Space News

APOD: 2026 August 8 – A Messier Moment for Tempel 2

Relativity Space engine integration milestone for Terran-R first stage

Relativity Space has marked another significant step forward in the development of its reusable Terran…

Senate installs new chiefs for U.S. military space acquisition, spy satellites

Erich Hernandez-Baquero will take over military space acquisition; Roger Mason will lead the National Reconnaissance Office

2026 IGARSS Hyperwall Schedule

IGARSS 2026 Join NASA in the Exhibit Hall (Booth #100) for Hyperwall Storytelling by NASA experts. Full Hyperwall Agenda below. MONDAY, AUGUST 10 3:00 PM Technology Enabling the Future of Earth ScienceMike Seablom3:15 PM Discovery Earth: New Missions & Technical Innovation Advancing Earth System InsightsKaren St. Germain TUESDAY, AUGUST 11 10:00 AMSTELLA: Open-Source Multisenor Platforms For Real-Time […]

FCC Space Bureau deputy takes the reins amid licensing overhaul

The FCC is turning to Space Bureau deputy chief Jennifer Gilsenan to keep its satellite regulatory overhaul moving as Jay Schwarz prepares to retire as its chief later this month.

NASA’s IXPE Studies Magnetar

Scientists using NASA’s IXPE (Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer) conducted more than 140 hours of observations of the magnetar 1E 1547-5408, shown in this Aug. 5, 2026, artist’s concept, between March and April 2025. In doing so, they may have captured empty space behaving in a way physicists have predicted for 90 years, but never directly […]

Join us live and enjoy the total solar eclipse!

[English] On 12 August 2026, Europe will witness one of nature’s most spectacular events: a total solar eclipse starting at 19:30 CEST.

Week in images: 03-07 August 2026

Week in images: 03-07 August 2026

U.S. Senate confirms Schiess to lead Space Force

New chief takes command as the Space Force prepares for rapid growth, acquisition reforms and Golden Dome

Europe increases size and cost of IRIS² constellation

The European Commission has reached an agreement with an industrial consortium to proceed with a secure connectivity constellation, increasing the number of satellites as well as its cost.

Danube’s waters fall to record lows

From the ESA Blogs.

IRIS² reinforced and accelerated as implementation advances

On 7 August, the European Commission and the SpaceRISE consortium concluded negotiations and signed an implementation agreement to roll out IRIS², the European Union’s new flagship satellite constellation. The agreement, among other things, adds 66 satellites into low Earth orbit to the programme, bringing the main constellation to 348 satellites, and moving it from planning to full-scale deployment with the support of the European Space Agency (ESA).