Daily archive
What the launch manifest and the space news looked like on this day.
A NASA Earth Observatory feature looks at Cyprus, where rocks from an ancient ocean floor are exposed on land, and notes the island's well-known snake and cat populations.
Canada has named Alexander MacDonald, a Canadian-born former NASA chief economist, as the new president of the Canadian Space Agency.
Astronomers studying the galaxy Markarian 501 report signs that two supermassive black holes may be orbiting each other every few months, though the interpretation is still debated.
NASA has unveiled the X-70, a new crewed experimental aircraft meant to serve as a flexible platform for testing advanced aviation technologies.
NASA's Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory has reentered Earth's atmosphere, closing out its 22-year mission after an attempt to boost its orbit did not happen in time.
President Trump has signed a proclamation called the American Declaration of Freedom in Space, stating U.S. intentions to lead exploration, use and settlement beyond Earth.
Ars Technica examines what the latest Texas election results could mean for SpaceX, which moved its corporate base to the state.
NASA leadership outlined how the agency plans to speed up the Artemis program, aiming for an Artemis III test flight in 2027 and a crewed lunar landing in 2028.
The Swift gamma-ray burst observatory fell back to Earth over western Indonesia on Wednesday, after nearly 22 years in orbit and a rescue effort that did not succeed.
Atmospheric measurements from the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter point to possible signs of recent volcanic activity on Mars, according to new research.
NASA picked three companies to develop Ka-band relay concepts that could keep communicating with existing spacecraft without changes to their onboard hardware.
SpacePolicyOnline reports that the midterm elections will give Democrats control of both the House and Senate next year, a shift that could affect space policy and NASA funding.
NASA tested its SPLICE landing navigation system on a drone flying simulated lunar approaches, showing it can steer autonomously toward safe touchdown spots.
SpacePolicyOnline covers the midterm results that hand Democrats majorities in Congress, with possible effects on space legislation in the coming session.
NASA highlights how Space Grant students took part in stops along the agency's Inspiration Tour across the country.
A new Hubble image of the dwarf galaxy NGC 4449 accompanies research finding that many nearby dwarf galaxies hold less oxygen than scientists expected.
NASA and NOAA report on this year's Antarctic ozone hole, noting that weather conditions favored stronger ozone loss in 2026.
An ESA blog post follows astronaut geology training designed to prepare crews for fieldwork on the Moon.
A ground twin of ESA's ExoMars rover has practiced the moves planned for the real rover's first drive on Mars.
ESA describes desert field tests used to train its rover team for operations on Mars.
PLD Space says it has passed an explosive test of the flight termination system on its MIURA 5 rocket, a safety milestone before the Spanish launcher's first flight, now targeted for the first half of 2027.
ESA marks the retirement of the Fluid Science Laboratory aboard the ISS Columbus module after 18 years of experiments.
ESA's MetOp-SG-B1 weather satellite has been unpacked in a French Guiana cleanroom and is being reactivated for final checks before its launch.
A NASA Earth Observatory image taken from orbit shows the U.S. Midwest glowing with city lights on a nearly cloudless night before sunrise.
CAS Space's Kinetica 2 successfully launched SpaceSail Polar Group #17 from Launch Area 140 at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China, bound for a polar orbit. It was orbital launch attempt number 256 worldwide in 2026.
Rocket Lab's Electron successfully launched The Sea God Surveys (iQPS Launch 9) from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1A at Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand, bound for low Earth orbit. It was orbital launch attempt number 255 worldwide in 2026. Mission customer: Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space.
SpaceX's Falcon 9 Block 5 successfully launched Starlink Group 15-18 from Space Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA, bound for low Earth orbit. It was orbital launch attempt number 254 worldwide in 2026. Program: Starlink.
Indian Space Research Organization's GSLV Mk. II successfully launched IRNSS-1L (NVS-03) from Satish Dhawan Space Centre Second Launch Pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, India, bound for a geostationary transfer orbit. It was orbital launch attempt number 253 worldwide in 2026.
