Tag: Human Spaceflight
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Soyuz MS-28 Returns Expedition 74 After 241 Days
Did Expedition 74 Complete Its 8-Month ISS Mission Successfully? Soyuz MS-28 touched down southeast of Dzhezkazgan, Kazakhstan at 5:27 a.m. CDT on July 26, 2026, closing out a 241-day Expedition 74 mission that sent NASA astronaut Chris Williams and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev around Earth 3,856 times. The crew departed the International…
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Soyuz MS-29 Docks at ISS With NASA Astronaut Menon
Did Soyuz MS-29 Successfully Dock at the ISS With a NASA Astronaut Aboard? Three hours and five minutes. That was the elapsed time from liftoff at Baikonur to docking at the International Space Station for Soyuz MS-29 on July 14, 2026 — a textbook fast-rendezvous profile that deposited NASA astronaut Anil Menon and Roscosmos cosmonauts…
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China Plans Expansion of Tiangong Space Station with New Module
China is preparing to expand its Tiangong space station by adding a new multifunctional module that will transform the orbital outpost from its current T-shaped configuration into a cross-shaped structure. The expansion represents the next phase of the station’s long-term development plan and is intended to increase scientific research capacity, support more frequent missions and…
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ESA Reviews Future of Gateway Contributions Following NASA Program Pause
The European Space Agency (ESA) is evaluating the future of its planned contributions to NASA’s Gateway lunar space station following changes to the Artemis programme that have placed the station’s development on hold. ESA officials said the agency intends to continue work on several Gateway-related projects while examining how the technologies could be adapted for…
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ESA Astronaut Tests EuroSuit Prototype Aboard ISS as Development Program Advances
A prototype of the European-developed EuroSuit intravehicular activity (IVA) spacesuit has undergone testing aboard the International Space Station (ISS), while a parallel water survival campaign has been completed on Earth as part of the suit’s ongoing development program. The EuroSuit initiative was launched by the French space agency CNES in late 2023 and is being…
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Voyager Technologies to Acquire Astrobotic in Deal Valued at Up to $300 Million
Voyager Technologies has agreed to acquire lunar exploration company Astrobotic Technology in a transaction valued at up to approximately $300 million, as the space infrastructure company seeks to expand its role in supporting future lunar missions and long-term Moon operations. The deal, which is expected to close by early July 2026 pending regulatory approvals, will…
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Axiom Space and Prada Unveil Advanced Cooling Garment for Future Moon Missions
Axiom Space and Prada have unveiled a new Liquid Cooling and Ventilation Garment (LCVG) designed for astronauts who will wear the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU) spacesuit during future lunar missions. The garment serves as the high-performance inner layer of the AxEMU spacesuit and is intended to help astronauts withstand the harsh conditions of the…
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NASA Names Four-Astronaut Crew for Artemis III Docking Mission with SpaceX and Blue Origin Landers
NASA has selected three American astronauts and one European astronaut to fly on Artemis III, a landmark mission scheduled for late 2027 that will conduct the first in-space docking demonstrations between NASA’s Orion spacecraft and lunar landers developed by SpaceX and Blue Origin. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman announced the crew during a ceremony in Houston…
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Blue Origin Targets New Glenn Return to Flight Before End of 2026 After Launch Pad Explosion
Blue Origin plans to return its New Glenn rocket to flight before the end of 2026 despite an explosion last week that generated shockwaves reportedly comparable to a small earthquake and caused damage at the company’s launch complex. Following an assessment of Launch Complex 36A and surrounding infrastructure, Blue Origin Chief Executive Officer Dave Limp…
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ESA Chief Calls for Independent European Human Spaceflight Capability
European Space Agency Director General Josef Aschbacher has called for Europe to establish its own independent human spaceflight capability, arguing that the continent has become overly dependent on decisions made by foreign partners. In an opinion article published on May 18, Aschbacher said recent changes to the United States’ Artemis programme architecture and Europe’s reduced…