Archive for the ‘Space News’ Category
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June 12th, 2026
Image credit: SpaceX
Some are calling it the “Elon factor” – the highly anticipated initial public offering of SpaceX stock.
Last May, SpaceX filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission key documentation that signaled an initial public offering (IPO) of stock.
And this week, the long-anticipated public offering hit the streets, becoming the largest IPO in history.
At roughly a two trillion dollar valuation, SpaceX anticipates a $75 billion initial offering, with shares perhaps valued at $135 each, a dollar number that SpaceX can modify on its own.
SpaceX transitioning to a publicly traded company is a big deal, not only cash wise but may well power the future and potency of commercial space overall.
What’s all the chatter about this IPO? Go to my new Space.com story – “SpaceX to go public with a mind-bogglingly historic IPO today. The space industry may never be the same” – at:
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Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Work in China is underway toward building a space solar power station.
The effort is being led by Xidian University in northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, with reports that a breakthrough has been achieved in transmitting energy to multiple moving targets simultaneously.
Underway since 2018, the work is being done under the name “Zhu Ri.” Its latest upgrade has shifted from one-to-one fixed transmission to one-to-many energy supply streams, enabling precise power delivery to multiple fast-moving targets.
As reported by China Central Television (CCTV), researchers say the challenge of the upgraded system was to keep beams locked on moving targets without losing signal.
Control system
“Our transmitting antenna beam must be monitored in real time and precisely directed toward the receiving antenna,” says Qian Sihao, associate professor at the School of Electromechanical Engineering of the university.
“To achieve this, we have developed a high-precision closed-loop control system based on reverse beam guidance,” Qian tells CCTV. “When the receiving antenna sends out a guiding signal, the transmitting antenna can promptly capture it and instantly calculate the position and angular attitude of the receiving antenna, thereby ensuring accurate beam pointing.”
Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Outdoor tests
“In simple terms, the system can track targets and make real-time corrections during transmission, enabling dynamic power supply to multiple moving devices,” notes CCTV. To prevent damage from misaligned beams, key components were upgraded with gallium nitride diodes, improving tolerance to high-power fluctuations.
According to CCTV, outdoor tests showed the system could deliver 1,180 watts of output power at a distance of 100 meters, with DC-to-DC transmission efficiency rising to 20.8 percent and beam collection efficiency reaching 88 percent.
Qian Sihao, associate professor at the School of Electromechanical Engineering at Xidian University.
Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
“This means that most of the beams emitted by our transmitting antenna can be precisely captured by the receiving antenna, with very little energy wasted,” Qian adds. “In addition, our overall output power has reached the kilowatt level, which is enough to run a household air conditioner. It can also easily cover everyday needs such as cooking, boiling water, or other domestic uses.”
Power supply for space vehicles
Fan Guanheng, associate professor, School of Mechano-Electronic Engineering at Xidian University, said the construction of space solar power stations could become a major undertaking in the future.
“One potential benefit is access to a virtually unlimited power supply. Because energy can be collected continuously in space 24 hours a day, electricity could be supplied on an uninterrupted basis,” says Fan.
“Secondly, it could reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, thereby lowering carbon emissions and helping protect the environment,” Fan explains.
“Thirdly, it could support the development of charging infrastructure in space and enable wireless microwave charging for spacecraft, changing the way power is supplied to space vehicles,” says Fan.
Fan Guanheng, associate professor, School of Mechano-Electronic Engineering at Xidian University.
Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Ground test system
In 2018, the research team launched the first phase of the Sun Chasing project to build a ground test system.
By June 2022, they had completed the world’s first full-link, full-system ground validation system for a space solar power station.
The team has now moved to phase two. The present goal is to solve the challenges of generating high power in space and transmitting it efficiently over long distances.
Overcoming challenges
Despite the advances in ground-based validation, the researchers add that a series of technical challenges must still be overcome before the technology can be deployed in space.
“The first issue that needs to be addressed is the adaptability of components to the space environment, as conditions in space are completely different from those on Earth, including radiation exposure and extreme temperatures,” Qian says.
