Space
Space missions, launches, satellite programs, and space industry developments.
Artemis II astronauts reunite with their moonship after record-breaking flight
The Artemis II crew returned to Kennedy Space Center and reunited with Orion about three months after their April mission, which set a human distance record and marked NASA’s first crewed Artemis flight. NASA continues to frame the mission as a step toward returning astronauts to the Moon and eventually sending people to Mars.
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European spacecraft company expands Houston footprint, plans to grow local workforce
The Exploration Company has opened a 3,500-square-foot Rapid Innovation Lab in Houston and plans to double or triple its U.S. workforce in 2026 as it expands its cargo and crewed-spacecraft work.
NASA launches Swift rescue mission to keep telescope from burning up
NASA and Katalyst Space Technologies have launched the Swift Boost mission, sending the LINK spacecraft toward the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory in an effort to raise its orbit and delay reentry.
NASA launches Swift rescue mission from Marshall Islands
NASA and Katalyst Space Technologies launched the LINK spacecraft on July 3 to attempt the first orbital boost of the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory after weather and software delays.
Rescue mission launches to save an aging NASA telescope
NASA and Katalyst Space Technologies have launched the Swift Boost mission, sending the Link spacecraft to try to reboost the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory before it loses too much altitude.
Launch of Swift Boost mission delayed after rocket issue
NASA’s Swift Boost mission was delayed again after a launch-day software issue forced an abort, extending uncertainty around the effort to raise the orbit of the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory.
Last-minute launch problem delays NASA’s Swift rescue mission
NASA’s first-of-its-kind Swift rescue mission was scrubbed during final launch preparations after a last-minute technical problem, delaying an attempt to reboost the aging observatory before atmospheric drag pulls it lower.
NASA Swift rescue mission delayed by launch-plane release problem
NASA delayed its Swift rescue mission on July 2 after Northrop Grumman’s carrier aircraft took off from the Marshall Islands but the Pegasus rocket failed to release. The mission is meant to boost the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory before its orbit decays further, and no new launch date has been announced.
Skyroot says Vikram-1 launch window opens July 12 and runs to August 4
Skyroot Aerospace says Vikram-1 is ready for launch and has set a maiden flight window from July 12 to August 4, 2026, for Mission Aagaman.
NASA awards new lunar payload contracts to Firefly, Intuitive Machines and Astrobotic
NASA has reportedly awarded new lunar payload delivery contracts to Firefly Aerospace, Intuitive Machines and Astrobotic, extending its Commercial Lunar Payload Services program through 2028.
Rocket Lab Stock Rises After NASA Mission Selection
Investor's Business Daily reported that NASA selected Rocket Lab for three Electron launches tied to the PolSIR and TSIS-2 science missions, giving the company a new government-backed catalyst even as RKLB remained weak overall.
Rocket Lab, Lockheed Martin named in Space Force’s SpaceX-led SB-AMTI vendor pool
Government procurement records show Rocket Lab, Lockheed Martin and other firms in SpaceX’s Space Force SB-AMTI vendor pool, underscoring the program’s broader supplier base.
NASA rover detects carbon-bearing rocks on Mars
New reporting says Perseverance has detected macromolecular carbon in Bright Angel mudstones in Jezero crater’s Neretva Vallis, strengthening the case that Mars once had environments that could have supported life. Scientists say the finding is still not a biosignature on its own.
NASA’s Roman space telescope reaches Kennedy Space Center for launch prep
NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope has reached Kennedy Space Center in Florida for final launch preparations after a final mirror inspection and shipment from Maryland. Recent reporting says the mission is still targeting a possible August 30, 2026 launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy.
MDC seeks consultant for West Texas Aerospace Corridor
Midland Development Corp. is soliciting consultants to build a West Texas Aerospace Corridor master plan with El Paso County. The request for proposals is due July 31 and calls for an asset inventory, GIS mapping, stakeholder engagement and an implementation strategy.
Midland pitches itself as a space-economy hub after aerospace workshop
Midland officials and industry advocates used a June 15 workshop to promote the city as a space-economy hub, citing aerospace infrastructure, workforce skills and a $5 million Texas Space Commission grant for a vertical launch site.
Rocket Lab shares rebound after KeyBanc says SpaceX selloff was unwarranted
Rocket Lab and Firefly Aerospace rallied after KeyBanc upgraded both stocks and said the recent space-sector selloff tied to SpaceX’s IPO was unwarranted. The firm sees room for multiple launch providers and highlighted Rocket Lab’s Neutron and Firefly’s Eclipse programs.
Gina Rinehart buys more than $1 billion stake in SpaceX
Multiple outlets report that Gina Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting has bought a SpaceX stake worth more than US$1 billion after the company’s June 12 public debut, with executives pointing to possible overlap in critical minerals, AI infrastructure and technology supply chains.
U.S. and Iran announce interim peace deal with Hormuz reopening pending formal signing
The United States and Iran have announced an interim agreement aimed at ending the war and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. AP says formal signing is expected in Switzerland on Friday, while broader talks on Iran’s nuclear program and implementation details are still to come. European leaders welcomed the move cautiously and warned that Iran must never acquire a nuclear weapon.
ISRO launches Bharatiya Antariksh Hackathon 2026
ISRO has launched the third Bharatiya Antariksh Hackathon 2026, a student competition aimed at space technology and research. The event builds on the agency’s National Space Day outreach and continues a program that began in 2024.
SpaceX Working to Resume Starship Launches
SpaceX is preparing to resume Starship launches after a recent test-flight failure, but Gwynne Shotwell said the company must wait for the FAA investigation to finish before returning to flight.
NASA defends all-male Artemis III crew after criticism over gender balance
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman is defending the all-male Artemis III crew after the announcement drew criticism for excluding women. He said the astronauts were chosen for mission-specific qualifications and training fit, while reporting says some astronauts may be better suited for later Moon missions.
AST SpaceMobile sets June 17 launch for BlueBird 8, 9 and 10 as shares swing
AST SpaceMobile said BlueBird 8, 9 and 10 are scheduled to launch June 17 on a SpaceX Falcon 9, sending its shares on a volatile ride as investors focus on the pace of its satellite rollout.
Space Force awards SpaceX $4.16 billion to build satellite network for airborne target tracking
The U.S. Space Force has awarded SpaceX a $4.16 billion contract for the Space-Based Airborne Moving Target Indicator program, which aims to build a satellite constellation to detect and track airborne targets from orbit.