A prolonged exposure of M104, known as the Sombrero Galaxy, uncovered structures including tidal streams and a diagonal ring embedded within its outer halo that suggest a tumultuous past involving galactic collisions. Th…
#Space technology
This week in Space technology · updated Tue Oct 06 2026
Space technology continues expanding across multiple frontiers this week. Satellite constellation deployments by major companies face mounting supply chain pressures, with critical component shortages threatening launch schedules and specifications. Meanwhile, practical applications are advancing: direct satellite-to-smartphone connectivity trials in Canada demonstrate progress toward extending cellular coverage to remote regions, while orbital computing infrastructure emerges as a specialized alternative to traditional data centers. Scientific missions maintain momentum, with the James Webb Space Telescope revealing hidden stellar nurseries and Mars rovers conducting detailed geological investigations. Additionally, military space operations are being formalized through new dedicated career tracks, reflecting growing institutional emphasis on space capabilities.
AI-written weekly briefing drawn from this topic's recent stories.
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Deep Imaging Reveals Violent Merger History of the Sombrero Galaxy
Legendary NASA Flight Director Behind Apollo 13 Rescue Passes Away
Milt Windler, a key NASA Mission Control leader during the 1970 Apollo 13 crisis, has died at age 94. Windler directed multiple Apollo missions including the first circumlunar flight and several moon landings, as well as…
NASA Brings Space Exploration Message to Philadelphia Eagles Game
NASA astronaut Christina Koch, who recently completed the Artemis II lunar flyby mission, will appear at the Philadelphia Eagles game on October 4 as part of the agency's Inspiration Tour. Fans will have the opportunity …
Energy Department Funds Half-Billion Dollar Push Into Advanced Physics and Space-Ready Technologies
The Department of Energy has committed $400 million toward fundamental research in energy science, fusion, nuclear physics, and advanced computing. While the grants support terrestrial research, the breakthroughs are exp…
ESA Partners with OVHcloud and CGI to Build Earth Observation Data Platform
The European Space Agency has contracted OVHcloud and CGI to develop Digital EO, an Earth observation data system accessible to researchers, government agencies, enterprises, and the general public. The platform will agg…
ICEYE and Nokia Partner to Build European Sovereign Satellite Communications Network
ICEYE and Nokia have announced a partnership to develop secure satellite communications systems for government use, with first launches expected in 2028. The jointly created LEO satellite network will provide nations wit…
Falcon 9 Sends NASA Crew-13 Team to Orbiting Laboratory for Extended Research Operations
NASA and SpaceX successfully launched four crew members aboard a Falcon 9 rocket to the International Space Station, with docking scheduled about eight hours after liftoff—the fastest Dragon transit time to date. Mission…
SpaceX Rideshare Mission Deploys 130 Payloads Including AI Datacenter and Environmental Monitoring Satellites
SpaceX launched 130 diverse payloads aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base, including a Google artificial intelligence prototype, environmental monitoring equipment, and pharmaceutical manufacturing e…
Four-Member Crew Launches to International Space Station for Half-Year Mission
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched four crew members—two NASA astronauts, a Russian cosmonaut, and a Canadian astronaut—to the International Space Station for a planned six-month stay. The mission was delayed…
SpaceX's Falcon Heavy Launches First National Reconnaissance Office Mission
A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket is scheduled to lift off from Kennedy Space Center on a classified mission for the National Reconnaissance Office, marking the first time the heavy-lift vehicle has been used by the spy satel…
SpaceX launches Crew-13 mission with first Black woman spacecraft commander
SpaceX successfully launched its Crew-13 mission to the International Space Station, carrying four astronauts including Jessica Watkins, who became the first Black woman to command a spacecraft. The launch was delayed fr…
Researchers solve decades-old mystery of Venus's lower atmospheric haze
Scientists at Tohoku University have determined that Venus's yellowish lower haze, which has puzzled astronomers since the 1970s, is composed of cosmic dust particles from burned-up meteorites mixed with sulfuric acid. U…
China Executes Dual Satellite Launches to Advance Megaconstellation and Military Programs