“Another challenge involves the deployment and retraction design of transmitting and receiving antennas. We also need to develop thermal management systems to cope with extreme temperatures and temperature fluctuations in space. These are all areas where further breakthroughs are needed,” notes Qian.
In-orbit demonstration
“We have now completed the development and validation of a ground-based test system, and our next step is to carry out in-orbit wireless microwave power transmission,” Fan said.
With ground validation complete, notes CCTV, the team now turns its attention to overcoming the harsh realities of space, “aiming to demonstrate in-orbit wireless power transmission and bring the vision of orbital solar energy closer to reality.”
Image credit: SpaceX
A new study presents the atmospheric impacts of different aspects of spaceflight.
Focus of the research was to appraise the effects of chemical reactions in the rocket plume in setting up a global emission inventory, leading to emission indices that vary with altitude.
The study team was led by Yvar S. W. Vliex, an operations and environment specialist within the faculty of aerospace engineering at Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands.
Supercomputer-aided study
Researchers calculated emissions from186 rockets launched in 2022 — along with 472 objects equaling a combined total mass of nearly 5,000 tons — that reentered the atmosphere that year.
This research was carried out on the Dutch National Supercomputer Snellius – the largest system in the Netherlands in terms of high-performance computing.
“Although the current atmospheric impact of spaceflight is small, this is expected to change as the sector continues to grow,” Vliex and colleagues explain in the paper, published in the American Geophysical Union’s journal, Earth’s Future.
“As the space industry continues to grow, a better understanding of the effects of re-entry emissions, rocket plume chemistry and aerosols such as those from alumina is required, alongside in situ measurements of emissions from new rocket engines and propellant types,” the study team reports.
Locations and number of rocket launches in 2022, with marker size indicating launch frequency.
Image credit: Yvar S. W. Vliex, et al.
Launch rate on the rise
The space industry has grown rapidly in recent decades. The yearly launch rate has more than tripled since 2005. Also, the number of operational spacecraft has more than doubled to reach roughly 2,900 Earth orbiting satellites.
“Based on current trends such as the privatization of the space industry, the development of reusable boosters, and the plans for satellite mega-constellations and space tourism, the yearly launch and re-entry rates are expected to increase considerably, with almost 10,000 spacecraft being planned for low-Earth orbits in the upcoming years,” Vliex and colleagues observe.
Atmospheric pollutants
Rocket engines give off pollutants in all layers of the atmosphere, they report, “and the burn-up of satellites and discarded rocket bodies leads to emissions at high altitudes.”
Furthermore, as the space industry is expected to continue to grow rapidly, “a good understanding of its environmental effects is needed.”
The overall climate impact of spaceflight can likely be reduced by using more liquid hydrogen (LH2), a common rocket fuel due to its high efficiency, instead of the Rocket Propellant-1 (RP1) fueled rockets that now dominate the market.
However the low density and cryogenic storage requirements make LH2 less suitable for lower stages.
Spaceflight emissions mass contributions for 2022 per propellant type (left) and launch location (right).
Image credit: Yvar S. W. Vliex, et al.
Rocket fuel types
“The current development of liquid-methane rockets will likely reduce the climate impact of spaceflight, as methane is expected to produce less black carbon per unit mass than RP1, but further research is needed to determine how the effect of liquid-methane compares to current propellant types,” Vliex and colleagues add.
Comparing rocket fuel types, solid propellant has the largest impact on ozone depletion. Rocket-grade kerosene has the largest climate response relative to payload mass, they report.
“Our results highlight the need to consider and accurately model re-entry emissions, engine plume reactions and their interactions,” they conclude.
To access the report – “The Role of Propellant Type, Re‐Entry, and Plume Reactions in the Atmospheric Impacts of Spaceflight” – go to:
https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/items/8d85ab81-c214-4837-a0c6-0feb14cbd382
Asteroid Day 2026 explores both the risks asteroids pose to our planet and the extraordinary opportunities they represent for science and exploration.
Five astronauts are converging in Arizona for Asteroid Day, a special event presented by Lowell Observatory, Meteor Crater, and Meteor Crater Education Alliance, with support from the B612 Foundation.
