Space News

From drone flight to sounding rocket

A drone carrying an unusual payload recently took to the skies above ESTEC, the European Space Agency’s technical centre in the Netherlands, marking the first test flight of a student-developed radar retroreflector technology.

NASA Johnson Interns Shaping the Future of Exploration

NASA interns at Johnson Space Center are applying their talents to real-world projects while working alongside the engineers, scientists, communicators, and innovators advancing human spaceflight. Learn how these students are gaining hands-on experience, contributing to real missions, and preparing to join the nation’s highly skilled and competitive aerospace workforce. Meet the students behind the work and discover what inspired them to pursue careers at […]

Major rehearsal takes Themis one step closer to flight

From the ESA Blogs.

SMOS salinity could offer early indicator of El Niño

As the Pacific Ocean moves into an El Niño phase, scientists are monitoring changes in sea-surface temperature, but also sea-surface salinity – which is another key indicator of this phenomenon.

APOD: 2026 July 30 – Red Sun trough Wildfire Smoke

APOD: July 30 – Red Sun trough Wildfire Smoke

APOD: July 30 – Red Sun… Red Sun […]

New Zealand’s Southern Wilderness

Stewart Island/Rakiura, New Zealand’s third-largest island, is known for its vibrant birdlife, unique forests, wilderness beaches, and views of the night sky.

Sophia Space and Caltech claim patent for space data centers

SAN FRANCISCO – Sophia Space announced the award July 30 of a patent, shared with the California Institute of Technology, covering large, modular space-based data centers. The patent, issued July […]

Live coverage: SpaceX to launch classified payload for National Reconnaissance Office

The NROL-95 mission will be the third payload for the National Reconnaissance Office launched under the National Security Space Launch Phase 2 procurement. Liftoff from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station is scheduled for 3:09 a.m. EDT (0709 UTC).

Proposed rule would exempt commercial launch licensing from environmental regulations

The Department of Transportation is proposing to exempt commercial space launch licensing from many environmental regulations, a move praised by industry but criticized by environmental groups.

L3Harris delays missile business IPO to 2027 despite surging defense demand

CEO says market doesn't reflect value of Pentagon-backed business

NASA Awards 2026 Innovative Technology Concepts

The NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program has created 18 new awards to support visionary ideas to improve aerospace technologies in areas ranging from the exploration of the solar system to understanding the universe. The 18 NIAC Phase I awards total $3.2 million. Each award provides up to $175,000 for a nine-month initial investigation. The […]