Tag: NASA
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A unique NASA satellite is falling out of orbit—this team is trying to rescue it
BROOMFIELD, Colorado—One of NASA’s oldest astronomy missions, the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, has been out of action for more than a month as scientists await the arrival of a pioneering robotic rescue mission. The 21-year-old spacecraft is falling out of orbit, and NASA officials believe it’s worth saving—for the right price. Swift is not a…
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NASA returns its SLS rocket back to the launch pad ahead of planned April flight of Artemis 2
NASA’s Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft photographed during the final hour of its four-mile journey to the launch pad on Friday, March 20, 2026. Image: John Pisani/Spaceflight Now Update March 20, 12 p.m. EDT (1600 UTC): NASA confirmed completion of the Space Launch System rocket’s rollout. NASA’s Moon rocket returned to the launch…
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NASA ready for another shot at launching Artemis 2 moon mission
Technicians and engineers perform prelaunch work on the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft inside the Vehicle Assembly Building on Feb. 26, 2026. Image: Adam Bernstein/Spaceflight Now NASA plans to haul its Artemis 2 moon rocket back out to its seaside launch pad next week to ready the huge booster for blastoff as early…
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Thales Alenia Space Awards Astrobotic Contract For Wheels Of Lunar Habitat Module
Space manufacturer Thales Alenia Space has awarded a contract to U.S. robotics company Astrobotic to develop specialized wheels for a mobile lunar habitat under development for the Italian Space Agency (ASI). The wheels will be used on the Multi-Purpose Habitation Module, a concept designed to support human missions on the Moon as part of the…
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Lux Aeterna Raises $10M Seed Round to Develop Reusable Delphi Satellite Platform
Lux Aeterna has raised $10 million in seed funding to develop its reusable satellite platform Delphi, with the first demonstration mission planned for the first quarter of 2027. The round was led by Konvoy Ventures and included participation from existing investors Space Capital, Dynamo Ventures and Channel 39 Ventures, along with new investors including Decisive…
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New crew arrivals and science highlight February aboard the ISS
Following the early departure of Crew-11 in mid-January due to a medical concern, the International Space Station began February with a crew of just three. Two cosmonauts, Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev, and one NASA astronaut, Chris Williams, spent the first half of February conducting experiments and technology demonstrations, with Williams studying proximity operations in…
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Astrobotic to Supply Wheels for Italy’s Driveable Lunar Habitat
Astrobotic has been selected to build the wheels for a driveable lunar habitat planned by the Italian Space Agency, the company announced on Friday. The Pittsburgh-based firm secured a contract of undisclosed value from Thales Alenia Space to contribute wheel systems for Italy’s Multi-Purpose Habitation (MPH) lunar project. Astrobotic said the wheels will be designed…
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Voyager Technologies Invests in Max Space to Develop Expandable Lunar Habitats
U.S. space and defense company Voyager Technologies has made a multi-million-dollar strategic investment in Max Space to advance the development of expandable lunar habitats, the companies said. Voyager said the funding will support internal research and development focused on space habitats for long-duration lunar and deep-space missions, as well as accelerated engineering, manufacturing scale-up and…
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NASA inspector general assesses agency’s management of moon lander risk
An artist’s impression of an Apollo-era lunar module (left) and moon landers being built by Blue Origin (center) and SpaceX (right). Graphic: NASA Office of Inspector General NASA is working to reduce the risks of upcoming Artemis moon missions, but there are “gaps” in the agency’s approach, including in planned tests of some critical lander…
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ESA Seeks Proposals for Studies on European-Led Modular Space Station in Low Earth Orbit
The European Space Agency (ESA) has issued a call for tenders to conduct studies exploring the feasibility of a European-led, modular space station in low Earth orbit as the International Space Station approaches retirement. NASA announced in January 2022 that the ISS is expected to be decommissioned and deorbited in the first quarter of 2031…