SpaceX
41 reportsCoverage places flight operations; government and commercial missions; and technical performance within the wider context of SpaceX. Conclusions concerning flight operations remain tied to independent mission outcomes, flight data, and transparent methods; company targets and demonstration milestones may change before routine service.
Ares Shield to Equip Lonestar Satellites With Microwave Defense Modules
Florida-based Lonestar Data Holdings has signed a contract with Polish startup Ares Shield to supply high-power microwave defense systems for its planned orbital data centers, aiming to counter satellite threats without generating space debris
SpaceX to Retire Falcon 9 as Starship Nears Operational Status
SpaceX has announced plans to phase out its Falcon 9 rocket once the Starship launch system achieves reliable, frequent operations. The transition could reshape commercial launch access and mission planning for years ahead
Skyloom Deploys 84 Optical Terminals for Secure Space-Based Networks
Skyloom Global, now part of IonQ, has installed 84 optical communication terminals in low-Earth orbit, supporting the U.S. Space Development Agency's secure mesh network for military data transfer and future quantum networking applications
X-15 Rocket Plane Sets 1963 Altitude Record Above Kármán Line
On August 22, 1963, the X-15 rocket plane piloted by Joe Walker reached an altitude exceeding 108 kilometers, providing rare data on hypersonic flight and spacecraft reusability during a pivotal era for space research
NASA Prepares Astronaut Training for Commercial Space Station Era
NASA's Johnson Space Center is adapting its astronaut training and mission operations to support a transition from the International Space Station to a new generation of commercial space stations, with government and private industry working side by side
Private Chinese Rocket Zhuque-3 Achieves First Landed Booster Recovery
LandSpace's Zhuque-3 rocket has become the first privately built Chinese orbital-class launcher to successfully land its first stage, marking a significant step for reusable launch technology in China
SpaceX Starship Upper Stage Recovered Intact After Indian Ocean Splashdown
SpaceX's Starship Ship 40, which completed a controlled splashdown in the Indian Ocean after its July test flight, has been successfully towed to calmer waters near Christmas Island for engineering analysis
Sophie Adenot Becomes First French Woman to Walk in Space
European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot is set to conduct a 6.5-hour spacewalk outside the International Space Station, marking the first time a French woman has participated in an extravehicular activity
Blue Origin Expands Cape Canaveral Site for New Glenn 9x4 Rocket
Blue Origin is rebuilding its Cape Canaveral launch complex after a New Glenn rocket explosion, while also constructing a second pad and new facilities to support the larger New Glenn 9x4 variant still in development
Artemis II Astronauts Reflect on Orion's Moon Mission and Next Steps
NASA's Artemis II crew discussed their 10-day lunar flyby, Orion spacecraft performance, and upcoming mission challenges at a public event in Colorado, highlighting both technical lessons and international collaboration
Cards Against Humanity Plans Monument Near SpaceX Starbase After Dispute
A legal dispute over land use near SpaceX's Starbase in Texas has led Cards Against Humanity to propose a public monument targeting Elon Musk, highlighting ongoing tensions between commercial space operations and local landowners
SpaceX Rocket Impact on Moon Raises Safety Questions for Lunar Missions
A SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage collided with the lunar surface near Einstein Crater, prompting new scrutiny of debris risks as lunar exploration and infrastructure expand
NASA's Roman Space Telescope Targets Dark Energy and Exoplanets
NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, set for launch in 2026, will use infrared instruments to investigate dark energy, dark matter, and exoplanets from a stable orbit 1.5 million kilometers from Earth
Rocket Lab Reveals GHOST Portable Launch System for Flexible Missions
Rocket Lab has introduced GHOST, a portable launch infrastructure designed to enable rapid deployment of Electron and HASTE rockets from almost any location, aiming to support both orbital and hypersonic test missions with increased flexibility
NASA Expands Student Access to Space Missions and STEM Careers