SpaceX's Falcon 9 Block 5 successfully launched Starlink Group 15-16 from Space Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA, bound for low Earth orbit. It was orbital launch attempt number 252 worldwide in 2026. Program: Starlink.
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation's Long March 8A successfully launched SatNet LEO Group 28 from Commercial LC-1 at Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China, bound for low Earth orbit. It was orbital launch attempt number 251 worldwide in 2026.
SpaceX's Falcon 9 Block 5 successfully launched Starlink Group 15-15 from Space Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA, bound for low Earth orbit. It was orbital launch attempt number 250 worldwide in 2026. Program: Starlink.
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation's Long March 4B successfully launched Yaogan 53-07 to 09/56-19 to 21 from Launch Area 94 (SLS-2 / 603) at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China, bound for low Earth orbit. It was orbital launch attempt number 249 worldwide in 2026.
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation's Long March 6A successfully launched Yaogan 50-03 from Launch Complex 9A at Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China, bound for low Earth orbit. It was orbital launch attempt number 248 worldwide in 2026.
Rocket Lab's Electron successfully launched We're Not Hawking Around (3x HawkEye 360) from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1A at Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand, bound for a sun-synchronous orbit. It was orbital launch attempt number 247 worldwide in 2026. Mission customer: HawkEye 360.
Galactic Energy's Ceres-1S successfully launched Xiguang-4 01 from Rizhao offshore launch location at Haiyang Oriental Spaceport, bound for low Earth orbit. It was orbital launch attempt number 246 worldwide in 2026.
SpaceX's Falcon 9 Block 5 successfully launched Bandwagon 5 (Dedicated Mid-Inclination Rideshare) from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA, bound for low Earth orbit. It was orbital launch attempt number 245 worldwide in 2026.
Schedules as published that day. Later changes are not reflected.
A Long March 2C operated by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation is slated to carry an undisclosed payload aloft from Launch Complex 3 (LC-3/LA-1) at Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China.
A Ceres-2 operated by Galactic Energy is slated to carry an undisclosed payload aloft from Launch Area 95A at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China.
SpaceX is preparing a Falcon 9 Block 5 to fly USSF-432 from Space Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA. The target is low Earth orbit. Mission customer: United States Space Force.
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation has SatNet LEO Group (details to be confirmed) queued up on a Long March 12, launching from Commercial LC-2 at Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China. The target is low Earth orbit.
SpaceX has USSF-627 queued up on a Falcon 9 Block 5, launching from Space Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA. The target is low Earth orbit. Mission customer: United States Space Force.
Agency for Defense Development is preparing a Mir to fly Demo Flight from ADD Offshore launch platform at Sea Launch. The target is low Earth orbit.
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation has an undisclosed payload queued up on a Long March 2D, launching from Launch Area 94 (SLS-2 / 603) at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China.
A Falcon 9 Block 5 operated by SpaceX is slated to carry USSF-317 aloft from Space Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA. The target is low Earth orbit. Mission customer: United States Space Force.
United Launch Alliance has Amazon Leo (LV-01) queued up on a Vulcan VC6L, launching from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA. The target is low Earth orbit. Mission customer: Amazon Leo. Program: Amazon Leo.
Rocket Lab is preparing an Electron to fly The Mountain God Rises (iQPS Launch 10) from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand. The target is low Earth orbit. Mission customer: Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space. The date is a planning target and is likely to move.
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation is preparing a Long March 8A to fly SatNet LEO Group (details to be confirmed) from Commercial LC-1 at Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China. The target is low Earth orbit.
An Ariane 64 Block 2 operated by Arianespace is slated to carry Amazon Leo (LE-04) aloft from Ariane Launch Area 4 at Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana. The target is low Earth orbit. Mission customer: Amazon Leo. Program: Amazon Leo. The date is a planning target and is likely to move.