Commercial Space

By Vivienne Machi
In February 2024, the U.S. Space Force set up a pilot program called Tactical Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Tracking (TacSRT).
Commercial Space

By Irene Klotz
The nomination of entrepreneur and private astronaut Jared Isaacman to lead NASA may prove to be a turning point.
Budget, Policy & Regulation

By Irene Klotz
The return of U.S. astronauts to the Moon won’t happen until at least mid-2027, says NASA.
Budget, Policy & Regulation

By Robert Wall
A look at which trends are gaining and losing popularity in the space sector.
Satellites

By Robert Wall
The European Space Agency (ESA) has signed €350 million ($363 million) in contracts with Avio to further evolve the Vega launcher family.
Launch Vehicles & Propulsion

By Thierry Dubois
Stephane Israel is stepping down as Arianespace CEO and member of ArianeGroup's executive committee on Dec. 31, to be succeeded by David Cavailloles.
Commercial Space

By Robert Wall
Ispace says it is targeting another attempt to touch down a lunar lander on the Moon’s surface around four to five months after launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9.
Space Exploration

By Irene Klotz
"When you’re using taxpayer direct dollars to fund something, you don't want to fail," SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell says. "I think that's a huge mistake."
Commercial Space

By Irene Klotz
The FAA cleared SpaceX to conduct a series of Starship-Super Heavy flight tests from Boca Chica Beach, Texas.
Launch Vehicles & Propulsion

By Garrett Reim
The cellular service provider has opened registration to potential beta testers on a first-come, first-served basis.
Commercial Space

By Robert Wall
The European satellite operator on Dec. 17 said Airbus is due to start delivering the satellites in late 2026.
Commercial Space

By Chen Chuanren
The Australia Space Agency (ASA) has selected by the ELO2 Consortium to build the country’s first lunar rover, dubbed the "Roo-ver" by the public.
Space Exploration

By Irene Klotz
Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lander is due to launch mid-January onboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and attempt a soft landing on the Moon about 60 days later.
Space Exploration

By Thierry Dubois
Unseenlabs, boosted by the success of its in-orbit constellation of non-cooperative ship-detection satellites, is preparing its next generation.
Commercial Space

By Garrett Reim
The direct-to-device market could grow to $1.7 billion annually by 2029.
Commercial Space

By Garrett Reim
Astroscale’s Active Debris Removal by Astroscale-Japan approached to within 15 m of an orbiting derelict Mitsubishi Heavy Industries H-IIA upper-stage body.
Commercial Space

By Irene Klotz
A decade ago, SpaceX launched six Falcon 9 rockets in a year—now, it could be on track for an orbital launch rate of 136 Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy flights.
Launch Vehicles & Propulsion

By Garrett Reim
Sierra Space says it can predict—with higher accuracy than conventional methods—the locations of space debris, using “physics-informed neural networks.”
Commercial Space

By Garrett Reim
Pixxel, an Indian startup developing hyperspectral satellites, has raised $24 million as part of a Series B extension round.
Commercial Space

By Robert Wall
Even though Europe is back in the space launcher race, its progress still trails the U.S. and China.
Launch Vehicles & Propulsion

By Tony Osborne
UK satellite launch startup Orbex will shift operations to the Shetland Islands’ SaxaVord Spaceport and mothball construction of mainland Scotland facilities.
Commercial Space

By Tony Osborne
An F-35 has off-boarded data to a non-U.S. command and control system for the first time in testing by Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works and the UK Royal Air Force.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Garrett Reim
Amateur engineers may usher in a new era of space, in which rocketry is no longer the reserve of well-funded, well-staffed operations.
Launch Vehicles & Propulsion

By Vivienne Machi
The Prometheus effort began in 2018 to perform science and tech experiments in the extreme reentry environment through a low-cost, high-cadence flight testbed.
Commercial Space

By Robert Wall
The first of the missions took place from Rocket Lab’s second launch complex located at Wallops, Virginia, on Nov. 24.
Commercial Space