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  • Missile production push runs into solid rocket motor bottleneck
    by Sandra Erwin on June 14, 2026 at 4:00 am

    A new CSIS report says planned 2027 interceptor buys will test a supply chain still recovering from years of consolidation The post Missile production push runs into solid rocket motor bottleneck appeared first on SpaceNews.

  • Revised Artemis lunar lander plans take shape
    by Jeff Foust on June 13, 2026 at 5:19 pm

    NASA has provided more details about the revised approaches that Blue Origin and SpaceX are taking to accelerate work on Artemis lunar landers. The post Revised Artemis lunar lander plans take shape appeared first on SpaceNews.

  • SpaceX shares rise nearly 20% in historic IPO
    by Jeff Foust on June 12, 2026 at 9:06 pm

    SpaceX shares rose on the first day of trading as the company went public in a milestone event for both the company and the broader space industry. The post SpaceX shares rise nearly 20% in historic IPO appeared first on SpaceNews.

  • Avanti trims GEO exposure with Hylas-3 sale
    by Jason Rainbow on June 12, 2026 at 8:43 pm

    TAMPA, Fla. — Avanti Communications is moving to close a chapter on the debt-fueled geostationary expansion that once defined the British satellite operator, with plans to sell the youngest payload The post Avanti trims GEO exposure with Hylas-3 sale appeared first on SpaceNews.

  • Astronomers fear orbital data centers will interfere with observations
    by Jeff Foust on June 12, 2026 at 7:49 pm

    As SpaceX gears up to start launching orbital data center spacecraft as soon as next year, astronomers warn those satellites could cause serious interference with their observations. The post Astronomers fear orbital data centers will interfere with observations appeared first on SpaceNews.

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  • How a shape-shifting tiny rover inspired by Japanese toys autonomously explored the moon
    on June 11, 2026 at 4:00 pm

    Moon missions come in all shapes and sizes, from car-sized rovers packed with scientific equipment to towering rocket payloads—and now, a small, shape-shifting machine that is about the size of the average palm.

  • Small optical component could change how telescopes view the sun
    on June 10, 2026 at 6:00 pm

    A new telescope technology—measuring just 6 millimeters (0.24 inches) in diameter—could improve how future space missions study and monitor the sun while simplifying onboard hardware and reducing costs.

  • Plants could be used to grow medicines in space, study shows
    on June 8, 2026 at 8:20 pm

    Astronauts on long space missions may one day use plants to produce fresh stocks of medicines on demand, thanks to new research by engineers at the University of California San Diego. The team developed a simple method to grow and repeatedly harvest pharmaceuticals from plants under space-like conditions, without destroying the plants or generating large amounts of waste.

  • How Artemis II livestreamed hi-def videos and images from the moon to Earth
    on June 8, 2026 at 2:40 pm

    This April, humanity had front-row seats to space as the Artemis II Orion spacecraft transmitted crystal-clear footage of its historic journey around the moon from more than 250,000 miles (about 402,000 kilometers) back to Earth at speeds on par with home internet connections.

  • Lunar orbiter concept could reveal five key elements across moon in two years
    on June 7, 2026 at 7:48 pm

    Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have used simulations to show that a newly developed, compact X-ray telescope could be used to map the chemical composition of the entire lunar surface, a vital breakthrough for understanding its geological evolution. Detailed modeling of the detector and a realistic satellite mission show that two years would be enough to map five key elements, while an array of 5-by-5 detectors could improve resolution and get results faster.

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  • Alien planet spins revealed a hidden clue to how worlds form
    on June 13, 2026 at 12:57 pm

    Using the Keck Observatory, astronomers measured the spins of dozens of giant planets and brown dwarfs orbiting distant stars. They found that giant planets can spin faster than much more massive brown dwarfs, challenging simple assumptions about mass and rotation. The results suggest that magnetic fields and formation processes play a major role in determining how fast worlds end up spinning.

  • NASA reveals Artemis III crew for one of the most complex space missions ever
    on June 11, 2026 at 12:02 pm

    NASA has selected the Artemis III crew for a high-stakes 2027 mission designed to test the future of lunar exploration. Astronauts will launch aboard Orion and perform unprecedented docking operations with lunar landers being developed by both Blue Origin and SpaceX. The mission will require a remarkable sequence of heavy-lift rocket launches and complex in-space maneuvers, helping pave the way for future Moon landings and eventually crewed missions to Mars.