B612 develops tools and technologies to understand, map, and navigate our solar system and protect our planet from asteroid impacts through its Asteroid Institute program and supporting educational programs.
Arizona: asteroid country
Asteroid Day Arizona 2026 is being held June 26-27 in Flagstaff, Arizona.
Image credit: Meteor Crater, Arizona: Arizona Geological Survey – AZGS/Dale Nations
“From Luxembourg to Lagos, São Paulo to Mumbai, Asteroid Day has grown into a truly global movement: hundreds of events, more than 190 countries, every June 30. But some places carry the asteroid story in the ground itself. Arizona has been asteroid country for fifty thousand years. We are just making it official,” notes Danica Remy, president of B612 Foundation and co-founder of Asteroid Day.
Apollo 9 astronaut Rusty Schweickart.
Image credit: B612 Foundation/Danica Remy
Schweickart prize
Every year, a prize is awarded to a young scientist working on one of the most important problems our civilization faces: what to do about the rocks in space that could one day threaten life on Earth.
That prize bears the name of Rusty Schweickart, Apollo 9 astronaut and co-founder of B612 and Asteroid Day.
As one of the foremost advocates for planetary defense, Schweickart has long supported building the science, technology, and policies needed to detect and deflect asteroids before they can do what the rock that carved a mile-wide crater into the Arizona desert did some fifty thousand years ago.
“Every year the Schweickart Prize reminds me of why we started B612 in the first place,” Schweickart explains. “The scientists who will defend this planet are out there right now, early in their careers, working on ideas that most people haven’t heard of yet. This prize finds them and says: we see you, we believe in you, and this work matters. That is not a small thing.”
For details about the Schweickart Prize, go to:
https://www.schweickartprize.org/
Program participants
Joining Schweickart for Asteroid Day Arizona 2026:
- Anousheh Ansari, the first Iranian-American in space and first female private space explorer
- Ed Lu, a three-time NASA astronaut and B612 co-founder
- Nicole Stott, four-time NASA astronaut and internationally recognized space artist
- Steve Smith, four-time Space Shuttle astronaut and Arizona native
Also taking part in the event is space science communicator, Scott Manley, as well as Schweickart’s twin sons, Randy and Rusty B. Schweickart, who serve as co-chairs of the Schweickart prize.
The Schweickart prize winner will be announced publicly on June 23 via a live online event open to the press and the public. The formal award ceremony follows on June 27 at Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, where Schweickart will personally present the $10,000 grant alongside a physical prize that includes a meteorite.
Image credit: Heritage Auctions
Apollo memorabilia
Alongside the Schweickart prize, Heritage Auctions will open a Space Exploration sale on June 23, featuring personally flown Apollo memorabilia from Schweickart himself, consigned by B612, with proceeds supporting the prize.
For auction details, go to:
https://b612foundation.org/schweickart-space-collection-auction-june-2026/
B612 is also launching a separate auction of unflown Schweickart memorabilia. Bidding is now open and will close at 9 pm Pacific Daylight Time on June 26, with proceeds benefiting the Schweickart Prize.
For memorabilia details, go to:
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/schweickart-prize-auction
To access the full Asteroid Day Arizona 2026 program and available ticketing, go to:
https://www.asteroiddayaz.com/
Also, go to the B612 Foundation at:
Imge credit:
Lowell Observatory
Image credit: NASA
On June 5, while pressurizing the Zvezda module’s transfer chamber (Tcha) to International Space Station (ISS) pressure, specialists from the ISS Russian Segment’s lead operations team detected a leak in the Tcha.
During an inspection of the Tcha, the cosmonauts discovered two potential air leaks. The first was quickly sealed with the first layer of Germetal-1, a two-component sealant. The second leak is located on the conical portion of the Tcha. Preparations are underway to seal it.
Stable situation
In an official comment from Russia’s Roscosmos State Corporation, the situation on the ISS has been detailed relating to the detection of leaks in the hardware’s transfer chamber.
“The situation does not pose a threat to the safety of the crew or onboard systems; the pressure on board the ISS is stable and maintained at the calculated level,” explains Roscosmos.
