpaceNews.

Ars TechnicaJune 25, 2026

Finding solutions to jamming and spoofing

In this episode of Space Minds, Mike Gruss talks with Iridium’s Tim Last. They discuss competition in the direct-to-device and Internet-of-Things sector as well as solutions to GPS jamming problems […] The post Finding solutions to jamming and spoofing appeared first on SpaceNews.

New effort will get genome sequences for entire Endangered Species list

Colossal Biosciences will be biobanking tissues from all of them as well.

House Appropriations Committee approves $55.5 billion for U.S. Space Force

Committee urges more competition in satellite communications and criticizes reliance on reconciliation to fund Golden Dome The post House Appropriations Committee approves $55.5 billion for U.S. Space Force appeared first on SpaceNews.

Canceled NASA exploration projects suffered billions of dollars in overruns

Four NASA exploration projects that the agency stopped earlier this year had suffered overruns that saw their costs more than double, with more than $1 billion in additional increases expected. The post Canceled NASA exploration projects suffered billions of dollars in overruns appeared first on SpaceNews.

Spaceflight NowJune 24, 2026

China schedules Long March 10B rocket launch and recovery attempt

HELSINKI — China is set for a debut flight of its Long March 10B rocket in July and attempt to recover the first stage at sea. Recently issued airspace and […] The post China schedules Long March 10B rocket launch and recovery attempt appeared first on SpaceNews.

West Coast Falcon 9 launch continues expansion of SpaceX’s Starlink network

Liftoff of the Starlink 17-45 mission from Space Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California occurred at 8:30 p.m. PDT (11:30 p.m. EDT / 0330 UTC).

Space Force seeks fresh bidders for satellite-control antennas

After terminating $1.7 billion contract, Space Force to relaunch SCAR The post Space Force seeks fresh bidders for satellite-control antennas appeared first on SpaceNews.

Shield Space and ClearSpace partner to defend satellites from orbital threats

British startup Shield Space plans to combine its autonomous satellite operations software with ClearSpace’s in-orbit servicing capabilities to address emerging orbital threats. The post Shield Space and ClearSpace partner to defend satellites from orbital threats appeared first on SpaceNews.

MDA Space wins contract for Radarsat replenishment satellite

MDA Space will build a radar imaging satellite for the Canadian Space Agency as the government studies options for a next-generation satellite system. The post MDA Space wins contract for Radarsat replenishment satellite appeared first on SpaceNews.

Vast signs additional partners for commercial space station microgravity research

Commercial space station company Vast announced June 24 the addition of several companies and organizations to its network of partners for microgravity research and manufacturing. The post Vast signs additional partners for commercial space station microgravity research appeared first on SpaceNews.

York satellite demonstrates two-way UHF communications from low Earth orbit

WASHINGTON — York Space Systems said June 24 that a satellite it built for the U.S. Space Force successfully demonstrated two-way tactical communications using ultra-high-frequency (UHF) links from low Earth […] The post York satellite demonstrates two-way UHF communications from low Earth orbit appeared first on SpaceNews.