Space

Ars Technica Jun 30

NASA Considers Sending Backup Mars Rover to the Moon

NASA is exploring the possibility of sending the engineering model of the Perseverance rover, known as 'Promise,' to the Moon. This rover would utilize a nuclear power source to operate in the Moon's challenging environment, marking a shift from the solar-powered rovers previously used by the agency.

Bias: 4 Sentiment: +0.10

Scientific American Jun 30

NASA selects companies for lunar lander development

NASA has awarded contracts totaling $600 million to Astrobotic, Intuitive Machines, and Firefly for the development of lunar landers. This initiative is part of efforts to establish a crewed outpost on the Moon's surface.

Bias: 4 Sentiment: +0.10

Ars Technica Jun 30

Update on New Glenn Rocket Explosion and Its Implications

The New Glenn rocket explosion in Florida, which occurred nearly a month ago, has raised concerns about its implications for NASA's Artemis Program. The incident destroyed the rocket's only launch pad, and while Blue Origin plans to return to flight by the end of the year, skepticism remains about the feasibility of this timeline.

Bias: 4 Sentiment: +0.00

Washington Examiner Jun 28

NASA initiates mission to reposition Swift Observatory in orbit

NASA is set to launch a $30 million mission to reposition the Swift Observatory, which is at risk of falling back to Earth due to increased solar activity. The mission, contracted to Katalyst Space Technologies, involves deploying an autonomous spacecraft named Link to elevate Swift to a more stable orbit. The operation is expected to take several months, with the observatory needing to remain above 185 miles to avoid reentry.

Bias: 4 Sentiment: +0.10

Ars Technica Jun 26

Update on New Glenn Rocket Explosion and Its Implications

The New Glenn rocket exploded on its launch pad in Florida nearly a month ago, destroying the launch pad and raising concerns about future missions. Blue Origin aims to return the rocket to flight by the end of the year, but skepticism remains regarding this timeline. The incident also affects NASA's Artemis Program and its lunar missions.

Bias: 4 Sentiment: -0.10

gizmodo.com Jun 24

Chinese Spaceplane Releases Unknown Object in Orbit

The Chinese spaceplane Shenlong has released an unidentified object during its fourth orbital mission. Detected by LeoLabs, this object was confirmed to have been deployed by the spaceplane. Shenlong has previously conducted similar operations, but China has not disclosed details about the purpose of these deployments.

Bias: 4 Sentiment: +0.00

Ars Technica Jun 24

NASA shifts focus from lunar orbit station to surface base, cancels upper stage development

NASA has announced a strategic pivot from building a lunar orbit space station to focusing on a base on the Moon's surface, leading to the cancellation of the upper stage development for the Space Launch System rocket. Administrator Jared Isaacman emphasized that the canceled programs were not essential for lunar landings and had faced significant cost overruns and delays.

Bias: 4 Sentiment: +0.00

Al Jazeera English Jun 24

NASA to Use New Spacesuits Designed with Input from Prada for 2028 Lunar Mission

NASA plans to send astronauts back to the moon in 2028 with new spacesuits designed to offer better safety and mobility. The design has included contributions from the fashion brand Prada.

Bias: 4 Sentiment: +0.10

Ars Technica Jun 23

SpaceX to Test New Cargo Delivery Vehicle Starfall

SpaceX is preparing to launch a Falcon 9 rocket on Tuesday to test its new reentry vehicle, Starfall, designed for global cargo delivery from low-Earth orbit. The vehicle will be released after two orbits and aims for a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.

Bias: 4 Sentiment: +0.00

Ars Technica Jun 22

US Military Conducts Space Exercise with Satellite Launch

Rocket Lab successfully launched a satellite for the US Space Force on June 22, 2026, as part of a military exercise to test crisis response capabilities in low-Earth orbit. The launch was minimally publicized, and officials had not commented on it as of June 26. The satellite, named Victus Haze Puma, is now included in the military's catalog of space objects.

Bias: 4 Sentiment: +0.00

The Verge Jun 19

NASA selects Relativity Space for 2028 Mars mission

NASA has chosen Relativity Space to launch its Aeolus payload to Mars in 2028. The partnership will see Relativity Space handle the spacecraft and rocket operations, with the payload designed to gather atmospheric data on Mars.

Bias: 4 Sentiment: +0.10

Ars Technica Jun 19

NASA Awards Contract for Satellite Rescue Mission

NASA has initiated a satellite rescue mission for the Swift astronomy satellite, which is in danger of re-entering Earth's atmosphere. Katalyst Space Technologies has been awarded a $30 million contract to develop a satellite that will capture Swift and restore its orbit, enabling it to continue its scientific work.

Bias: 42 Sentiment: +0.10

Ars Technica Jun 18

NASA halts work on lunar HALO module with Northrop Grumman

NASA has instructed Northrop Grumman to stop work on the HALO module, part of the Lunar Gateway project, as the agency shifts its focus to a Moon base. The HALO module was intended to serve as a habitat for astronauts, with contracts worth $1.1 billion previously awarded to Northrop Grumman for its development.

Bias: 36 Sentiment: +0.00

Ars Technica Jun 17

Demolition of Historic Towers at Vandenberg Space Force Station Completed for SpaceX Use

On June 16, 2026, the support towers at Space Launch Complex-6 (SLC-6) were demolished to prepare the site for SpaceX's Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy missions. The complex has historical significance, having previously been used for early human spaceflight efforts and shuttle launches.

Bias: 45 Sentiment: +0.10

Ars Technica Jun 16

Amazon has hundreds of satellites ready for launch, awaiting missions

Amazon has hundreds of satellites ready for launch, currently idle in Florida. The next mission, scheduled for June 17, 2026, will use an Ariane 64 rocket to deploy three dozen of these satellites from French Guiana.

Bias: 33 Sentiment: +0.00

Ars Technica Jun 15

Isar Aerospace Delays Spectrum Rocket Launch Due to Technical Issues

Isar Aerospace has delayed the test flight of its Spectrum rocket after identifying technical issues with the vehicle's fluid systems. This is the fourth postponement in five months for the company, which is headquartered near Munich, Germany.

Bias: 14 Sentiment: +0.00

Ars Technica Jun 15

Chinese Rocket Upper Stage Breaks Apart in Low-Earth Orbit

A Chinese rocket's upper stage broke apart on June 9, releasing debris in low-Earth orbit. The US Space Force confirmed the breakup and stated that there are no threats to human spaceflight, with ongoing analysis of the situation.

Bias: 14 Sentiment: +0.00

tech.yahoo.com Jun 12

Experts Weigh In on SpaceX's Starship and Future Ambitions

SpaceX is developing its Starship rocket as part of its ambitious plans for Mars colonization and orbital AI data centers. Experts express skepticism about the feasibility of these goals, citing technological and economic challenges. Despite these concerns, SpaceX has secured significant funding from its IPO to support its projects.

Bias: 65 Sentiment: +0.00

Ars Technica Jun 11

NASA's Deep Space Network Functioned Effectively During Artemis II Mission

NASA's Deep Space Network successfully supported the Artemis II mission, which launched on April 1 with a crew of four. The mission lasted just over nine days, reducing the communication demands compared to the previous Artemis I mission, which had caused delays for other scientific missions due to its higher data requirements.

Bias: 45 Sentiment: +0.10

Ars Technica Jun 09

NASA announces crew for Artemis III mission and timeline

NASA revealed the crew for the Artemis III mission on June 9, 2026. The mission will see the Orion spacecraft dock with lunar lander prototypes in low-Earth orbit, featuring an all-male crew with military experience.

Bias: 18 Sentiment: +0.10