“NASA astronauts, who were transferred to the docked Crew Dragon spacecraft during repairs to the transfer chamber, have returned to the ISS to resume normal operations.”
Image credit: NASA
Root cause
The Zvezda Service Module was the first fully Russian contribution to the ISS. The module provides station living quarters, life support systems, electrical power distribution, data processing systems, flight control systems and propulsion systems. It provides a communications system that includes remote command capabilities from ground flight controllers, and a docking port for Russian Soyuz and Progress spacecraft.
The Zvezda service module’s transfer tunnel has experienced cracks since 2019 that have resulted in small atmosphere leaks and prompted ongoing monitoring and repair efforts by Roscosmos.
NASA and Roscosmos have worked together to identify the root cause while Roscosmos has been applying leak mitigation measures, including temporary and permanent sealants.
Vickie and Alan.
I am saddened to report the passing of my dear friend, Alan Hale – an astronomer that made us all look up and ponder about a visitor from afar – the noted Hale Bopp comet. That object was one of the most widely observed space intruders of the 20th century.
When it passed perihelion on April 1, 1997, reaching about magnitude −1.8, its massive nucleus size made it visible to the naked eye for a record 18 months.
From Vickie Stone Moseley Hale in Cloudcroft, New Mexico: “Today the love my life, Father, Grandfather, Astronomer, Comet discoverer, passed away in his home. I am heart broken.”
I will always remember Alan Hale in an interview telling me, after first seeing the object late night, something like, “and then I took my life in my hands and woke up my wife,” inviting her to his telescope’s eye piece to marvel at what he observed.
I’ll miss you Alan, but now you are among the stars, planets, and other objects that you loved to keep an eye on.
Leonard
Image credit: SpaceX
Question: Who Owns the Most Satellites?
SpaceX leads all operators. Commercial networks now outscale legacy public and state-backed space operators by about 12-to-1.
Satellites are becoming the backbone of the modern space economy. From broadband internet to Earth observation, orbital infrastructure now supports industries far beyond aerospace.
Those are among key takeaways from Cody Good at Visual Capitalist using data from AEI Space Data Navigator and in partnership with Global X Canada.
Ranking order
A snapshot of space assets was taken on May 12th showing SpaceX dominates the global satellite count with 10,262 operational satellites at that time. That’s more than 16 times OneWeb’s 632 satellites, the next-largest named operator.
Rank Satellite Operator Fleet Count
1 SpaceX 10,262
2 OneWeb 632
3 National Reconnaissance Office 285
4 US Military 244
5 Chinese Military 168
6 Planet Lab 144
7 Russian Military 107
8 NASA 90
9 Iridium 80
10 Globalstar 26
— Other 3,409
Source: AEI Space Data Navigator.
According to Good, “the ranking shows how quickly private networks have scaled since the beginning of the space race. Public organizations like NASA and national militaries now operate a minor portion with just 894 satellites among the named owners in the dataset.”
Credit: SpaceX/Starlink
Starlink: a defining example
SpaceX operates Starlink, the largest satellite fleet ever deployed. Its scale alone accounts for about two-thirds of the 15,447 satellites shown in the dataset.
“Instead of launching a handful of high-value satellites,” says Good, “Starlink relies on scale. As a result, the network has become a defining example of commercial orbital infrastructure.”
“The gap between SpaceX and legacy operators signals a major turning point,” Good notes. “Businesses now own and operate satellite networks at a scale once reserved for governments. This matters because satellites are no longer niche government research assets. Instead, they are becoming critical infrastructure for connectivity, data, and national resilience.”
Image credit: Planet Labs
Investment theme
As for investing in space, as commercial networks grow, orbital infrastructure may become a larger investment theme. “Satellites, launch systems, and space-enabled services all sit within this expanding ecosystem,” Good says. “The space economy is already moving into logistics, agriculture, defense, and communications. As a result, investors may increasingly look for exposure to companies enabling these trends.”
Investors looking to learn more can explore the Global X Space Tech Index ETF (ORBX), which provides exposure to companies at the forefront of the space economy.