NASA is opening new opportunities for students to participate in authentic mission experiences, technical career exploration, and citizen science, as the agency prepares for major launches and ongoing lunar and space station operations
SpaceX Outlines Plan for Robotic Factories on the Moon
SpaceX has detailed its intention to construct automated factories on the lunar surface, aiming to use robots for manufacturing satellites and key components, as discussed during the company's first quarterly earnings call as a public company
Landspace Schedules Second Zhuque-3 Rocket Landing Attempt for August 10
Chinese launch company Landspace plans a renewed attempt to recover its Zhuque-3 orbital rocket booster, targeting liftoff and powered landing from Jiuquan spaceport on August 10 following a previous failed recovery in 2025
Automated Mini-Labs Expand Space Station Research With Less Crew Time
Redwire's ADvanced Space Experiment Processors (ADSEPs) are enabling the International Space Station to run complex biological and materials science experiments with minimal astronaut involvement, advancing pharmaceutical and fundamental research in microgravity
NASA Joins Artemis III Orion Crew and Service Modules for Lunar Mission
Technicians at Kennedy Space Center have integrated the Orion crew and service modules for Artemis III, a key milestone ahead of the mission to test lunar landing system rendezvous and docking in lunar orbit
SpaceX Launches Three BlueBird Satellites for Direct-to-Cell Network
A Falcon 9 rocket is set to deploy three AST SpaceMobile BlueBird satellites from Cape Canaveral, expanding a low Earth orbit constellation designed to deliver broadband directly to standard smartphones.
NASA Tracks Falcon 9 Rocket Stage Ahead of Planned Lunar Impact
NASA and SpaceX are monitoring a spent Falcon 9 upper stage expected to strike the Moon near Einstein and Bell craters, using ground and space-based telescopes to gather data and refine tracking methods
How a Falcon 9 Upper Stage Ended Up Bound for the Moon
A Falcon 9 upper stage abandoned in a high Earth orbit is expected to hit the Moon on August 5, 2026, after gravity and solar activity gradually altered its trajectory
Starship Captured on Video by a Starlink V3 Satellite
A camera-equipped Starlink V3 satellite recorded SpaceX's Starship upper stage after Flight 13, offering an unusual view of the vehicle's engines, thrusters and separation in space
NASA's Roman Telescope Will Carry 1.35 Million Names to L2
A memory card carrying 1,350,144 names has been mounted on NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope ahead of its planned launch to an orbit about one million miles from Earth
FAA Proposes Easing Environmental Rules for Commercial Space Launches
A new FAA proposal aims to accelerate commercial rocket launches and spacecraft reentries by waiving certain environmental regulations, raising questions about the balance between mission demand and environmental oversight
SpaceX Rocket Stage to Impact Moon, Raising New Scientific Questions
A spent SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage is set to collide with the lunar surface on August 5, offering researchers a rare opportunity to observe the effects of artificial impacts on the Moon using telescopes and orbital instruments
NASA Prepares Roman Space Telescope for Early Launch to L2 Orbit
NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is set for launch on August 30, aiming to deliver wide-field infrared surveys and exoplanet imaging from a stable orbit beyond the Moon
SpaceX Starship Remains Afloat in Indian Ocean After Test Splashdown
SpaceX's Starship Version 3 upper stage was photographed floating intact in the Indian Ocean five days after its July 24 flight test, offering a rare look at the vehicle's post-splashdown condition and raising questions about rapid reusability
NASA Prepares Roman Space Telescope for 2026 Launch to L2 Orbit
NASA has fueled the Roman Space Telescope, a next-generation infrared observatory scheduled for launch in August 2026, aiming to collect hundreds of terabytes of cosmic data annually and expand studies of dark matter, dark energy, and exoplanets
NASA Assigns SunRISE Mission to SpaceX Falcon Heavy After Vulcan Issues
NASA's SunRISE mission, designed to study solar radio bursts, will now launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy after technical concerns paused United Launch Alliance Vulcan Centaur flights
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