August 14th, 2026
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The undocking of a Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV) from the Optus D3 satellite is a phase 1 checkmark in an evolving commercial satellite servicing program. The Northrop Grumman-provided MEV is designed to service multiple satellites in orbit using sophisticated robotics, installing Mission Extension Pods (MEP) that provide propulsion support and extend mission lifespans. Next phase […]
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The lunar dust and turf have settled after a multi-ton SpaceX upper stage slam-banged into terrain near Einstein Crater on August 5. That impact site was imaged by South Korea’s Moon-orbiting Danuri spacecraft, as well as by NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO). Reportedly, a Chinese commercial space debris monitoring satellite tracked and recorded the Moon […]
It has been labeled as “a pivotal moment in space sustainability.” That’s the go-to speak from Northrop Grumman touting its Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV) after successful undocking from the Optus D3 satellite. The event marks a new era of on-orbit servicing, the aerospace company adds, “that extends satellite life beyond traditional replacement models.” […]
A hypothetical asteroid impact scenario is in play prior to a major gathering of planetary defense specialists next year. The International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) is an independent non-governmental organization recognized by the United Nations. IAA is hosting the Planetary Defense Conference 2027. Impact date Date of the hypothetical potential impact on Earth is pegged […]
Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic suborbital space plane program has announced a higher fee for per person spaceflight. Michael Colglazier, CEO of Virgin Galactic, said that the company’s tranche of spaceflight expeditions priced at $750,000 “was oversubscribed and booked out ahead of schedule.” While Colglazier said that demonstrated strong demand from a wide range of […]
Katalyst Space successfully uploaded a flight software update for its LINK spacecraft, which is set to boost NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory to a higher orbit. That observatory is designed to study gamma-ray bursts, the most powerful explosions in the universe, and other cosmic objects and events. Launched on July 3, the LINK servicing spacecraft […]
Here’s a wait-a-minute question: What’s the frequency, Kenneth Arnold? Admittedly, I borrowed and bent that R.E.M. song line. But it came to me in reading the latest outpouring of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) documents, videos and illustrations by the Department of War on August 7. Those files are part of the Presidential Unsealing and Reporting System […]
Taking LEO Off the Board: Russian Thinking About Anti-Satellite Warfare is authored by Aaron Stein, President of the Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI). “The Soviet Union and Russia have invested in anti-satellite weapons to ensure that their nuclear deterrent remains credible. For both the Soviet Union and Russia, the destruction of American satellites was (and is) […]
The Department of War has published the fifth release of data regarding Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP). Chief Pentagon spokesman, Sean Parnell, said: “Today, the Department of War is publishing the fifth release of declassified and historical Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) files as part of the Presidential Unsealing and Reporting System for UAP Encounters (PURSUE). The […]
A Chinese research team has completed an updated geologic map of the entire Moon featuring a scale of 1:5 million. China’s Institute of Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences (IGCAGS) detailed the geologic map on August 6. Beyond its scientific data, the 2.8-by-1.2-meter map introduces a proprietary cartographic standard that identifies over 13,500 impact […]
