The hyperactive sunspot region responsible for the beautiful auroras earlier in May was still alive and kicking when it rotated away from Earth’s view. Watching from the other side of the Sun, the ESA-led Solar Orbiter mission detected this same region producing the largest solar flare of this solar cycle. By observing the Sun from all sides, ESA missions reveal how active sunspot regions evolve and persist, which will help improve space weather forecasting.

Europe’s newest rocket soon launches, taking with it many space missions each with a unique objective, destination and team at home, cheering them on. Whether into Earth orbit to look back and study Earth, peer out to deep space or test important new technologies, Ariane 6’s first flight will showcase the versatility and flexibility of this impressive, heavy-lift launcher. Read on for all about Curium One, then see who else is flying first.

Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Jun 18, 2024
Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) announced a ten-launch agreement with Japanese Earth observation company Synspective. The deal, the largest in Rocket Lab's history for its Electron launch vehicle, was announced in Tokyo with Rocket Lab founder and CEO Sir Peter Beck, Synspective founder and CEO Dr. Motoyuki Arai, and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in attendance. Rocket La

Sydney, Australia (SPX) Jun 18, 2024
Chinese rocket scientists and engineers conducted a critical test of a propulsion system for a new carrier rocket, essential for China's future manned moon landings. "During the ignition test that took place at an engine testing facility in Beijing's Fengtai district, three YF-100K engines spewed fire for several minutes, generating a combined thrust of 382 metric tons, according to the Ch

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jun 18, 2024
Scientists at Case Western Reserve University have found new evidence that could change our understanding of the cosmos. Tobias Mistele, a post-doctoral scholar at the Department of Astronomy, used gravitational lensing to investigate dark matter. He discovered that the rotation curves of galaxies remain flat for millions of light years. Previously, it was believed that these curves must d

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jun 18, 2024
NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) captured an image of China's Chang'e 6 sample return spacecraft on the Moon's far side on June 7. Chang'e 6 had landed on June 1, and LRO imaged the lander on the rim of an eroded crater approximately 55 yards (50 meters) in diameter nearly a week later. The LRO Camera team calculated the landing site coordinates to be around 42 degrees south latit

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jun 17, 2024
Ovzon's proprietary satellite Ovzon 3 has reached its orbital position in the geostationary arc after a five-month journey. Initial tests conducted by manufacturing partner Maxar have been completed, and the satellite, including the Ovzon On-Board-Processor, will soon be handed over to Ovzon for further in-orbit testing. The satellite is expected to enter commercial service mid-year 2024, as pla

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jun 17, 2024
Kayhan Space has launched Satcat.com, a spaceflight intelligence exchange that aggregates historical and real-time data for objects and events in Earth's orbit. Satcat is designed for a wide range of users, from space enthusiasts to industry experts, offering a single platform for researching, analyzing, and referencing space-related data. While many resources provide essential information