NASA pessimistic about odds of recovering MAVEN
Wednesday, 14 January 2026 11:38
NASA says it is “very unlikely” the agency will be able to recover a Mars spacecraft that has been out of contact for more than a month.
Space operations will become more dynamic this year
Wednesday, 14 January 2026 11:00
From civil science and exploration missions to national security, there are many space activities to look forward to in 2026.
SkyFi raises $12.7 million to scale satellite data marketplace
Wednesday, 14 January 2026 10:30
Funding backs expansion of “virtual constellation” that aggregates imagery from commercial operators
China’s first launches of 2026 send Yaogan spacecraft into unusual orbit, loft Guowang satellites
Wednesday, 14 January 2026 09:46
China conducted a pair of Long March rocket launches Tuesday, kicking off what is likely to be a record-breaking year for the country.
Virtual tour of ESA’s Test Centre gets a makeover
Wednesday, 14 January 2026 09:30
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Virtual tour of ESA’s Test Centre gets a makeover Berkeley Scientists set to home in on 100 signals from Seti at Home
Wednesday, 14 January 2026 07:17
Berkeley, United States (SPX) Jan 12, 2026
For 21 years, between 1999 and 2020, millions of people worldwide loaned UC Berkeley scientists their computers to search for signs of advanced civilizations in our galaxy.
The project - called SETI@home, after the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) - generated a loyal following eager to participate in one of the most popular crowd-sourced projects in the early days of the int
For 21 years, between 1999 and 2020, millions of people worldwide loaned UC Berkeley scientists their computers to search for signs of advanced civilizations in our galaxy.
The project - called SETI@home, after the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) - generated a loyal following eager to participate in one of the most popular crowd-sourced projects in the early days of the int Firefly prepares Alpha Block II upgrade for Flight 8
Wednesday, 14 January 2026 07:17
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jan 14, 2026
Firefly Aerospace has announced a Block II configuration upgrade for its Alpha small launch vehicle, with qualification testing for the new second stage hardware now underway at the companys Rocket Ranch test facility in Briggs, Texas. The Block II program is intended to boost reliability, streamline manufacturing, and improve launch operations to better support commercial, civil, and national s
Firefly Aerospace has announced a Block II configuration upgrade for its Alpha small launch vehicle, with qualification testing for the new second stage hardware now underway at the companys Rocket Ranch test facility in Briggs, Texas. The Block II program is intended to boost reliability, streamline manufacturing, and improve launch operations to better support commercial, civil, and national s Europe approves EPS Sterna polar microsatellite network
Wednesday, 14 January 2026 07:17
Berlin, Germany (SPX) Jan 12, 2026
The EUMETSAT Council has formally endorsed the EUMETSAT Polar System Sterna (EPS Sterna), clearing the way for a new constellation of polar orbiting microsatellites that will deliver frequent microwave measurements of atmospheric temperature, humidity and cloud properties. The decision confirms EPS Sterna as a mandatory programme for EUMETSAT and authorises full scale activities targeting the la
The EUMETSAT Council has formally endorsed the EUMETSAT Polar System Sterna (EPS Sterna), clearing the way for a new constellation of polar orbiting microsatellites that will deliver frequent microwave measurements of atmospheric temperature, humidity and cloud properties. The decision confirms EPS Sterna as a mandatory programme for EUMETSAT and authorises full scale activities targeting the la New orbital mapping system targets Earth Moon libration traffic
Wednesday, 14 January 2026 07:17
Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Jan 14, 2026
As lunar exploration intensifies, the cislunar space is experiencing increasing congestion. Traditional two body Keplerian elements, which have long been the standard for Earth orbiting objects, prove insufficient for accurately describing the complex orbits near the Earth Moon Lagrange points due to the chaotic and non integrable nature of three body dynamics.
This fundamental deficiency
As lunar exploration intensifies, the cislunar space is experiencing increasing congestion. Traditional two body Keplerian elements, which have long been the standard for Earth orbiting objects, prove insufficient for accurately describing the complex orbits near the Earth Moon Lagrange points due to the chaotic and non integrable nature of three body dynamics.
This fundamental deficiency Nullspace speeds antenna and radar simulations with new EM software tools
Wednesday, 14 January 2026 07:17
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jan 14, 2026
Nullspace Inc. has released a new version of its electromagnetic simulation suite that targets large-scale antenna and radar applications with faster frequency analysis and streamlined CAD preparation for RF engineers. The company positions the software as a way to shorten design cycles and time-to-market for complex RF systems by combining high-accuracy solvers with new automation features.
