NASA’s second Space Launch System (SLS) heavy-lift rocket, topped with an Orion deep-space capsule, was rolled out to its Kennedy Space Center launchpad Jan. 17, setting the stage for a fueling test and practice countdown ahead of launch on the first crewed flight into deep space in more than 50 years.
Recently unveiled plans by several Chinese companies to launch more than 200,000 collectively represent “nothing untoward,” says an editorial in China Daily.
Isar Aerospace has set Jan. 21 as the “not before” launch date for its Spectrum rocket as the German startup also aims to reach orbit as part of the effort to recover from last year’s failed test mission.
Lockheed Martin has unveiled initial details of a comprehensive hypersonic missile defense system developed under a secretive initiative dubbed Pitch Black.
The U.S. Senate on Jan. 15 joined the House of Representatives in passing a fiscal 2026 budget for NASA that nearly matches its current spending levels.
NASA head Isaacman met with SpaceX and Blue Origin officials to get a better sense of how to speed up the timelines around efforts to return to the Moon.
Planet Labs is trying to get a new satellite production facility in Germany operational before year-end, though timing is somewhat linked to securing approvals.
Following a banner year of satellite launches and two reusable launch attempts, China appears poised to demonstrate more cutting-edge tech on orbit in 2026.
NASA completed the early return of International Space Station astronauts when the SpaceX Crew-11 Dragon Endeavour capsule splashed down Jan. 15 in the Pacific Ocean off the San Diego coast.
NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 Dragon Endeavour capsule undocked from the International Space Station on Jan. 14 for a scheduled Jan. 15 splashdown and recovery.
Nearly nine months after the Trump administration released its fiscal 2026 budget proposal to slash NASA funding by 24%, Congress is poised to reject the cuts.
France has yet to find a ride to space for its twin-nanosatellite “Yoda” demonstration program for geostationary patrol against potential unfriendly spacecraft.
Open Cosmos received Ka-band spectrum rights through Liechtenstein as the European space tech company prepares to deploy an LEO broadband satellite system.
Editors are joined by Russ Matijevich, space industry veteran and a judge in the Space Tech Challenge Awards. Nominations are now open—could your solution be a winner?