China completed two orbital missions in late September using Long March rockets, deploying the 26th batch of Guowang internet satellites and a fourth group of Yaogan-40 reconnaissance spacecraft. The Guowang constellatio…
Composite Photograph Captures Rising Harvest Moon Over Sicily's Active Volcano
A composite image taken near Nicosia, Sicily documents the full moon rising at dusk while Mount Etna's volcanic emissions are visible in the background. The photograph captures atmospheric phenomena including the Belt of…
Google's AI Hardware Heads to Orbit as SpaceX Tests Space-Based Computing Infrastructure
Alphabet is launching its custom-designed tensor processing units into orbit aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket as part of Project Suncatcher, an initiative to develop solar-powered artificial intelligence infrastructure in…
SpaceX's Starship Progress Intensifies Launch Capacity Concerns for Competing Satellite Operators
SpaceX's recent Starship launch and the anticipated reduction of Falcon 9 operations have renewed concerns about limited launch availability for competitors planning to deploy satellite broadband and mobile constellation…
Washington State's Space Economy Reaches $8.1 Billion Annual Impact
A new study commissioned by Space Northwest reveals that Washington state's space industry now generates $8.1 billion in annual economic output, nearly doubling since 2022 and supporting approximately 12,300 direct jobs.…
NASA Faces Uncertain Future for Low-Earth Orbit as SpaceX Plans to Exit Crew Transportation Market
SpaceX has informed NASA it intends to retire its Crew Dragon spacecraft after 2030, despite the agency's two-decade strategy to foster a commercial low-Earth orbit economy with private companies. The company's decision …
Washington creates statewide space council to strengthen competitiveness in growing aerospace sector
Governor Bob Ferguson established a 23-member Washington Space Council during Seattle Space Week to enhance the state's competitive position in the space industry against rival regions like Florida, Texas, and Colorado. …
Stoke Space CEO questions Washington as startup hub amid business climate concerns
Andy Lapsa, CEO of Kent-based rocket company Stoke Space, expressed doubts about whether he would launch his venture in Washington state today, citing challenges including anti-business political sentiment, underinvestme…
In-Space Propulsion Company Agile Space Industries Adds New President as Revenue Climbs Five-Fold
Agile Space Industries, a supplier of chemical propulsion systems for space applications, has appointed Jason Wright as President to manage day-to-day operations and oversee business expansion. The Colorado-based company…
Space Economy Summit Showcases How Satellite Technology Creates Business Opportunities Across Agriculture, Healthcare, and Finance
The Economist Enterprise will host its fourth annual Space Economy Summit in Orlando in late October, convening government and industry leaders to explore practical applications of space-enabled technologies beyond the a…
Lockheed Martin's Terran Orbital Appoints Veteran Aerospace Executive as Chief Operating Officer
Terran Orbital, a Lockheed Martin subsidiary specializing in satellite-based aerospace and defense solutions, has appointed Jamin Brown as Chief Operating Officer to lead operational scaling and production expansion. Bro…
Military Satellite Communications Market Projected to Reach $22.6 Billion as Nations Embrace Multi-Orbit Networks
A new market analysis forecasts that commercial defense satellite communications revenues will exceed $22.6 billion by 2035, driven by military adoption of next-generation low and medium-orbit constellations alongside tr…
NASA to Broadcast SpaceX Crew-13 Launch to International Space Station
NASA will livestream the SpaceX Crew-13 mission launching October 1 at 11:10 a.m. EDT from Florida, carrying two NASA astronauts, a Canadian Space Agency astronaut, and a Russian cosmonaut to the International Space Stat…
Blue Origin's New Glenn Rocket Approved for NASA Mission Launches
NASA has added Blue Origin's New Glenn 9×4 launch vehicle to its Launch Services II contract, making it available for future agency missions through an annual on-ramp provision. The indefinite-delivery contract runs thro…
NASA Showcases Moon, Mars, and AI Advances at International Space Congress
NASA will participate in the 77th International Astronautical Congress in Turkey from October 5-9, featuring discussions on human exploration of the Moon and Mars, the Artemis Accords framework, scientific research, and …
NASA Contracts Omitron to Monitor Spacecraft Collision Risks for $23.5 Million
