Theresa Cross

China has embarked on a new era in its space exploration endeavors by launching the youngest-ever crew of astronauts, known as taikonauts, to its Tiangong space station, intended to cement the country’s position in the global space race. Shenzhou-17 or “divine vessel” took off October 26 with three crew members atop a Long March 2F rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China.

In an era where space has become a fiercely contested domain, the U.S. Space Force faces the formidable challenge of training its personnel to excel in an environment where real-world experience is limited. As such, the military branch is leveraging advanced technologies to revolutionize its training methods, preparing guardians for the intricacies of space operations in the face of evolving threats while their expanding role.

A significant union has taken place in the realm of space exploration as space technology firm SpinLaunch and Japan’s Sumitomo Corporation join hands. This strategic partnership aims to redefine the global space industry, bringing together innovation and investment to pave the way for sustainable and affordable space access, according to insiders. 

A global panel of experts has released a paper outlining a set of ethical guidelines and principles for research conducted aboard commercial spaceflights, marking a significant step in ensuring the safety and inclusivity of human research in space. These guidelines are especially crucial as private companies are poised to send thousands of individuals into space in the coming decades, providing unique opportunities for research. 

Multinational technology company GMV has wrapped up ground validation tests for a cutting-edge space robot. Designed as part of the European Space Agency’s MIRROR project (Multi-arm Installation Robot for Readying ORUs and Reflectors), this innovative robot promises to transform the way structures are assembled in Earth’s orbit. 

The Moon’s south pole is a realm of perpetual shadow, a place shrouded in mystery and intrigue for scientists and space enthusiasts alike. As NASA prepares for the historic Artemis 3 mission scheduled for late 2025, where humans will set foot in this region for the first time, the agency is embarking on a quest to gather as much information as possible about this lunar frontier. 

NASA has taken a significant step in acknowledging the enigma of unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) with the appointment of its first-ever Director of UAP Research. The decision comes after a yearlong independent study into reported sightings of these mysterious flying objects, more popularly known as UFOs.

In a journey marked by innovation and determination, Kent, Washington-based Stoke Space has been making strides in the field of space technology and exploration since 2019. The company recently transported its reusable second-stage prototype, known as the Hopper Test Vehicle, to its testing facility in Moses Lake, Washington. 

Firefly Aerospace and Millennium Space Systems have come together to showcase a demonstration mission called Victus Nox with the aim of setting a new industry standard for rapid satellite deployment. Last year, the two companies were chosen to conduct this mission, designed to demonstrate a 24-hour rapid-response capability for launching satellites into low Earth orbit for the U.S. Space Force.

Venturi Astrolab, the developer of the Flexible Logistics and Exploration (FLEX) rover, has inked an agreement with SpaceX that is set to propel its innovative rover to the lunar surface aboard a Starship flight. This ambitious mission, scheduled for a potential launch in mid-2026, marks SpaceX’s first-ever commercial cargo contract for lunar delivery.

Houston-based Axiom Space secured a significant boost of $350 million in funding. The Series-C funding round was led by Aljazira Capital from Saudi Arabia and Boryung Pharmaceutical, a prominent South Korean healthcare company.

The four members of the Crew-7 mission arrived at Kennedy Space Center and are in the final quarantine phase before starting their journey to the International Space Station. Launch week has begun with several events taking place as we get ready to see Crew-7 liftoff.

NASA has selected the Space and Technology Solutions team, a joint venture with KBR and Intuitive Machines, to provide multifaceted engineering support for key space orbital systems.

NASA’s Artemis program is slated to land astronauts on the Moon by the end of 2025, but SpaceX’s hurdles with its lunar lander technology could potentially push the much-anticipated mission into 2026, warns a Senior NASA manager.

Coming up in a few months, a mission to a distant asteroid is slated to launch on top of a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket. With the probe sitting safely in its clean room in Florida awaiting launch, here is everything you need to know about NASA’s Psyche mission.

In this exciting era of space exploration, NASA’s Artemis missions are poised to redefine the boundaries of human achievements as the agency sets its sights on landing the first woman and the first person of color on the Moon. 

In a unique blend of Hollywood glamor and technological brilliance, Hedy Lamarr, a film star during Hollywood’s Golden Age, played an unexpected role in shaping the way we connect and communicate.

In its latest earnings report, Northrop Grumman disclosed an “unfavorable estimate-at-completion adjustment” for the Habitation and Logistics Outpost module for NASA’s Lunar Gateway.

The Federal Trade Commission has granted approval for L3Harris Technologies to complete its acquisition of Aerojet Rocketdyne.

The United Kingdom Space Agency recently revealed its comprehensive Space Exploration Technology Roadmap, aimed at driving the country’s direction of research, development, and funding allocation over the next 10 years. 

Hughes Network Systems is poised to reshape global connectivity with the launch of Jupiter 3, also called EchoStar 24 on a Falcon Heavy rocket later tonight.