Bezos-backed methane-tracking satellite goes dark unexpectedly
A methane-monitoring satellite, backed by Jeff Bezos and designed to publicly track emission data, has abruptly gone silent just one year into its five‐year mission. Scientists now scramble to understand the technological misstep that jeopardizes a crucial environmental monitoring initiative.
Back to Top / Thursday, July 3, 2025, 5:20 pm / permalink 9379 / 1 stories in 8 months
Mexico challenges Elon Musk’s rocket launches with tougher measures
Mexico has ramped up its regulatory stance amid growing concerns over SpaceX’s rocket debris and explosive tests. Drawing on tactics reminiscent of high‐profile political playbooks, Mexican authorities are determined to protect public safety—even if that means putting the rocket man in a regulatory straitjacket.
Back to Top / Thursday, June 26, 2025, 9:21 am / permalink 8887 / 1 stories in 8 months
Amazon Doubles Project Kuiper Satellite Fleet in Race to Catch Up to SpaceX's Starlink
Nelson Aguilar / cnet - United Launch Alliance's Atlas V lofted Amazon's second batch of Project Kuiper satellites into orbit early Monday.
Back to Top / Monday, June 23, 2025, 3:21 pm / permalink 8644 / 2 stories in 8 months
‘Major Anomaly’ Behind Latest SpaceX Starship Explosion
Stephen Clark, Ars Technica / wired - SpaceX CEO Elon Musk suggested on X that a high-pressure nitrogen tank failure was behind the explosion of the company's massive Starship rocket.
Back to Top / Friday, June 20, 2025, 12:21 pm / permalink 8485 / 2 stories in 8 months
SpaceX competitor Eutelsat raising €1.35B in new funding
Maria Deutscher / siliconangle - French satellite operator Eutelsat SA today disclosed that it’s raising €1.35 billion in new funding to support growth initiatives in a deal set to close by year’s end. More than half the capital, or €717 million, will be provided by the French government…
Back to Top / Thursday, June 19, 2025, 8:20 pm / permalink 8448 / 1 stories in 8 months
SpaceX Starship Test Explosion Raises Safety Concerns
During a late‐night static-fire test at Starbase Texas, SpaceX’s Starship experienced a dramatic malfunction—an explosion on the ground—that has only added to its troubled test history. Engineers are now re-examining protocols amid growing skepticism over the rocket’s readiness for ambitious Mars missions.
Back to Top / Thursday, June 19, 2025, 6:20 am / permalink 8382 / 13 stories in 8 months
Honda successfully launched and landed its own reusable rocket
Andrew Liszewski / theverge - Honda successfully conducted a “launch and landing test of an experimental reusable rocket” developed by its research and development subsidiary, the company announced this week. It was the first time Honda landed a rocket after it reached an altitude of …
Back to Top / Wednesday, June 18, 2025, 11:21 am / permalink 8323 / 4 stories in 8 months
ISS leaks push Axiom Mission 4 launch to no earlier than June 19
Richard Speed / theregister - Evaluation of latest repairs to Russian segment ongoing NASA has pushed back the launch of Axiom Mission 4 to the International Space Station (ISS), citing concerns over persistent leaks aboard the aging orbital outpost. A new No Earlier Than (NET) date i…
Back to Top / Monday, June 16, 2025, 4:21 pm / permalink 8134 / 2 stories in 8 months
The ESA just snapped the first photos of the Sun’s south pole
Joshua Hawkins / bgr - The European Space Agency has achieved yet another “first” for humankind by capturing the first photos of the Sun’s south pole. These images were captured …The post The ESA just snapped the first photos of the Sun’s south pole appeared first on BGR.