Go to:
https://www.globalxetfs.com/funds/ORBX
Check out Visual Capitalist at:
https://www.visualcapitalist.com/
Image credit: Visual Capitalist
Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
China successfully launched on June 1 the Long March-12B Y1 carrier rocket into space from the Dongfeng commercial space innovation pilot zone.
According to China Central Television (CCTV) it took 21 months for the carrier rocket to go from the concept validation stage to the completion of product development. In doing so, it set a new record for the development cycle of the country’s new-generation rockets.
The booster sent a group of networking satellites destined for the Qianfan Constellation, also known as the Spacesail Constellation, into their preset orbits.
Maiden flight
This mission was the maiden flight of the Long March-12B, a new-generation reusable rocket developed by China Aerospace Science and Technology Commercial Launch Vehicle Group (CACL) – a commercial rocket manufacturing company under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.
Long March-12B features a single-core, two-stage configuration. The rocket has a body diameter of 4.37 meters, a fairing diameter of 5.2 meters, and a total length of approximately 72 meters.
Racing against time
It is the tallest rocket that has successfully made its maiden flight in China so far, CCTV reported, showcasing developing and launching the new rocket more quickly and safely. Transferring the rocket from its technical zone to the launch area took just 50 minutes.
“Fast speed is a defining feature of the Long March 12B team,” said Liang Yanqian, a rocket designer at CAST’s commercial launch vehicle group. “Whether during the development or the technical validation, we had consistently followed the principle of racing against time,” said Liang.
Liang Yanqian, rocket designer, China Aerospace Science and Technology Commercial Launch Vehicle Group (CACL).
Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
The team built a simulation platform from scratch, verifying more than 50 key technologies during all stages of the development.
“We had conducted over 200 experiments and verified more than 50 key technologies throughout the entire development process. We all raced against the clock and completed the tasks one by one solidly,” Liang said.
Launch area workload
The rocket adopts a launch mode of horizontal assembly, horizontal testing and horizontal transfer, with all the complex tasks completed in the technical zone in advance to ensure a smooth and faster launch process.
“This giant plate is the interface connecting the rocket to the launch pad. Without it, a lot of work needs to be done to secure the rocket and connect it to the launch pad after it reaches the launch area. Now, everything can be done in the technical zone, so our workload at the launch area is greatly reduced,” said Liang.
Go to this video of the launch at:
NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover acquired this image of the inlet on its Chemistry & Mineralogy X-Ray Diffraction instrument (CheMin). It analyzes the chemical composition of rocks and soil. Curiosity captured the image using its Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI), a close-up camera located on the turret at the end of the rover’s robotic arm, on May 28, 2026 — Sol 4908.
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS
“Drilling always keeps the rover in place for a little while, and our 47th successful drill, ‘Campo Marte,’ was no exception,” reports Susanne Schwenzer, a professor of planetary mineralogy at The Open University in the United Kingdom.
“The team used the time wisely and on top of the drilling, we also have many observations,” adds Schwenzer. “We are driving onward to reach the next area up the hill on Mount Sharp.”
The Campo Marte drill was successful, and subsequently researchers are investigating the aftermath of that drilling.
Image taken by MastCam Left onboard Curiosity on Sol 4916, June 5, 2026.
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS
Curiosity’s Chemistry & Mineralogy X-Ray Diffraction instrument (CheMin) obtained mineralogical data and the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument inspected the volatile releases.
The robot’s Chemistry and Camera (ChemCam), Alpha particle X-ray spectrometer (APXS), the Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) and the rover’s Mastcam were also busy documenting the drill hole and the drill fines, as well as how much sample there was available overall, notes Schwenzer.
Different formation conditions?
“Of course, Curiosity also had a very good look at the other interesting targets in the area! Besides all the work on the drill hole, ChemCam carried out an expert’s targeting exercise by setting two targets up to aim at two different layers on adjacent spots on the finely laminated sediments,” says Schwenzer. “That involves aiming at millimeter-sized targets, named “Corcovado” and “Junakas,” respectively, about 3 meters away (about 10 feet).”
