News

3D-printed metal: unlocking crew autonomy

When it comes to the future of human exploration, 3D printers hold the key to crew autonomy in areas ranging from maintenance to medicine. Delivered by ESA in 2024, the first metal 3D printer in space has just produced its fifth sample, retrieved by ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot during the εpsilon mission.

Supporting εpsilon from Earth

Every space mission has two crews: one in space and one on Earth. While ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot carries out experiments and daily tasks aboard the International Space Station, teams across Europe are working to support her εpsilon mission from the ground. From flight controllers and communicators to scientists, engineers and medical experts, this network of specialists helps keep operations running smoothly and science on track.

Good Morning, Earth!

NASA astronaut Chris Williams took this photo of an orbital sunrise from the International Space Station on June 26, 2026. In 24 hours, the space station makes 16 orbits of Earth, traveling through 16 sunrises and sunsets. Learn more about the orbiting laboratory. Image credit: NASA/Chris Williams

NASA’s Webb Reveals Stars Sparking to Life in Cosmic Celebration

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has captured the infrared light of numerous features that previously were impossible to see beyond the thick dust of the FS Tau star system. In addition to myriad background galaxies that burst into view like fireworks for the United States’ 250th anniversary celebrations, this image flickers with a number of […]

Making satellite communications more resilient

In this episode of Space Minds, Mike Gruss talks with Kymeta’s Ryan Stevenson. They discuss the benefits and challenges of multi-orbit and multi-band connectivity in a single terminal. About Space […]

3D-printed metal

Surface CubeSat contracted for Ramses asteroid mission

The European Space Agency has contracted Spanish company EMXYS for the first CubeSat designed to operate on the surface of an asteroid. Don Quijote is a shoebox-sized spacecraft that will be deployed onto the Apophis asteroid by ESA’s Ramses mission before the asteroid flies by Earth on 13 April 2029.

Final Atlas 5 Amazon Leo mission launches

An Atlas 5 lifted off July 2 carrying a set of Amazon Leo satellites in the final launch by that vehicle to carry a satellite payload.

Authorisation paves the way for Aeolus-2 wind mission

Building on the remarkable success of the Earth Explorer Aeolus wind mission, the European Space Agency has given Airbus Defence and Space in the UK the authorisation to proceed to begin the development of Aeolus’ successor, Aeolus-2 – which is set to be built to enhance operational weather forecasts.

What’s Up: July 2026 Skywatching Tips from NASA

A predawn Moon-and-planets meetup, a returning comet, a great chance to see the Milky Way, and Saturn’s rings at a new angle. Skywatching Highlights Transcript An early morning hangout with the Moon and planets, a comet swings by, prime time for the Milky Way, and Saturn’s rings shine at a new angle. That’s What’s Up […]

Live coverage: ULA to launch final Atlas 5 rocket supporting Amazon Leo’s broadband internet satellite constellation

The Leo Atlas 8 mission is also the final flight of an Atlas 5 551 configuration. Liftoff from pad 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station is scheduled for 12:24 a.m. EDT (0424 UTC).

Report links Starliner problems to overconfidence and unrealistic schedules

A new report links the long-running technical problems with Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner commercial crew vehicle to a combination of overconfidence, unrealistic schedules and NASA’s lack of insight into the vehicle.

NASA announces new lander contracts for Moon Base Phase One

In June 2026, NASA announced four new lunar landers as part of its Moon Base…

NASA’s Chandra Examines Milky Way at Arms’ Length

A new result using NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory shows that the outer spiral arms in the Milky Way galaxy may reach wider than previously thought. This finding may lead astronomers to adjust their understanding of our home galaxy’s structure. A team of astronomers made this discovery by making precise measurements of distances to dust clouds […]

NASA chief praises progress Blue Origin is making after launch failure

"We've got time into 2027 before we're getting nervous."

FCC to vote on satellite licensing overhaul July 22

The FCC is set to vote July 22 on an order to overhaul its satellite application process, creating a “licensing assembly line” to keep up with increasingly large and complex constellation plans.

Live coverage: SpaceX to launch 24 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg SFB

The Starlink 17-46 mission will fly on the 77th Falcon 9 rocket launch of the year. Liftoff from pad 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base is scheduled for 7:57 p.m. PDT (10:57 p.m. EDT / 0257 UTC).

NASA Seeks Volunteers for New Yearlong Simulated Moon, Mars Mission

NASA is recruiting research participants for the agency’s next simulated deep space mission. Beginning no earlier than August 2027, research volunteers will spend one year living and working in interplanetary environments at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, operating under isolated conditions expected during crewed missions to the Moon or Red Planet. Insights from this […]

LINK Spacecraft Set for Mission to Boost NASA’s Swift Observatory

A first-of-its-kind mission to raise the orbit of NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory is poised for launch no earlier than Thursday, July 2, 5:09 a.m. EDT (9:09 p.m. UTC+12), from Kwajalein Atoll, part of the Republic of the Marshall Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. A robotic servicing spacecraft called LINK, built by Katalyst Space, will blast […]

Webb studies how a planet survived the death of its star

An international team of astronomers has used the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope to watch the Jupiter-sized exoplanet WD 1856 b transit its host star, measuring the planet’s mass and temperature and even detecting its atmosphere.