Explore

Rapid Read Rapid Read
MIT's New 2-in-1 Propulsion System Set for In-Space Testing

MIT's New 2-in-1 Propulsion System Set for In-Space Testing

A new propulsion system developed by MIT, which combines chemical and electrical propulsion in a single package, is set to undergo in-space testing. This system, part of NASA's Green Propulsion Dual Mode mission, aims to provide small satellites with more versatile and efficient propulsion capabilities. The system uses a green monopropellant called ASCENT, which is less toxic than traditional fuels and has been tested on the ground. The upcoming test will determine its effectiveness in space, potentially paving the way for more advanced satellite missions.
Rapid Read Rapid Read
NASA's Artemis III Astronauts to Meet SpaceX and Blue Origin Landers in Earth Orbit

NASA's Artemis III Astronauts to Meet SpaceX and Blue Origin Landers in Earth Orbit

NASA has announced that the Artemis III mission, scheduled for 2027, will involve astronauts meeting two private spacecraft in Earth orbit. SpaceX and Blue Origin are both set to provide landers for this mission, which will serve as a precursor to Moon landings planned for the following year. John Couluris, Senior Vice President of Lunar Permanence at Blue Origin, expressed confidence in the readiness of their New Glenn rocket despite a recent explosion. The mission will see astronauts docking with Blue Origin's Mark 1 and SpaceX's Starship V3, with the Orion spacecraft facilitating these maneuvers. NASA aims for both landers to be ready for the Artemis IV Moon landing in 2028, with SpaceX's Starship slated for the trans-lunar injection. The Artemis III crew includes experienced astronauts such as NASA Commander Randy Bresnik and ESA Pilot Luca Parmitano.
Rapid Read Rapid Read
NASA Wallops Prepares for June Rocket Launch with No Live Updates

NASA Wallops Prepares for June Rocket Launch with No Live Updates

NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia is set to launch a suborbital rocket between June 10 and June 16, 2026. This launch will occur without real-time status updates or a livestream. Wallops, NASA's only owned and operated launch range, provides essential services such as vehicle tracking, data telemetry, and range safety. These services are crucial for ensuring the success of missions conducted by NASA, its commercial partners, and other government agencies. The facility's coastal location on Virginia's Eastern Shore is depicted in a March 2026 aerial photograph, highlighting its strategic importance for space missions.
Rapid Read Rapid Read
NASA Plans Rescue Mission for Swift Observatory to Prevent Atmospheric Reentry

NASA Plans Rescue Mission for Swift Observatory to Prevent Atmospheric Reentry

NASA is preparing to launch a rescue mission for the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, which is at risk of reentering Earth's atmosphere due to its rapidly decreasing altitude. The mission involves the deployment of the LINK robotic servicing spacecraft, developed by Katalyst Space, a company based in Flagstaff, Arizona. The spacecraft will be launched aboard a Northrop Grumman Pegasus rocket from the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands. The Swift Observatory, launched in 2004, is a space observatory designed to study gamma-ray bursts and their afterglows in X-ray and UV/visible light. Due to the lack of docking ports or grappling fixtures on Swift, the LINK spacecraft will utilize a custom-built robotic capture mechanism to attach to the observatory. The LINK spacecraft was tested at NASA Goddard in Maryland earlier this year and has since been transported to NASA Wallops in Virginia for final preparations.
Rapid Read Rapid Read
Astrophysicists Explore Primordial Black Holes as Dark Matter Component

Astrophysicists Explore Primordial Black Holes as Dark Matter Component

Recent simulations have explored the possibility that primordial black holes (PBH) could be a component of dark matter. These black holes, theorized to have formed in the early universe, might be captured by stars, leading to two potential outcomes: rapid destruction of the star or gradual consumption by the PBH. The research, led by Ore Gottlieb from MIT, suggests that PBHs could range in size from asteroid to lunar size, and their capture by stars could provide insights into their contribution to dark matter. The study highlights the importance of understanding the mass and capture dynamics of PBHs, which could significantly impact the evolution of stars and the formation of gravitational waves.
Rapid Read Rapid Read
NASA Decommissions MAVEN After Failed Contact Attempts

NASA Decommissions MAVEN After Failed Contact Attempts

NASA has officially decommissioned the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) spacecraft after six months of unsuccessful attempts to reestablish contact. MAVEN, which had been studying Mars' atmosphere since 2014, went silent in December 2025. An anomaly review board determined that the spacecraft could not be recovered due to a spin that likely prevented its solar panels from charging. MAVEN's mission provided significant insights into Mars' atmospheric loss and contributed to over 800 scientific publications. Despite its decommissioning, MAVEN's data will continue to support future research.
Rapid Read Rapid Read
Prada and Axiom Space Unveil Stylish Cooling Suit for Artemis Astronauts

Prada and Axiom Space Unveil Stylish Cooling Suit for Artemis Astronauts

Prada and Axiom Space have revealed a new Liquid Cooling and Ventilation Garment (LCVG) that will be worn by astronauts on NASA's Artemis missions to the Moon. This garment, part of the AxEMU spacesuit, is designed to provide comfort and temperature regulation through a network of cooling liquid tubes. The LCVG also features a ventilation system to manage oxygen and carbon dioxide levels. The design incorporates elements of high fashion, such as Prada's signature style, while ensuring the garment meets the rigorous demands of space travel. This collaboration is part of a broader trend of integrating fashion with aerospace technology, reminiscent of NASA's historical partnerships during the Apollo program.
Rapid Read Rapid Read
NASA and Roscosmos Address ISS Air Leak, Resume Operations

NASA and Roscosmos Address ISS Air Leak, Resume Operations

Operations aboard the International Space Station (ISS) have returned to normal following a brief precautionary shelter period. This was prompted by newly identified structural concerns in the Russian segment of the station. Crew members, including NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev, temporarily took shelter in the docked SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. This action was taken after Russia's Roscosmos agency paused repair work on leaks discovered in the Zvezda service module transfer tunnel. The area has experienced repeated cracking issues, necessitating ongoing monitoring and intervention. NASA Press Secretary Bethany Stevens confirmed that the crew followed established procedures out of caution. Later, NASA directed the crew to exit safe haven procedures and resume planned station operations after Roscosmos suspended the repair effort.
Rapid Read Rapid Read
NASA's INCUS Satellites Near Launch, Aiming to Study Tropical Storm Dynamics

NASA's INCUS Satellites Near Launch, Aiming to Study Tropical Storm Dynamics

NASA's INCUS (Investigation of Convective Updrafts) mission is progressing towards its launch, with one of its three satellites completing testing at Blue Canyon Technologies in Lafayette, Colorado. The mission, set to launch in 2027 from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia, will conduct the first space-based survey of tropical convective storms. The satellites will fly in close coordination in low Earth orbit, equipped with radar to observe the vertical motion of air and water in developing storms. The mission is part of NASA's Earth System Observatory, aiming to study Earth's dynamic natural systems.
Trendline Trendline
Space Companies Apex, Axiom, and Impulse Secure Major Funding to Advance Space Technologies

Space Companies Apex, Axiom, and Impulse Secure Major Funding to Advance Space Technologies

Space Companies Apex, Axiom, and Impulse Secure Major Funding to Advance Space Technologies
USA Today USA Today
NASA announces crew for Artemis III, one of its most complex missions

NASA announces crew for Artemis III, one of its most complex missions

NASA has unveiled the four astronauts who have been named to the crew for the next mission under the agency's Artemis moon campaign.