spaceflight
49 posts
Firefly ramps up Alpha production while launch cadence remains sluggish
Firefly Aerospace reports record‑high Alpha vehicle production, yet its launch rate stays low, raising questions about market demand and schedule risk.
Aug 12, 2026 · 3 minSpaceX’s Plan for One Million AI Satellites Could Accelerate Climate Risks
SpaceX plans a million AI satellite data centers, sparking worries about rocket emissions and re‑entry debris worsening climate change.
Aug 11, 2026 · 3 minMid‑Latitude Ice on Mars: New Thermal Maps Reveal Where Water Could Be Harvested
New thermal‑inertia maps pinpoint mid‑latitude subsurface ice on Mars, guiding future crewed missions and in‑situ resource use.
Aug 11, 2026 · 3 minRocket Lab unveils GHOST: a portable spaceport system for launch‑anywhere capability
Rocket Lab's GHOST system packs launch infrastructure into shipping containers, enabling Electron and HASTE rockets to launch from virtually any site.
Aug 10, 2026 · 3 minAntimatter Propulsion: Assessing Its Potential for Future Interstellar Missions
Explore how matter‑antimatter annihilation could power interstellar spacecraft, its challenges, and why it matters for humanity’s deep‑space future.
Aug 10, 2026 · 3 minSalyut 5’s Final Descent: How the Soviet Reconnaissance Station Burned Up on Aug 8 1977
On Aug 8 1977 the Soviet Salyut 5 space station re‑entered and burned up, ending the Almaz program’s last reconnaissance mission.
Aug 8, 2026 · 3 minSpaceX’s Accelerating Launch Cadence Raises Funding Demands and Industry Stakes
SpaceX’s rapid growth in launches and Starlink revenue intensifies capital needs and reshapes the commercial space market.
Aug 5, 2026 · 3 minSpaceX Q2 2026 Earnings Reveal Growth in Starlink and Mars Plans
SpaceX’s latest earnings show rising Starlink revenue and expanding launch services, signaling a boost for the commercial space sector.
Aug 4, 2026 · 2 minNASA and SpaceX evaluate strategies to avoid future lunar upper‑stage impacts
NASA and SpaceX are collaborating on mitigation techniques to prevent accidental lunar upper‑stage collisions as lunar activity expands.
Aug 4, 2026 · 3 minHow SpaceX’s Reusable Rockets Cut Launch Costs and Spark a New Space Economy
SpaceX’s reusable rockets have slashed LEO launch costs to about $1,500/kg, boosting launch cadence and fueling a burgeoning commercial space economy.
Aug 1, 2026 · 3 minNASA Confirms Kevlar/PBI Webbing Meets Flammability Standards for Elevated Oxygen Habitats
NASA testing shows a 60% Kevlar/40% PBI webbing passes flammability tests at 37% O₂, supporting its use in lunar and Martian EVA systems.
Jul 31, 2026 · 3 minCuriosity Rover Finds Honeycomb‑Patterned Rock Field on Mars, Hinting at Past Erosion
Curiosity’s latest imaging reveals a field of honeycomb‑shaped textures on the Martian surface, offering clues to erosion processes and past climate.
Jul 30, 2026 · 3 minSpaceX’s Starship Test 13 Abort and the Rise of Space‑Based Solar Power
Starship’s 13th test abort highlights challenges as SpaceX expands into defense and space solar power.
Jul 18, 2026 · 4 minJapan’s RV‑X Prototype Completes First Hop‑Landing Test, Marking a Step Toward Reusable Launchers
Japan’s JAXA successfully flew and landed its 7.3‑meter RV‑X prototype in a 40‑second hop, a key milestone toward reusable launchers.
Jul 18, 2026 · 3 minNASA Develops VTE Risk Score Algorithm to Safeguard Astronauts from Blood Clots
NASA creates a VTE risk score for astronauts, using ultrasound data and terrestrial research to guide clot‑prevention in microgravity.
Jul 17, 2026 · 3 minSpaceX in Talks to Provide Computing Power for Pentagon's AI Push
SpaceX is in discussions to provide computing power for the Pentagon's AI initiatives, a move that could significantly boost the military's artificial intelligence capabilities.
Jul 17, 2026 · 3 minSpaceX Launches 21 Satellites for Military Data Network
SpaceX launched 21 satellites for the Space Force's Space Development Agency, restarting deployment of the Pentagon's first operational low Earth orbit military data network.
Jul 16, 2026 · 3 minSwissto12 Raises $70 Million for Small GEO Satellite Production
Swissto12 secures $70 million in funding to accelerate production of small geostationary satellites, amid growing demand for compact orbital solutions.
Jul 16, 2026 · 3 minNASA Ramps Up Preparations for Artemis III Astronaut Launch in 2027
NASA accelerates preparations for Artemis III, launching four astronauts into low Earth orbit in 2027.
