Space and Space Technologies

Satellites, launches, space communications, and space companies and technologies.

113 Articles

NASA’s Two Venus Missions Regain Their Launch Path for the Early 2030s

NASA has restored funding for the DAVINCI and VERITAS missions to Venus, bringing DAVINCI’s launch forward to December 2030 and setting VERITAS’s launch for November 2032 after budget cuts threatened to cancel one of them. They will be joined by the European Envision mission and a private probe from Rocket Lab.

2026-10-14

Space and Space Technologies

NASA Develops Solid-State Batteries to Operate in the Moon’s Extreme Cold

NASA tested prototype cells from the SPEARS project under severe thermal and vacuum conditions, demonstrating their ability to operate at temperatures as low as 80 degrees Celsius below zero while remaining intact after exposure to a harsher temperature range. The technology is intended to power future equipment, robots, and tools at the Moon’s south pole.

2026-10-14

Space and Space Technologies

Griffin-1 Vehicle Passes Rigorous Tests Ahead of Landing Near the Moon’s South Pole

Voyager Technologies’ commercial Griffin-1 lunar lander has completed environmental testing at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, paving the way for its launch later this year aboard a Falcon Heavy rocket. The vehicle will deliver more than 455 kilograms of payload to Nobile Crater as part of NASA’s initiatives to build lunar infrastructure.

2026-10-13

Space and Space Technologies

NASA Opens Competition to Develop Commercial Space Stations to Replace the International Space Station

NASA has issued a broad request to U.S. space companies to develop commercial space stations that can host astronauts in low Earth orbit beginning in 2030. The agency will select two or more companies in the first phase, provide transportation support, and allocate an estimated $325 million for a four-person crew mission in 2030.

2026-10-09

Space and Space Technologies

Astronauts Discuss the Risks of Human Spaceflight and the Role of Artificial Intelligence at IAC 2026

Astronauts and company officials discussed ways to improve the safety of crewed spaceflight during IAC 2026, addressing the effects of microgravity and radiation, as well as malfunctions and psychological pressures. Artificial intelligence emerged as a potential tool for predicting malfunctions and analyzing spacecraft data, while the risks of relying on it and its effect on human relationships remained under discussion.

2026-10-09

Space and Space Technologies

Xona Prepares to Launch High-Precision Commercial Service to Compete with GPS Using Six Satellites

Xona Space Systems is preparing to begin pilot testing of its Pulsar navigation and timing service after launching six satellites via SpaceX. The service promises centimeter-level accuracy and stronger signals than GPS, targeting applications such as autonomous vehicles and agricultural robots.

2026-10-09

Space and Space Technologies

Diverging Developments in the Space Launch Sector: Vulcan Nears Flight, European Delays

United Launch Alliance is preparing to return Vulcan to flight on October 29 for a mission serving Amazon Leo, while South Korea’s Nuri rocket achieved another success and Europe’s HyImpulse test was delayed until 2027. The developments also highlight continuing challenges involving readiness, launch cadence, and protecting launch sites from drones.

2026-10-09

Space and Space Technologies

SpaceX to Buy Low-Band Spectrum to Strengthen Starlink Mobile Network and Compete with U.S. Telecom Companies

SpaceX plans to buy low-band spectrum licenses in the 800 MHz band covering approximately 100% of the U.S. population, with the aim of improving Starlink Mobile access inside buildings and in areas with weak coverage. The move comes alongside the purchase of mid-band spectrum for $17 billion and a plan to launch up to 15,000 new satellites.

2026-10-09

Space and Space Technologies

NASA’s SSPICY Mission Tests Autonomous Inspection of Inactive Satellites in Orbit

NASA has launched the SSPICY mission to test the Otter spacecraft’s autonomous approach to and inspection of inactive U.S.-origin space objects without docking with them. The mission combines computer vision, sensing and electric propulsion, paving the way for future orbital servicing and debris-removal services.

