Space

SpaceX has demonstrated an unmodified smartphone making a video call using a connection to its Starlink low-Earth-orbit satellite constellation.

The ESA has awarded The Exploration Company and Thales Alenia Space separate contracts to continue work to develop low-Earth-orbit cargo return services.

Liftoff of the Rocket Lab Electron rocket with the initial spacecraft from New Zealand is planned for 3:15 a.m. EDT, following the weather delay from May 22.

The satellites are believed to be NRO-customized Starlink spacecraft known as Starshield, a government version of SpaceX's broadband LEO network.

Launch of a Boeing CST-100 Starliner spacecraft on its first crewed flight has been postponed again to allow more time to review a helium leak issue.

Satellite bus manufacturer is critical to national security program but is in financial trouble.

Russia has launched an anti-satellite weapon to low Earth orbit near a U.S. government satellite.

The actions include improved tracking to facilitate just-in-time collision avoidance maneuvers and the more rapid deorbiting of large sats no longer functional.

An ocean world some 450 million mi. from Earth is a tantalizing candidate for life.

Venture capital firm Seraphim Space has announced its latest accelerator cohort of nine startups.

The U.S. Space Force has awarded Starfish Space a contract to launch and operate a new space tug as part of its broader push for in-orbit servicing.

Though the New Shepard capsule returned to the company’s West Texas spaceport with one of its three main parachutes not fully inflating.

The leak initially appeared during the countdown for launch of the Starliner Crew Flight Test on May 6.

NASA has named David Salvagnini as the agency’s first chief artificial intelligence officer.

NASA for the 12th year in a row has been rated as the best large federal agency for which to work in 2023, according to employee survey analysis.

Chinese commercial space company CAS Space plans to introduce suborbital space tourism, unveiling a "space traveler" capsule that will seat seven passengers.

The company suggests leveraging NASA’s deep investment in the SLS may be just the ticket to bring back samples from Mars.

Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.

AST SpaceMobile has signed a commercial agreement with AT&T to provide satellite-based cellular service to the company’s customers.

With former partner Russia out of the picture, the European Space Agency-led ExoMars rover mission is firming up its partnership with NASA.

The first of the two Prefire satellites is planned for launch on May 22.

NASA’s long-serving McDonnell Douglas DC-8-72 research aircraft flew for the final time on May 15 after being used on 158 science campaigns.

Terran Orbital’s revenue fell 3% to $27.2 million for the period ended March 31, it disclosed in a financial filing with the SEC on May 14.

Enthusiasm for the scientific potential of a NASA-led Mars Sample Return mission is continuing.

The mission, designated NROL-146, is targeted for launch on May 19 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket flying from Vandenberg SFB in California.