Jul 15, 2026 · 2 minSatellite Investment Hits Record $8.1 Billion in First Half of 2026
Investment in satellite companies reaches $8.1 billion in the first half of 2026, surpassing previous annual totals.
Jul 15, 2026 · 3 minSpaceX’s Falcon 9 booster B1080 hits 600th flight, adds 29 Starlink satellites
SpaceX launched the Starlink 10-45 mission, marking the 600th flight of a flight‑proven Falcon 9 booster and delivering 29 new internet satellites.
Jul 14, 2026 · 2 minSpaceX to Launch Starlink 10-45 Mission with Flight-Proven Falcon Booster
SpaceX is set to launch the Starlink 10-45 mission using a flight-proven Falcon 9 booster, marking its 600th reuse. The mission will add 29 broadband internet satellites to SpaceX's low Earth orbit…
Jul 14, 2026 · 3 minDefense Spending Boosts Europe's Space Economy to $15.4 Billion
European government space spending surged 12% to $15.4 billion in 2025, driven by rising defense budgets, despite a global decline.
Jul 13, 2026 · 2 minReditus Space Completes First Reentry Vehicle for Orbital Testing
Reditus Space finishes assembling its first reentry vehicle, ENOS, for a SpaceX rideshare mission to test recoverable and reusable spacecraft technology.
Jul 13, 2026 · 2 minChina Successfully Tests Reusable Long March-10B Rocket
China tests reusable Long March-10B rocket, achieving a major milestone in its space program.
Jul 12, 2026 · 3 minNASA Seeks Volunteers for Moon and Mars Simulation
NASA recruits volunteers for a yearlong Moon and Mars simulation.
Jul 11, 2026 · 2 minAstronauts on ISS Witness Dazzling Fourth of July Fireworks Over Los Angeles for America 250
Astronauts aboard the International Space Station captured a stunning video of Fourth of July fireworks illuminating Los Angeles, celebrating America's 250th anniversary from orbit.
Jul 6, 2026 · 4 minSpaceX's Transporter-17 Mission to Launch 81 Satellites, Including South Korean Earth-Observer
SpaceX's Transporter-17 mission will launch 81 diverse satellites from Vandenberg, including South Korea's CAS500-4 Earth-observation craft. This rideshare flight marks the 17th in the series,…
Jul 6, 2026 · 4 minCelebrating 250 Years of American Space Exploration: From 1776 to the Lunar Horizon
Explore 250 years of American space advancements, from early skywatching to leading global spaceflight. Discover how the U.S. has shaped our cosmic understanding and future.
Jul 4, 2026 · 4 minCelebrating 250 Years of American Space Exploration: A Deep Dive into Iconic Missions
Explore the rich history of American space efforts, from the first bold steps to favorite missions, as discussed on the 'This Week In Space' podcast.
Jul 4, 2026 · 4 minSpacewalking Astronauts Successfully Repair Crucial Canadarm2 Robotic Arm on ISS
NASA astronauts Chris Williams and Jessica Meir successfully repaired the ISS Canadarm2 robotic arm during a spacewalk, replacing a faulty wrist joint. This ensures the arm's continued vital…
Jun 30, 2026 · 4 minRocket Lab's $8 Billion Acquisition of Iridium Marks a New Era for Integrated Space Services
Rocket Lab is acquiring satellite communications giant Iridium for $8 billion, a landmark deal integrating launch, manufacturing, and global comms. This merger signals a new phase of vertical…
Jun 29, 2026 · 4 minSpaceX Falcon 9 Delivers 7.5-Ton SiriusXM Satellite, Enhancing Radio Broadcast Coverage
SpaceX launched a 7.5-ton SiriusXM satellite to replace aging spacecraft. This mission enhances signal reception and expands coverage for radio services across North America.
Jun 29, 2026 · 4 minStarship's Ambitious Journey: Pushing the Boundaries of Fully Reusable Spaceflight
SpaceX's Starship is rapidly advancing towards fully reusable orbital spaceflight, promising to revolutionize access to space. Learn about its development, challenges, and profound implications for…
Jun 19, 2026 · 13 minStarship and the Architecture of a Multi-Planetary Civilization
SpaceX's Starship is the largest and most powerful rocket ever built — and if it works as designed, it is fully and rapidly reusable, capable of carrying 100+ tonnes to orbit per flight. The question now is whether it can achieve the cadence and cost to make interplanetary civilization feasible.
Jun 18, 2026 · 8 minTerraforming Venus: The Alternative to Mars That Nobody Talks About
Venus is almost exactly Earth's size and mass, sits in the inner solar system, and has a solid surface. It is also 460 degrees at the surface, crushed under 90 atmospheres of CO2, and rains sulfuric acid. Some researchers argue it is actually a better long-term terraforming target than Mars.