2026-10-08

Space and Space Technologies

SpaceX Calls for Satellite Data Sharing After Dangerous Orbital Close Approaches

SpaceX called on satellite operators to share position and trajectory data to reduce the risk of collisions in low Earth orbit after satellites operated by other parties approached Starlink satellites at distances ranging from tens to hundreds of meters. The company says Starlink satellites perform about 1,000 collision-avoidance maneuvers daily.

2026-10-08

Space and Space Technologies

UAE Space Agency: A New Era for Space Resource Utilization Is Approaching

Ibrahim Hamza Al Qassim, Deputy Director-General of the UAE Space Agency, said the next phase will combine the return of humans to the Moon with establishing a permanent presence there, alongside missions aimed at utilizing its resources. He confirmed that more than half of the funding currently flowing into the UAE space sector comes from the private sector.

2026-10-08

Space and Space Technologies

ESA Director of Space Transportation: The Development of Turkish Launch Programs Reflects the Importance of Space to Ankara

Geraldine Naja, Director of Space Transportation at the European Space Agency, said that Turkey’s development of a launch vehicle and a hybrid propulsion engine demonstrates the growing importance of space to the country. She discussed Europe’s drive to reduce launch costs and develop reusable vehicles to support access to low Earth orbit and future lunar missions.

2026-10-08

Space and Space Technologies

Redwire Space: Orbital Data Centers Will Need Massive Solar Arrays

Mike Gold, president of Redwire Space, said that the shift in orbital data centers’ power needs from kilowatts to megawatts will require large solar arrays that can be folded and deployed in orbit. The company is studying the use of silicon as an alternative to germanium to reduce costs and overcome supply-chain constraints.

2026-10-08

Space and Space Technologies

NASA’s SPHEREx Telescope Reveals Thousands of Brown Dwarfs in Unprecedented Spectra

The SPHEREx telescope analyzed observations of 37 nearby brown dwarfs, revealing atmospheres rich in water, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and methane. Its coverage of red and infrared wavelengths enables the study of thousands of these objects that have not previously been examined in detail.

2026-10-08

Space and Space Technologies

Amazon Nears Launch of Satellite Internet Service After Manufacturing Its 1,000th Satellite

Amazon announced that its Amazon Leo project is nearing the start of commercial satellite internet service during 2026 after manufacturing its 1,000th satellite and increasing its production rate to 27 satellites per week. The company is preparing to launch additional satellites on Vulcan and Ariane rockets to compete with Starlink through higher speeds and private network options for customers.

2026-10-08

Space and Space Technologies

Meeting at the International Astronautical Congress Discusses Expanding the Artemis Accords and Space Governance

Officials from NASA and the Peruvian Space Agency discussed the expansion of the Artemis Accords, which include 76 countries, as well as the principles of transparency, sustainability and interoperability in space exploration during the International Astronautical Congress in Antalya. The discussions also addressed space debris, academic cooperation and Turkey’s growing role in the sector.

2026-10-07

Space and Space Technologies

Axiom Space Plans to Launch Two Commercial Space Station Modules in 2028 and 2029

Jonathan Cirtain, CEO of Axiom Space, said the company is completing the manufacture of two modules for its commercial space station and plans to launch them in 2028 and 2029, before the planned end of the International Space Station’s service in 2030. The company is also exploring expanded research cooperation with Turkish universities to make use of the microgravity environment.

2026-10-06

Space and Space Technologies

At IAC 2026, Turkey Reveals Features of the ASTRALINK Constellation Project and Discusses Independent Access to Space

ASELSAN announced the launch of the ASTRALINK constellation project, which will comprise 198 satellites in low Earth orbit, targeting the launch of the first satellite within two years and integration of the system with ground networks. Participants at IAC 2026 discussed the development of Turkish launch platforms, the future of commercial stations, and the role of the lunar mission in building a national space ecosystem.

2026-10-06