After Biosignature Announcement, Mars Sample Return Remains in Limbo
Ambitious plans by NASA and the European Space Agency to return samples of the Martian surface to Earth continue to remain in limbo even as the Agency has announced the collection of a potentially biosignature-containing sample aboard the Perseverance rover.
Starship Soars Back with Flight 10
SpaceX’s Starship-Super Heavy launch vehicle completed its tenth flight test on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, marking this milestone with a resoundingly successful mission.
Vulcan Begins Operational Missions
On August 12, 2025 at 8:56 p.m. EDT (0056 UTC), United Launch Alliance successfully launched its Vulcan Centaur VC4S vehicle from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station for the USSF-106 mission.
ESA Increases Mars Ambitions with Mars Transportation Infrastructure
As the European Space Agency (ESA)’s ExoMars/Rosalind Franklin Mission prepares for its 2028 launch, the agency is looking forward to future Mars science and exploration needs with an eye towards increasing European space independence.
ESA Increases Mars Ambitions with Mars Transportation Infrastructure
As the European Space Agency (ESA)’s ExoMars/Rosalind Franklin Mission prepares for its 2028 launch, the agency is looking forward to future Mars science and exploration needs with an eye towards increasing European space independence.
Strategy 2040: Europe’s Vision for Exploration Beyond Artemis
Amidst a changing world, space powers like ESA are forced to contend with new realities – where existing allies are no longer and the game has drastically changed.
Crew-11 Returns Station to Normal Operations
With the launch of Crew-11 on August 1, 2025 – ISS operations continue to tell the tale of humanity’s longest lived orbital outpost.
Axiom-4 Continues to Expand Access to Station
The crew of Axiom-4 launched aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft atop a Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center’s LC‑39A at 2:31 AM local time, setting the stage for an international mission to the world’s premier orbital laboratory.
Starship 36 Explodes During Static Fire Testing
At 11:01 PM Central Time the night of June 18th, Starship 36 exploded on its test stand prior to a planned static fire test. Ship 36 was planned to be used for Flight 10, so its loss throws the immediate future of the Starship program into question.
Where are America’s Commercial Space Stations in 2025?
The ISS is aging rapidly, and a replacement is desperately needed. As America’s posture in low Earth orbit threatens to slip away, where are its commercial stations in 2025?
A Shaky Step Forward for Starship Flight 9
The ninth flight test of SpaceX’s Starship-Super Heavy rocket took place on May 27, 2025, achieving a marginal improvement over the previous two missions. Although Ship 35 completed a successful ascent, fuel leaks and a loss of control in space prevented the spacecraft from completing most of its intended objectives.
Butch and Suni Return as Crew-10 Arrives on Station
NASA and SpaceX’s Crew-10 mission, a long duration mission to the International Space Station, lifted off successfully at 7:03 pm on March 15, putting on a spectacular show for members of the press and those along the East Coast.
Athena and IM-2 Lost After Landing
Intuitive Machines’ IM-2 mission came to an abrupt end after an unsuccessful landing attempt on March 6. Although the spacecraft reached the surface intact, Athena toppled over after touchdown, leaving its solar panels in shadow and unable to recharge its batteries.
Familiar Spectacle and Setbacks From Starship Flight 8
SpaceX launched Starship’s eighth integrated test flight on Thursday, March 6th, producing a remarkably similar showing to its seventh flight. Exactly seven weeks after that test was cut short by an upper stage failure, the system encountered another anomaly.
Blue Ghost Makes “Picture Perfect” Moon Landing
Firefly Aerospace scored their first successful Moon landing early Sunday morning. As their Blue Ghost lander touched down on the
Intuitive Machines Aims High for Second Moon Landing
Intuitive Machines has embarked on its second Moon landing attempt for NASA’s CLPS initiative with the launch of IM-2.