Mars investigators are curious if the layers are chemically different, which would tell them about different formation conditions, or if they are similar and the conditions when those layers formed were more similar.
This image taken by Mast Camera (Mastcam) onboard NASA’s Mars rover Curiosity on Sol 4916, June 5, 2026.
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS
Layered bedrock
ChemCam is also looking at the target “Palcaya” to get more data on the chemistry of the layered bedrock, and will investigate the target “Alcamachi,” which is a float rock that looks intriguingly dark.
“Maybe that tells us it’s got a different chemistry? We will find out when we get the data,” points out Schwenzer.
In addition to the chemistry measurements, ChemCam will also carry out a spectral investigation on the target “Magallanas,” which was a little too far away to also point the laser at it, but is intriguingly dark.
This image taken by Left Navigation Camera onboard NASA’s Mars rover Curiosity on Sol 4916, June 5, 2026.
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Record breaking
Curiosity’s ChemCam also planned three long-distance Remote Microscopic Imager (RMI) sessions to document the sedimentary structures — younger and older ones — in the surrounding area.
“One of them drew the suspicion that it might break a record: it might be the longest strip of RMI images we have taken in one mosaic! The jury is out, it’s 24 frames and this way links up with an earlier, shorter set of images,” Schwenzer reports.
The reason the mosaic is so long, the Mars scientist adds, is because it images a small ridge with sedimentary textures that could tell us about the depositional conditions when the rock layers formed.
“But how cool is that — at 13+ years to still break our own records?”
This image taken by Chemistry & Camera (ChemCam) onboard NASA’s Mars rover Curiosity on Sol 4916, June 5, 2026.
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/LANL/CNES/CNRS/IRAP/IAS/LPG
Nighttime experiment
Meanwhile, Mastcam has been very busy getting the entire region around the robot imaged. In addition, some higher-resolution mosaics have been taken, most notably one of the locations where the remaining sample was dropped, and then of the workspace to see again how much sample might — or might not — have been left in the drill stem and fallen out when Curiosity did the motions that are designed to shake any remaining sample out of the drill, to leave it prepared for the next time.
“Another imaging task, but for MAHLI, is to always image the sample inlets, also, to see if they are clean and prepared for the next sample,” says Schwenzer. The MAHLI imagery of the CheMin inlet shows a little rock.
“It’s with us for a while, and the CheMin team now calls it “our pet rock,” notes Schwenzer. “APXS joined the drill-hole investigations and has been focused on it even more than usual. The team decided that this is a very good opportunity to increase counting statistics beyond the usual and well-tested levels by significantly increasing the measurement time.”
Schwenzer explains to achieve that, it measured the Campo Marte drill fines in and MAHLI used its LED lights to finish the experiment with a sparkling nighttime MAHLI experiment to document it all.
Image taken by Curiosity’s Left Navigation Camera on Sol 4916, June 5, 2026.
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Up the hill
“Our environmental team has kept the rover busy by looking at atmospheric opacity, dust activity, dust-devil activity and, of course, also monitoring the environment in general,” Schwenzer adds.
“With all this finished, the rover will continue its way up the hill to the next interesting area. I heard something like “cross-bedding” during the discussions.
As a mineralogist, Schwenzer notes that such a decision was taken by people who know more about sediments than she does, “while I am itching to see the CheMin mineralogy results!”
Free-floater in microgravity.
Image credit: NASA
In the micro-gravity of space, the human body loses muscle and bone density.
Not only that but eyes change and fluids shift to the brain, among other issues.
The European Space Agency (ESA) is deep diving into dry-immersion baths as a way to recreate aspects of living in microgravity, part of their human spaceflight research.
Image credit: ESA
In suspension
Similar to bath tubs, large containers hold study participants in suspension for many days.
ESA explains that the studies benefit from placing less pressure on the body as volunteers are supported and suspended evenly in the tub. In that way a condition is created that mimics the floating astronauts experience on the International Space Station.
“Results from this type of research,” ESA states, “does not only benefit astronauts but has implications for people on Earth who are bedridden for long periods of time.”