Back to Top / Wednesday, June 11, 2025, 5:21 pm / permalink 7716 / 3 stories in 8 months
NASA is shutting down some official social media accounts, including the Curiosity rover's handle
Ian Carlos Campbell / engadget - NASA is shutting down several social media accounts run by the Science Mission Directorate, including the official Mars Curiosity Rover account on X. The organization says it made the decision in order to "make its work more accessible to the public, avoi…
Back to Top / Wednesday, June 11, 2025, 3:20 pm / permalink 7697 / 2 stories in 8 months
Probability of Asteroid 2024 YR4 hitting the Moon increases
Richard Speed / theregister - Scientists improve knowledge by 20% thanks to James Webb Space Telescope data The chance of Asteroid 2024 YR4 hitting the Moon has increased, according to boffins making observations from the James Webb Space Telescope.…
Back to Top / Tuesday, June 10, 2025, 1:21 pm / permalink 7504 / 4 stories in 8 months
Blue Origin delays second New Glenn launch amid leadership shuffle
Blue Origin announced a delay to its second New Glenn launch, citing leadership departures and schedule shifts. The setback pushes the ambitious rocket’s takeoff to the fall, leaving investors and space enthusiasts to question whether internal red tape can really get out of orbit.
Back to Top / Monday, June 9, 2025, 7:20 pm / permalink 7407 / 1 stories in 8 months
FAA to retire floppy disks and Windows 95 amid air traffic control overhaul
Benj Edwards / arstechnica - Agency seeks contractors to modernize decades-old systems within four years.
Back to Top / Monday, June 9, 2025, 11:21 am / permalink 7310 / 3 stories in 8 months
Japan’s iSpace Lunar Landing Mishap Sparks Communication Crisis
Japan’s iSpace encountered a major hiccup on its uncrewed lunar mission when the spacecraft malfunctioned, leaving a noticeable crater as evidence of the crash. Efforts are underway to reestablish contact, casting a wry spotlight on the risks and challenges of modern private space exploration.
Back to Top / Friday, June 6, 2025, 6:20 am / permalink 7014 / 3 stories in 9 months
After Trump pulled NASA nomination, Musk ally Jared Isaacman says stint in politics was 'thrilling'
cnbc - Shift4 founder Jared Isaacman, who had been President Trump's pick to run NASA, told investors in a letter on Wednesday that he's giving up his CEO role.
Back to Top / Wednesday, June 4, 2025, 7:21 pm / permalink 6830 / 3 stories in 9 months
NASA Grapples with Severe Budget Cuts Amid Leadership Shake-Up
Facing a potential $6 billion funding drop alongside shifting leadership, NASA is contending with severe budget cuts that endanger key missions. The agency’s fiscal woes have ignited serious concerns about its capacity to pursue ambitious projects, prompting policymakers to reassess its funding priorities.
Back to Top / Monday, June 2, 2025, 2:21 pm / permalink 6504 / 3 stories in 9 months
US Halts Jet Engine Parts Exports to China Amid Tech Tensions
US officials have abruptly halted exports of critical jet engine components and semiconductor technology to China, citing mounting supply chain concerns and strategic rivalry. The measures signal a decisive tightening of export controls that underscores the escalating tech tug-of-war between Washington and Beijing, leaving industries to brace for potential disruptions.
Back to Top / Thursday, May 29, 2025, 7:20 am / permalink 6079 / 7 stories in 9 months
SpaceX Starship flight encounters unexpected technical setbacks
SpaceX’s latest Starship launch, touted as a breakthrough, quickly turned into a test of resilience. Although the rocket cleared its liftoff, post-launch diagnostics revealed additional technical complications, leaving engineers to scramble while critics sarcastically wonder if innovation now means embracing repeated setbacks.
Back to Top / Wednesday, May 28, 2025, 5:20 am / permalink 5901 / 5 stories in 9 months
New Study: Venus May Harbor Hazardous Asteroids
New research has raised concerns that Venus might be accompanied by dangerous asteroids. Detailed studies suggest that hazardous rocky bodies may be co‐orbiting with Venus, complicating detection efforts that have so far focused on near‑Earth objects. Researchers call for dedicated, space‑based missions to investigate this elusive threat.
Back to Top / Tuesday, May 27, 2025, 7:20 pm / permalink 5880 / 2 stories in 9 months
SpaceX Set to Combine Starship Test Flight With Mars Colonization Vision
SpaceX is preparing for a high-stakes event that pairs a Starship test flight with Elon Musk’s ambitious plans for interplanetary colonization. The upcoming livestream will offer insights into overcoming past launch anomalies while outlining bold strategies for establishing a human presence on Mars.
Back to Top / Tuesday, May 27, 2025, 3:21 pm / permalink 5841 / 13 stories in 9 months