Tag: space exploration
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ESA Delays Space Rider Drop Test After Anomaly During Helicopter Ascent
The European Space Agency (ESA) has postponed a key drop test of its Space Rider reusable spaceplane after an anomaly occurred during a helicopter-assisted ascent phase in May, delaying the final stage of the vehicle’s landing qualification campaign. ESA confirmed that the incident took place during a two-week test campaign that concluded on May 8,…
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Quantum Space to Go Public in $1.2 Billion SPAC Deal Backed by Former NASA Chief Jim Bridenstine
Quantum Space has agreed to go public through a merger with special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) Inflection Point Acquisition Corp. VI in a transaction valuing the combined company at approximately $1.2 billion. The deal includes a $300 million private investment in public equity (PIPE) led by Inflection Point Asset Management and is expected to close…
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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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NASA Plans Headquarters Relocation as Agency Reorganization Moves Forward
NASA is preparing to relocate its headquarters as part of a broader organizational restructuring effort, with agency officials aiming to identify a new location by the end of 2026. The move comes as the lease on NASA’s current headquarters complex in Washington, D.C., is scheduled to expire in 2028. The agency has occupied the leased…
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SpaceX Launches Starship V3 in Major Test Flight Ahead of Planned IPO
SpaceX has launched its new Starship V3 rocket in a high-profile test flight from Texas after an earlier launch attempt was postponed because of a launch-tower malfunction. The uncrewed rocket lifted off shortly after 17:30 local time on Friday, marking the first flight of the latest Starship configuration, which stands approximately 124 meters tall. According…
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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…
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With new patch design, the Crew-13 astronauts clearly aren’t superstitious
NASA has assigned its first crew to launch on a mission “13” since Apollo 13 “had a problem” on the way to the Moon 56 years ago. Jessica Watkins and Luke Delaney with NASA, Joshua Kutryk with the Canadian Space Agency, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov will lift off for the International Space Station as…
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ESA Member States Seek Cancellation of Mars Earth Return Orbiter
Member states of the European Space Agency have called for the cancellation of the Earth Return Orbiter, a central component of the joint Mars Sample Return programme with NASA. The Earth Return Orbiter was intended to capture Martian samples launched into orbit and transport them back to Earth. ESA had awarded Airbus Defence and Space…
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Oman Joins Artemis Accords, Expanding Coalition for Peaceful Space Exploration
Oman has formally joined the Artemis Accords, a U.S.-led framework governing responsible behavior in outer space, marking a new step in international space cooperation as the United States and its partners pursue long-term lunar and deep-space exploration. The signing took place in Muscat on Jan. 26, coinciding with the opening of the Middle East Space…