Nullspace Inc. has released a new version of its electromagnetic simulation suite that targets large-scale antenna and radar applications with faster frequency analysis and streamlined CAD preparation for RF engineers. The company positions the software as a way to shorten design cycles and time-to-market for complex RF systems by combining high-accuracy solvers with new automation features. Aerospacelab expands Pulsar navigation constellation work with new Xona satellite order
Wednesday, 14 January 2026 07:17
Berlin, Germany (SPX) Jan 14, 2026
Aerospacelab, a satellite manufacturing and design company, has been selected by Xona Space Systems to produce eight additional satellites for Pulsar, a low Earth orbit navigation constellation designed to deliver high performance positioning, navigation and timing services. The new order is intended to bridge early commercial demand, with launches scheduled to begin in late 2026 as Xona develop
Aerospacelab, a satellite manufacturing and design company, has been selected by Xona Space Systems to produce eight additional satellites for Pulsar, a low Earth orbit navigation constellation designed to deliver high performance positioning, navigation and timing services. The new order is intended to bridge early commercial demand, with launches scheduled to begin in late 2026 as Xona develop Fueling research in nuclear thermal propulsion
Wednesday, 14 January 2026 07:17
by Poornima Apte for MIT News
Boston MA (SPX) Jan 14, 2026
Going to the moon was one thing; going to Mars will be quite another. The distance alone is intimidating. While the moon is 238,855 miles away, the distance to Mars is between 33 million and 249 million miles. The propulsion systems that got us to the moon just will not work.
Taylor Hampson, a master's student in the Department of Nuclear Science and Engineeri
Boston MA (SPX) Jan 14, 2026
Going to the moon was one thing; going to Mars will be quite another. The distance alone is intimidating. While the moon is 238,855 miles away, the distance to Mars is between 33 million and 249 million miles. The propulsion systems that got us to the moon just will not work.
Taylor Hampson, a master's student in the Department of Nuclear Science and Engineeri Blue Origin and Nimbus validate fuel cells for lunar life support
Wednesday, 14 January 2026 07:17
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jan 14, 2026
In a key step toward sustaining crews on future lunar missions, Nimbus Power Systems has completed a campaign of shock and vibration tests on its advanced, gravity independent fuel cell hardware in cooperation with Blue Origin. The tests reproduced the harsh launch and ascent environments expected for NASA Artemis crewed missions, and the fuel cell met all specified performance targets while mai
In a key step toward sustaining crews on future lunar missions, Nimbus Power Systems has completed a campaign of shock and vibration tests on its advanced, gravity independent fuel cell hardware in cooperation with Blue Origin. The tests reproduced the harsh launch and ascent environments expected for NASA Artemis crewed missions, and the fuel cell met all specified performance targets while mai Quantum camera startup plans satellite and telescope constellations
Wednesday, 14 January 2026 07:17
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jan 14, 2026
Diffraqtion, a space startup spun out of MIT and the University of Maryland, has closed a pre-seed funding round to advance satellite constellations and telescope systems powered by a novel quantum camera. The round is led by QDNL Participations, with participation from milemark+ capital, Aether VC, ADIN, Offline Ventures, and a non-dilutive DARPA SBIR Direct-to-Phase 2 contract that supports sp
Diffraqtion, a space startup spun out of MIT and the University of Maryland, has closed a pre-seed funding round to advance satellite constellations and telescope systems powered by a novel quantum camera. The round is led by QDNL Participations, with participation from milemark+ capital, Aether VC, ADIN, Offline Ventures, and a non-dilutive DARPA SBIR Direct-to-Phase 2 contract that supports sp Multiple satellite filings demonstrate transparency, responsibility and ambition: China Daily editorial
Wednesday, 14 January 2026 07:17
Beijing, China (SPX) Jan 13, 2026
Low-Earth orbit slots are finite, nonrenewable and increasingly scarce. Once they are occupied or effectively locked by early movers, latecomers face severe constraints on their ability to deploy satellite systems critical for communications, navigation, remote sensing and digital services.
Under the long-standing "first-come, first-served" principle of the International Telecommunication
Low-Earth orbit slots are finite, nonrenewable and increasingly scarce. Once they are occupied or effectively locked by early movers, latecomers face severe constraints on their ability to deploy satellite systems critical for communications, navigation, remote sensing and digital services.
Under the long-standing "first-come, first-served" principle of the International Telecommunication