Stay updated with the latest events in spaceflight.
This March 3, 2026, image combines views from ESA’s (European Space Agency) Euclid and NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope to feature one of the most visually intricate remnants of a dying star: the Cat’s Eye Nebula, also known as NGC 6543. This extraordinary planetary nebula lies 4,400 light-years away in the constellation Draco and has captivated astronomers for decades […]
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Recent engineering setbacks, specifically regarding helium system issues associated with the improper flow of helium into the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket’s upper stage, and persistent hydrogen leaks, have forced NASA to delay the crewed Artemis 2 mission to no earlier than April. While frustrating for the public, these delays are a necessary byproduct of […] The post The perils of political impatience in the Artemis program appeared first on SpaceNews.
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The company says it will rework its BADGER antenna design and compete for the follow-on effort The post Space Force officially terminates AeroVironment contract for satellite control antennas appeared first on SpaceNews.
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NASA has disqualified one of the two proposals for a large astrophysics mission, a decision the project’s leader blames on upheaval within the agency last year. The post NASA disqualifies X-ray telescope from Probe mission competition appeared first on SpaceNews.
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Telesat has gained access to more land across Canada to set up landing stations ahead of plans to deploy pathfinders for its Lightspeed broadband constellation in December. The post Telesat expands Canadian landing station footprint for Lightspeed appeared first on SpaceNews.
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Shanghai-based laser communications startup BlueStar Optical Domain has raised funding in the region of $70 million, highlighting growing demand from China’s emerging satellite internet constellations. The post Large Series C signals scale-up of China’s laser satellite communications sector appeared first on SpaceNews.
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Spacecraft Release
The Northrop Grumman NG-23 Cygnus will be unberthed from the ISS before initiating a destructive reentry into the Earth's atmosphere taking waste along with it.
Press Event
NASA will host a news conference to highlight progress toward the Artemis II crewed mission around the Moon. The media briefing will take place from the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida after the conclusion of an Artemis II Flight Readiness Review. NASA participants include: - Administrator Jared Isaacman - Lori Glaze, acting associate administrator, Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate - John Honeycutt, chair, Artemis II Mission Management Team - Shawn Quinn, manager, Exploration Ground Systems Program - Norm Knight, director, Flight Operations Directorate
Spacecraft Undocking
The Progress MS-31 spacecraft will undock from the Poisk module of the International Space Station. It will then de-orbit and burn up in the atmosphere.
Founded: 1998-11-20
The International Space Station (ISS) is a space station, or a habitable artificial satellite, in low Earth orbit. Its first component was launched into orbit in 1998, with the first long-term residents arriving in November 2000. It has been inhabited continuously since that date. The last pressurised module was fitted in 2011, and an experimental inflatable space habitat was added in 2016. The station is expected to operate until 2030. Development and assembly of the station continues, with several new elements scheduled for launch in 2019. The ISS is the largest human-made body in low Earth orbit and can often be seen with the naked eye from Earth. The ISS consists of pressurised habitation modules, structural trusses, solar arrays, radiators, docking ports, experiment bays and robotic arms. ISS components have been launched by Russian Proton and Soyuz rockets, and American Space Shuttles.
Founded: 1986-02-20
Mir was a space station that operated in low Earth orbit from 1986 to 2001, operated by the Soviet Union and later by Russia. Mir was the first modular space station and was assembled in orbit from 1986 to 1996. The station served as a microgravity research laboratory in which crews conducted experiments in biology, human biology, physics, astronomy, meteorology and spacecraft systems with a goal of developing technologies required for permanent occupation of space.
Founded: 1973-05-14
Skylab was a United States space station launched and operated by NASA, and occupied for about 24 weeks between May 1973 and February 1974 – the only space station the U.S. has operated exclusively. In 1979 it fell back to Earth amid huge worldwide media attention. Skylab included a workshop, a solar observatory, and other systems necessary for crew survival and scientific experiments. It was launched unmanned by a modified Saturn V rocket, with a weight of 170,000 pounds (77,000 kg). Lifting Skylab into low earth orbit was the final mission and launch of a Saturn V rocket (famous for carrying the manned Moon landing missions). Three missions delivered three-astronaut crews in the Apollo command and service module (Apollo CSM), launched by the smaller Saturn IB rocket. For the final two manned missions to Skylab, a backup Apollo CSM/Saturn IB was assembled and made ready in case an in-orbit rescue mission was needed, but this backup vehicle was never flown.