Space exploration, astronomy & astrophotography news
Two Nations, Two Debut Rockets: China’s Long March 10B and India’s Vikram-I Set for Historic Launches Featured image: [Renderings of the Long March 10B (left) and Skyroot Aerospace’s Vikram-I (right); credit: CASC/Chinarocket (left), Skyroot Aerospace (right)] A rare double debut in orbital spaceflight is unfolding this week. China’s partially reusable Long March 10B and India’s […]
Shoebox-Sized Superconducting Thruster Demonstrates Fuel-Free Maneuvering in First Orbital Test Featured image: [Diagram of the Z01 Supertorquer superconducting magnet system showing coils and heat pump assembly; credit: Zenno Astronautics] A shoebox-sized superconducting thruster that generates acceleration without consuming propellant has completed its first in-orbit test, marking the first time a superconducting device has ever been […]
Webb Unveils Millions of Stars in Centaurus A, Resolving a Galaxy Shaped by Cosmic Collision Featured image: [Webb NIRCam and MIRI composite image of Centaurus A (NGC 5128), showing millions of individually resolved stars and the galaxy’s distinctive dust lane; credit: NASA/ESA/CSA/STScI] The James Webb Space Telescope has resolved millions of individual stars in the […]
Webb Unveils Millions of Stars in Centaurus A, Resolving a Galaxy Shaped by Cosmic Collision Date: 2026-07-07 Featured image: [Webb NIRCam and MIRI composite image of Centaurus A (NGC 5128), showing millions of individually resolved stars and the galaxy’s distinctive dust lane; credit: NASA/ESA/CSA/STScI] The James Webb Space Telescope has resolved millions of individual stars […]
Chinese Researchers Design Reusable Net-Membrane That Folds Itself Up for Multiple Space Debris Captures Featured image: [Diagram of the hybrid net-membrane capture system showing deployment sequence; credit: Yu et al., Space: Science & Technology 2026] A team of Chinese researchers has proposed a new approach to one of the most stubborn problems in orbital debris […]
Chinese Researchers Design Reusable Net-Membrane That Folds Itself Up for Multiple Space Debris Captures Featured image: [Diagram of the hybrid net-membrane capture system showing deployment sequence; credit: Yu et al., Space: Science & Technology 2026] A team of Chinese researchers has proposed a new approach to one of the most stubborn problems in orbital debris […]
Katalyst’s Link Spacecraft Begins Pursuit of NASA’s Swift Observatory in First Commercial Satellite Rescue Featured image: [Artist’s rendering of the Katalyst Link spacecraft approaching NASA’s Swift Observatory in orbit; credit: Katalyst Space Technologies] A shoebox-sized spacecraft built in under nine months is now racing against time to rescue NASA’s Swift gamma-ray burst observatory before its […]
Shoebox-Sized Superconducting Thruster Demonstrates Fuel-Free Maneuvering in First Orbital Test A shoebox-sized superconducting thruster that generates acceleration without consuming propellant has completed its first in-orbit test, marking the first time a superconducting device has ever been operated in space. The Z01 Supertorquer, built by New Zealand startup Zenno Astronautics, flew on Impulse Space’s Mira satellite […]
NASA Releases Draft RFP for Second Phase of Commercial Space Stations, Seeks Industry Input by July 27 NASA took a significant step toward securing the International Space Station’s commercial successor on July 6, releasing a draft Request for Proposals for Phase 2 of its Commercial LEO Destinations (CLD) program. The solicitation seeks contractors to design, […]
NASA Releases Draft RFP for Second Phase of Commercial Space Stations, Seeks Industry Input by July 27 NASA took a significant step toward securing the International Space Station’s commercial successor on July 6, releasing a draft Request for Proposals for Phase 2 of its Commercial LEO Destinations (CLD) program. The solicitation seeks contractors to design, […]
