Tag: #space

Spent SpaceX Falcon 9 Upper Stage Predicted to Strike Moon; Plume Might Be Visible

A spent SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage is predicted to strike the Moon Aug. 5; models suggest a sunlight-lit debris plume might be briefly visible from Earth.

#space, #moon, #spacex, #astronomy

GAO: NASA’s Major Projects Mostly Stable, but Artemis Overhaul, Staffing Cuts Raise Risk

GAO review finds NASA’s 36 major projects largely steady, but Artemis changes, 22% workforce cuts and a proposed 23% budget cut increase program risk.

#nasa, #artemis, #gaoreport, #space

Northrop Grumman Launches Robotic Servicer Toward Geosynchronous Orbit

The Mission Robotic Vehicle carrying DARPA-funded RSGS and three extension pods launched July 21 from Cape Canaveral to test robotic servicing in GEO.

$NOC, #space, #satellites, #northropgrumman, #onorbitservicing

Juno Measures First Below‑Surface Temperatures on Io, Finds Intense Shallow Heating

Juno's microwave radiometer probed inches to tens of feet below Io’s surface and found unexpectedly strong shallow heating.

#space, #juno, #io, #planetaryscience

Study: CubeSat-sized inspector could, in principle, verify ban on nuclear weapons in orbit

MIT modeling shows a 9U CubeSat with directional neutron detectors could, in principle, detect unshielded thermonuclear weapons in low Earth orbit.

#space, #arms-control, #nuclear, #satellites

China recovers orbital-class Long March booster in first controlled sea-platform capture

China recovered an orbital-class Long March 10B booster using an offshore net-and-cable platform, a step toward reusable commercial launchers.

#china, #space, #rockets, #reusablerockets

Interior agency seeks public input on using U.S. federal waters for offshore rocket launches

BOEM opened a 30-day request for information on offshore launch, re-entry and recovery operations from the Outer Continental Shelf.

#space, #offshore, #boem, #outercontinental

Commercial Robot Set to Launch to Reboost Aging Swift Space Telescope

A commercial robotic servicer will launch July 2 to rendezvous with and raise NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, averting possible reentry in 2026.

#nasa, #space, #orbitalservicing, #swift

Rocket Lab to Buy Iridium for About $8 Billion, Adding Global Satellite Network

Rocket Lab will buy Iridium for about $8 billion in cash and stock, gaining a global LEO communications network, licensed spectrum and 2.55M subscribers.

$RKLB, $IRDM, #rocketlab, #iridium, #mergers, #satellites, #space

NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Telescope Arrives at Kennedy, Begins Final Launch Processing

NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope reached Kennedy Space Center June 21 to begin final prelaunch work ahead of an Aug. 30 target liftoff.

#nasa, #space, #telescope, #roman

NASA Taps Relativity Space to Deliver Aeolus Mars Atmospheric Mission in 2028

NASA will provide the Aeolus science payload while Relativity Space supplies spacecraft, rocket and operations to deliver it to Mars in 2028.

#nasa, #relativityspace, #mars, #space

SpaceX Raises About $75 Billion in Biggest IPO Ever, Shares Jump Nearly 20% in Nasdaq Debut

SpaceX raised roughly $75 billion in the largest IPO on record, listing as SPCX on Nasdaq and closing about 20% above its $135 offering price.

$SPCX, #space, #spacex, #ipo, #nasdaq

NASA Recasts Artemis III as 2027 Earth-Orbit Rehearsal, Names Four-Astronaut Crew

NASA names Artemis III crew and redefines the mission as a 2027 Earth-orbit test to rehearse docking ahead of a planned 2028 crewed Moon landing.

#nasa, #artemis, #space, #moon

NASA Confirms End of MAVEN Mission After More Than 11 Years at Mars

NASA says MAVEN, its Mars atmosphere orbiter last heard from Dec. 6, 2025, is unrecoverable after an anomaly that likely drained its batteries.

#mars, #nasa, #space, #maven

Blue Origin’s New Glenn Destroyed in Explosion During Cape Canaveral Hot-Fire Test

Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket was destroyed in an explosion during a hot-fire test at Cape Canaveral; no injuries reported and investigations are underway.

#blueorigin, #space, #newglenn, #capecanaveral