NASA has awarded a five-year, $23.5 million contract to Omitron Inc. to provide orbital safety analysis and conjunction assessment services protecting NASA spacecraft and astronaut safety. The services will screen all NA…
Student Teams Invited to Design Next-Generation Moon Communications Systems
NASA is launching a competition for U.S. college and university students to develop innovative communications solutions for sustained lunar exploration under the Artemis and Moon Base programs. Teams can propose advances…
Starship reaches orbit for the first time after engine issue
SpaceX's Starship rocket reached Earth orbit for the first time on Monday after launching from South Texas, though the upper stage lost one of its six Raptor engines during the flight. The mission deployed 26 upgraded V3…
Space Minds podcast: Novaspace CEO tests industry predictions in true-or-false format
In the latest Space Minds episode, SpaceNews' Mike Gruss and Novaspace CEO Pacôme Révillon play a true-or-false game to assess likely developments in the space sector over the coming year. The conversation touches on mar…
NISAR Satellite Tracks Lava Flow in Kamchatka with Radar Time-Lapse
The NASA-ISRO NISAR satellite used radar to capture a time-lapse of lava spreading from Krasheninnikov volcano in Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula, which began erupting after a nearby earthquake. The satellite's repeated pas…
NASA Tests Advanced Landing Guidance System on Drone
NASA tested its Safe and Precise Landing – Integrated Capabilities Evolution (SPLICE) system on an Alta-X drone, successfully completing simulated lunar descent and landing maneuvers. The technology is designed to enable…
Mars-Bound Carbon Capture Technology Now Carbonates Beer
A carbon-capture system originally developed for NASA's Mars missions has been adapted by Earthly Labs to purify CO2 from brewing processes for carbonation. The technology, which emerged from NASA's SBIR contracts, is no…
NASA Announces Prize Winners for Mars Food Production Concepts
NASA awarded $650,000 to five winning teams in its Deep Space Food Challenge: Mars to Table, with the top $300,000 going to Chinyere Ukeje for the Adaptive Nourishment Infrastructure concept. The competition sought integ…
Iceye Expands International Footprint to Meet Sovereign Space Needs
Iceye has rapidly expanded its global operations, establishing entities in Germany, Portugal, India, and other countries following a $1 billion Series F funding round. The Finnish SAR satellite company is responding to g…
Six Teams Chosen for Defense Innovation Cohort Focused on Space Challenges
Catalyst Campus and the BMC3I TAP Lab have selected six Focus Area Cohort Teams for Cohort 26.A. These teams consist of companies collaborating to address mission-focused challenges aligned with government priorities. Th…
ESA Director General Outlines Europe's Space Independence Strategy
In a podcast interview, ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher discussed Europe's efforts to achieve greater sovereignty in space and other domains. He highlighted areas where Europe is leading and those requiring improve…
Moog Opens Certified Clean Room to Increase Thruster Manufacturing Capacity
Moog has finished setting up a new ISO Class 8 clean room at its Niagara Falls site, which will enable increased thruster production for space applications. The facility is now fully commissioned and certified. This expa…
Upcoming Vega-C Mission to Carry Climate and Plant-Health Observers
Avio's Vega-C rocket is scheduled to launch from French Guiana on September 14, carrying two Earth-observation satellites. The mission, designated VV30, will deploy Sentinel-3C for ocean and atmosphere monitoring and FLE…
European Rocket Delivers Ocean and Plant-Monitoring Satellites to Orbit
Avio's Vega-C rocket lifted off from French Guiana on September 15, carrying the Copernicus Sentinel-3C and FLEX satellites. Sentinel-3C will monitor oceans and atmosphere, while FLEX will study plant fluorescence. Both …
NASA's PRIMA Mission Advances to Next Development Phase
NASA announced that the PRIMA far-infrared space telescope will move into Phase B development, becoming the first in the new Probe Explorers mission class. The telescope, with a 5.9-foot mirror, will study the formation …
Croatia Becomes 74th Nation to Join Artemis Accords
Croatia signed the Artemis Accords on September 23, 2026, becoming the 74th signatory during a ceremony in Zagreb. The agreement commits nations to peaceful and transparent space exploration, and Croatia's minister noted…
Satellite Captures Autumn Cloud Layer Over Pacific Northwest
NASA's Terra satellite captured a low-lying cloud layer covering western Washington and Oregon on September 19, 2026, with mountain peaks rising above the fog. The marine stratus clouds formed when cool, moist air from t…
