space-exploration102.215 min read
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 notches 36th flight with 29 Starlink satellites
2 days ago•Source: Space
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91.53 min•2 days ago
China's Tianwen-2 captures first close-up of Earth's quasi-moon, but sampling may be trickier than hoped
China's Tianwen-2 spacecraft has delivered the first close-up image of Earth's quasi-moon Kamo'oalewa (2016 HO3) after a roughly 400-day journey, suggesting a small, rubble-pile asteroid around 40–100 meters in size and signaling that planned sample collection could be more difficult than expected. If successful, any samples would be returned to Earth in 2027, making China the third country to achieve asteroid sample return; the mission will later pivot to a second target, 311P/PanSTARRS, in 2035.
101.925 min•4 days ago
ISS captures Los Angeles fireworks during America’s 250th birthday celebration
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Moon base on the horizon: Artemis pushes toward a polar outpost as China closes in
NASA’s Artemis program aims to establish a human outpost near the Moon’s south pole within the next decade, building on Artemis I’s lunar return and Artemis II’s crewed orbit; Artemis III will test docking with lunar landers in Earth orbit, with Artemis IV possibly placing astronauts near the south pole by 2028. That timeline unfolds as China plans a 2030 moon landing and base, signaling a renewed space race that could shape humanity’s next steps toward Mars.
SpaceX fires all six Starship engines in prep for Flight 13
SpaceX conducted a full six-engine static-fire on Ship 40 at Starbase, Texas, running three sea-level and three vacuum Raptors for about 60 seconds as it gears up for Starship Flight 13. The test follows a prior single-engine firing and aims to mirror much of Flight 12’s profile, including a possible relight in orbit. Next steps include rolling the Super Heavy booster out for its own tests, with Flight 13 potentially launching as early as August.
Private LINK mission to rescue NASA's Swift telescope from burning up in Earth's atmosphere
NASA launched the LINK servicing satellite aboard a Pegasus XL rocket to rendezvous with the aging Swift Observatory and tow it into a higher, stable orbit to prevent its reentry into Earth's atmosphere. LINK, built by Katalyst Space Technologies, will use robotic arms to capture Swift and then fire ion thrusters to gradually raise the duo’s orbit over months, extending Swift’s scientific life for years at a cost of about $30 million — a private mission that could mark the first private capture of a U.S. government satellite.
StormWall: A six-satellite plasma shield could blunt solar superstorms
Scientists propose StormWall, a constellation of six bus‑sized satellites in geostationary orbit that would release gas to form a plasma barrier at Earth’s magnetosphere, potentially reducing the impact of solar superstorms by more than 50% (up to 84% in simulations of a 2024 event). While the concept is touted as feasible with current tech, it would be costly (billions), require large rockets, and raise environmental and safety questions, with further studies needed before any deployment.
Two NASA Astronauts Set to Repair ISS Robotic Arm in Live Spacewalk
NASA astronauts Chris Williams and Jessica Meir will perform a roughly 6.5-hour spacewalk to replace a 200‑pound wrist joint on the ISS’s Canadarm2 after a May malfunction; a spare joint is on board, and NASA coverage begins at 7:00 a.m. EDT today as the 56‑foot robot arm—part of the station since 2001—receives ongoing maintenance.
Private rescue mission set to save NASA's Swift telescope from orbital decay
NASA is coordinating a private rescue mission to save the aging Swift Observatory from orbital decay by launching the LINK spacecraft on a Pegasus XL rocket to grapple Swift and raise its orbit back toward its original ~600 km altitude, extending its science life by years. The mission, which costs about $30 million, marks a pioneering private satellite‑servicing effort for a U.S. government asset.
Mars Orbiter Captures Perseverance Completing a Martian Marathon
NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter captured Perseverance finishing the 26.2-mile Martian marathon in Jezero Crater on June 14, 2026, a milestone that accompanies the rover’s ongoing science—imagery, samples and potential biosignatures—with a orbital perspective on its continued exploration; nearby, Opportunity also reached marathon distance in more than a decade of driving.
SpaceX lofts 24 Starlink satellites into orbit from California
SpaceX launched 24 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, on a Falcon 9 rocket. Booster 1088 completed its 17th flight and landed on the droneship; the satellites deployed about an hour after liftoff, bringing the active Starlink network to over 10,700 satellites. The mission marked SpaceX’s 75th Falcon 9 flight in 2026 and continues expanding global broadband coverage.
Falcon 9 set to loft SiriusXM SXM-11 satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit tonight
SpaceX aims to launch a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral tonight (June 28) within a four-hour window opening at 10:25 p.m. EDT, delivering the SiriusXM SXM-11 satellite (about 15,400 pounds) to a geosynchronous transfer orbit; deployment is scheduled roughly 34.5 minutes after liftoff, with the first stage expected to land on the drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas about 8.5 minutes later (booster B1085 in its 17th flight). Live coverage starts ~15 minutes before liftoff.
Hayabusa2 to skim Torifune from a room-temperature: ultra-close asteroid flyby on tap
Japan’s Hayabusa2, on an extended mission after Ryugu, will perform one of the closest asteroid flybys by a mission of its class, approaching Torifune to within about 1 kilometer at ~5.3 km/s on July 5 to study its shape and properties and test rapid reconnaissance for planetary defense—with a long-term aim to visit the tiny asteroid 1998 KY26 in 2031, potentially landing there.