May 21, 2026 · 6 minSpace-Based Solar Power: Beaming Clean Energy from Orbit to Earth
Satellites in geostationary orbit receive sunlight 24 hours a day with no atmospheric losses. A solar power satellite could collect that energy and beam it to Earth as microwaves. Japan, the UK, ESA, and China all have active programs to develop the technology.
May 20, 2026 · 5 minIon Propulsion and How It Powers Deep-Space Missions
Chemical rockets are powerful but wasteful: they burn enormous quantities of propellant for a brief, violent push. Ion engines do the opposite — they push tiny amounts of propellant very efficiently over months or years, achieving velocities no chemical rocket can match. Dawn, Hayabusa, and Deep Space 1 have proven the technology. Future missions will take it further.
May 16, 2026 · 4 minThe Lunar Economy: Water Ice, Resources, and the Next Space Rush
The Moon is not just a destination — it is a resource depot. Permanently shadowed craters near the poles contain water ice that can be split into rocket fuel. The regolith is rich in oxygen, silicon, and metals. And the Moon's near-total lack of an atmosphere and low gravity make it the cheapest possible launching pad for the rest of the solar system. A lunar economy is not science fiction; it is NASA, ESA, and China's strategic plan.
May 12, 2026 · 4 minSolar Sails and Lightsails: Sailing to the Stars on Photons
Light carries momentum. When photons bounce off a reflective surface, they push it — imperceptibly at first, but in the vacuum of space with no air resistance, that gentle push accumulates for years and years. Solar sails use sunlight to accelerate spacecraft without carrying any fuel at all. Laser-driven lightsails could push them to a fraction of the speed of light.
May 9, 2026 · 4 minNuclear Pulse Propulsion and Project Orion: A Star Drive That Almost Was
In the late 1950s and early 1960s, a group of physicists at General Atomics designed what remains the most powerful spacecraft propulsion system ever seriously considered: a ship that would ride a series of nuclear explosions to velocities capable of reaching other stars within a human lifetime. Project Orion was cancelled in 1963. Its physics still works.
May 8, 2026 · 4 minSettling the Moons of Jupiter and Saturn: Europa, Titan, and Enceladus
The outer solar system's moons have long been science fiction staples, but they are now serious targets for exploration and, much further out, potential homes for humanity. Europa hides a liquid ocean. Titan has lakes of liquid methane and a thick atmosphere. Enceladus jets water vapor into space. Each is alien, cold, and potentially habitable.
May 6, 2026 · 4 minMining Helium-3 on the Moon to Fuel Future Fusion Economies
The Moon's surface is laced with helium-3, a rare isotope blown there by the solar wind over billions of years. On Earth, helium-3 is almost nonexistent. In a fusion reactor, it would burn cleanly and efficiently. The combination — rare isotope plus future energy technology — is why the Moon is already at the center of the 21st century's resource race.
May 3, 2026 · 4 minAsteroid Mining and the First Trillion-Dollar Space Economy
The asteroid belt contains more mineral wealth than humanity has extracted in all of recorded history — including platinum-group metals, nickel, iron, and water. The first company or nation to mine it at scale will reshape the global economy. The question is not whether it will happen, but when and who.
Apr 27, 2026 · 4 minSpace Elevators: The Tether That Could Replace Rockets
A cable stretching from Earth's equator to geostationary orbit and beyond could make reaching space as cheap as riding an elevator. The concept has been known for over a century. The only thing stopping us is a material strong enough to hold it — and that material may finally be within reach.
Apr 26, 2026 · 4 minO'Neill Cylinders and the Case for Living in Rotating Space Habitats
In the 1970s, physicist Gerard K. O'Neill proposed that the future of humanity lies not on planetary surfaces but inside enormous spinning cylinders in space. Half a century later, his ideas have never been more relevant.
Apr 23, 2026 · 4 minCould We Build a Self-Sustaining City on Mars This Century?
Elon Musk has said a million people on Mars within a century is his goal. That is an audacious claim, but the underlying question — what it would actually take to build a city that cannot depend on Earth for survival — is one of the most fascinating engineering and social problems of our time.
Apr 22, 2026 · 4 minTerraforming Mars: What It Would Actually Take and How Long
Transforming the cold, thin, radiation-soaked Martian surface into something resembling a living world is one of civilization's grandest proposed engineering projects. The honest answer about feasibility is both more promising and more sobering than the headlines suggest.
Apr 21, 2026 · 4 minGeneration Ships and the Centuries-Long Voyage to Another Star
The nearest star system is so far away that any realistic spacecraft would take thousands of years to arrive. Generation ships — self-contained worlds carrying thousands of people across the void — are the most serious solution anyone has proposed.
Apr 20, 2026 · 4 min