  • James Webb reveals two completely different twilights on an alien world
    on June 11, 2026 at 11:47 am

    JWST has revealed dramatic differences between the dawn and dusk regions of the scorching exoplanet WASP-121 b. Fierce winds appear to carry heat from the planet’s permanent dayside, making the evening side hotter and more expanded. Scientists also found signs that water is being broken apart by extreme temperatures and that mysterious mineral clouds may be shaping the cooler side’s atmosphere.

  • MIT’s new spacecraft engine could send tiny satellites to Mars
    on June 10, 2026 at 11:24 am

    MIT researchers have shown that one fuel can power both chemical and electric spacecraft thrusters, potentially transforming what small satellites can do. The approach combines quick bursts of speed with highly efficient long-range propulsion in a single compact system. A NASA-supported CubeSat mission will soon test the technology in orbit.

  • Scientists think they solved the mystery of the Amaterasu particle
    on June 9, 2026 at 11:18 am

    The mysterious Amaterasu particle may not be a proton at all. New research suggests that some of the most extreme cosmic rays could be ultraheavy atomic nuclei, heavier than iron, which are better able to retain their energy while traveling through space. This idea could help explain how these rare particles reach Earth and provide new clues about the powerful cosmic explosions that create them.

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        • Week in images: 08-12 June 2026
          on June 12, 2026 at 1:10 pm

          Week in images: 08-12 June 2026 Discover our week through the lens

        • Mission Control | Keeping Columbus Running 24/7 | ESA Explores #19
          on June 12, 2026 at 10:00 am

          Video: 00:17:20 Step inside the Columbus Control Centre near Munich, Germany, and discover what it takes to keep ESA’s Columbus laboratory running—24 hours a day, 365 days a year.Columbus Flight Director Tristan Hermel takes us behind the scenes of mission control, where teams on the ground coordinate operations, support astronauts and work with international partners across the globe.Get a glimpse of life behind the consoles as ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot carries out her Epsilon mission on board the Space Station.This interview was recorded in January 2026.Listen on all major podcast platforms.Keep exploring with ESA Explores.

        • Earth from Space: Buenos Aires
          on June 12, 2026 at 8:00 am

          Image: This radar image from the Copernicus Sentinel-1 mission captures Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, the surrounding countryside and the Rio de la Plata estuary.Zoom in to explore this image at its full resolution.This is a composite of three Sentinel-1 acquisitions taken in January, March and May this year, with each image assigned to a different colour channel (blue in January, green in March and red in May). As the environmental changes on the ground created a significant ‘backscatter’ reflection of the radar signal, they show up as bright shades that correspond to changes across the seasons.On the right-hand side of the image, the metropolitan area of Buenos Aires is visible in light grey. The area has a population of more than 16 million people and lies at 25 m above sea level. The urban areas were largely unchanged between January and May, hence the lack of colour in this part of the image. Other towns, such as Luján and Junin, are also visible as smaller patches of grey west of the capital.The blue areas correspond to surface changes such as choppy water, captured in January, which is mid-summer in Argentina. The rivers, deltas and open water are mainly coloured in either dark blue, purple or black. Winds and rough sea conditions during both January and May mean that the Rio de la Plata estuary, east of Buenos Aires, appears purple (a mix of blue in January and red in May). The Paraná river meanders through wetlands on the left of the image before flowing into the Rio de la Plata. The Uruguay river is also seen flowing from the north into the estuary.To the west of Buenos Aires, agricultural fields and the Argentinean Pampas dominate the landscape. The green tint is due to significant ‘backscatter’ reflection of the radar signal in this area during the capture in March. Since this period is late summer in Argentina, it likely denotes growth of major crops such as soy and corn.At the top of the image, a large area north of the Paraná river, in Entre Ríos province, appears in vivid red – the channel assigned to ground change in May, which is late Autumn in Argentina. It is likely that this is due to natural vegetation growth caused by seasonal rains during that period. This is when the areas of exposed grassland come back to life following the long, dry summers.

        • Conversations in the sky: Galileo’s intersatellite links tested
          on June 12, 2026 at 6:45 am

          The second generation of Galileo, Europe’s satellite navigation constellation, is being built. These satellites will feature reconfigurable payloads, provide more robust and reliable positioning, navigation and timing, enable new services and add new capabilities to the constellation.One of these capabilities, intersatellite links, will allow the satellites to communicate with one another in orbit. After going through extensive testing, the intersatellite link antennas are ready to be integrated into the satellites.

        • ESA at ILA 2026 – Day 2 highlights
          on June 11, 2026 at 3:25 pm

          From strategic discussions on autonomy and resilience to an in-flight call with ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot, ESA’s second day at ILA Berlin International Airshow 2026 highlighted the wide-reaching value of space for Europe now and in the future.

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