Five Supernova Remnants Shine in a Single Vast Sky Image
A new astronomical image from Oukaïmeden Observatory in Morocco shows five supernova remnants in the constellation Auriga, spanning an area equivalent to a thousand full moons. The remnants, including the Spaghetti Nebul…
Hubble Network Lands $200M to Connect Bluetooth Devices via Satellite
Hubble Network raised $200 million in Series C funding at a $1.6 billion valuation to expand its satellite network that connects standard Bluetooth Low Energy devices directly to orbit. The Seattle-based startup currentl…
Simera Sense and IDOM team up for high-resolution Earth observation imager
Simera Sense and IDOM will jointly develop the optical system for the MultiScape350 very high-resolution Earth observation imager. IDOM will lead the optical front end development, while Simera Sense provides sensor elec…
Satrec Initiative to build ultra-high-resolution optical satellites for Hanwha constellation
Satrec Initiative will manufacture and launch four optical satellites capable of 10-centimeter-class imagery to complement Hanwha's 64-satellite SAR constellation. The satellites will operate in very low Earth orbit belo…
Terran Orbital names Cardi to lead European operations and strategic programs
Margherita Cardi has been promoted to Vice President of European Operations and Head of Strategic Programs at Terran Orbital. She will oversee all local functions in Italy and report directly to CEO Peter Krauss. Cardi p…
Space industry group adds insurance and advisory firms to membership
The Commercial Space Federation has welcomed ORBITInsure and Renaissance Strategic Advisors as new members. ORBITInsure brings expertise in space insurance and risk intelligence, while RSA offers strategy and M&A service…
NOAA taps Ethereal Space for $27.4M environmental monitoring task order
Ethereal Space has won a 24-month task order from NOAA worth approximately $27.4 million to supply commercial space-based environmental observations. The company will deliver GNSS radio occultation data, thermospheric ne…
SpaceX launches classified USSF-259 mission after one-day scrub
A Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Vandenberg on Sept. 16 carrying a classified payload for the U.S. Space Force, after a Tuesday attempt was scrubbed before fueling. The mission, designated USSF-259, is the third NSSL Ph…
Falcon 9 sends another Starlink batch into orbit from California coast
A Falcon 9 lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base on Sept. 19, carrying 27 V2 Mini satellites on the Starlink 15-27 mission. The booster B1093 completed its 17th flight and landed on a droneship in the Pacific Ocean…
Progress freighter docks with ISS after week-long launch delay
The unpiloted Progress M-25 spacecraft docked at the Poisk module on Sept. 19, delivering 2.8 tons of food, fuel, and supplies. It launched from Baikonur on Sept. 16 after a one-week postponement caused by a technical is…
Super Heavy booster positioned on launch mount for Starship's orbital debut
SpaceX rolled the Super Heavy booster B21 to Pad 2 at Starbase on Sunday night and placed it on the mount early Monday. The company is targeting a launch as soon as Sept. 28, but requires FAA approval for an orbital lice…
SpaceX assembles full Starship stack ahead of debut orbital attempt
SpaceX lifted the Starship upper stage, designated Ship 41, onto Super Heavy booster B21 at Starbase, Texas, early Wednesday, completing a 124-meter-tall rocket. The company may perform a fueling test before targeting la…
China's Supercomputing-1 Satellite Brings Onboard AI to Earth Observation
China launched nine satellites on September 20, including the Supercomputing-1, an AI computing satellite developed by S-AIDC. The satellite processes Earth-observation imagery in orbit, cutting data processing times fro…
Airbus repurposes Valve's handheld PC as command console for ExoMars rover tests
Airbus engineers are using a Steam Deck handheld PC to remotely operate a prototype of the ExoMars rover during development and testing on Earth. The device runs custom software and leverages its physical controls, touch…
AstroForge to fly AI-controlled spacecraft in 2027
AstroForge is developing an autonomous control stack called Solo, a transformer-based AI model, to command its next spacecraft. The mission, launching on Stoke Space's first rocket in 2027, will gather solar data and is …
Space Startup Starcloud to Deploy Bitcoin Miners on Second Orbital Mission
Starcloud, a startup backed by Nvidia, plans to become the first company to mine Bitcoin in space. The firm will place cryptocurrency mining ASICs on its second spacecraft, which is scheduled to launch later this year. I…