China successfully recovered the reusable first stage of its Long March 10B rocket after its maiden launch from the Wenchang space launch site. The 70-meter tall rocket lifted off at 12:15 PM, with its first stage returning vertically to a sea platform.
ISRO successfully conducted a key qualification test of the main parachute system for the Gaganyaan crew module at Sheopur, Madhya Pradesh. This marks a milestone for India's first human spaceflight mission, validating the parachute's structural integrity for the uncrewed G1 mission.
Nasa Administrator Jared Isaacman stated that the race to return humans to the Moon is a direct contest between the United States and China, with both nations aiming for lunar landings within a similar timeframe. He emphasized that the US is in a space race with China, and the upcoming years will be crucial for human exploration beyond Earth.
China's Tianwen-2 space probe has reached the near-Earth asteroid Kamo'oalewa after a 400-day journey. Launched in May 2025, the mission aims to collect asteroid samples, a first for China, potentially offering insights into solar system formation.
Isro successfully completed the first ground test of a solid motor for the Sub-Orbital Launch Vehicle for Experiments (SOLVE), designed to support the Gaganyaan human spaceflight program. The test validated the motor's performance for lofting the Gaganyaan crew module for parachute tests.
NASA Director Jared Isaacman stated that China is likely to land astronauts on the Moon before the United States. He emphasized the current "space race" and China's rapid progress, while expressing confidence in the US's eventual return and establishment of a lunar base.
ISRO successfully conducted a static test of the solid motor for its new Sub-Orbital Launch Vehicle for Experiments (SOLVE) on July 3. SOLVE will support the Gaganyaan human spaceflight program by testing parachute systems for the Crew Module.
NASA's Swift Boost mission successfully launched on July 3 from the Marshall Islands to rescue the Swift Observatory, which is falling faster than expected. The robotic spacecraft LINK, built by Katalyst Space, will dock with the observatory and tow it to a higher orbit, extending its life by about a decade.
NASA has launched a $30 million robotic mission, the Link spacecraft, to rescue its aging Swift Observatory from burning up in Earth's atmosphere. Built by Katalyst Space Technologies and launched by Northrop Grumman, the mission aims to capture and re-orbit the telescope, potentially extending its life and setting a precedent for satellite servicing.
Space industry experts discussed the catastrophic failure of Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket and its potential delay for NASA's Artemis IV Moon mission. The 9x4 variant, needed for human landings, faces significant development hurdles.
NASA is seriously considering sending the full-scale engineering model of the Perseverance rover, nicknamed 'Promise,' to the Moon. The car-sized rover, equipped with a nuclear power source, could explore the lunar south pole and overcome challenges like the lunar night.
Roscosmos has proposed a draft presidential decree outlining Russia's space policy, including the exploration and development of Moon and asteroid resources as a key project after 2036. Plans by 2036 involve lunar exploration, a nuclear power plant on the Moon, new launch vehicles, and expanded satellite constellations.
NASA is canceling four key elements of its Artemis Program, including an upper stage for the SLS rocket and a lunar gateway habitation module, citing substantial cost increases and delays. The projects ballooned from $2.8 billion to $5.9 billion, with delivery dates pushed back up to seven years.
NASA plans to deorbit the International Space Station into the Pacific Ocean's "spacecraft cemetery" around 2031. While deemed the safest option, environmental experts question the ecological impact of debris on ocean health, highlighting a growing challenge for the modern space age.
Russia's Federal Medical and Biological Agency (FMBA) is creating a ground-based analog complex, a 'lunar test site,' to train astronauts for Moon surface operations, including extravehicular activities and dust removal.
A NASA Inspector General report reveals that the agency's launch infrastructure at Kennedy Space Center is aging and nearing its capacity limit due to increased demand from private companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin, potentially impacting future missions.
NASA's Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO) module, intended for the Lunar Gateway, is reportedly no longer proceeding as planned. A key contractor, Paragon Space Development Corp., was told to stop work, signaling a potential end for the module's development.
NASA is partnering with Relativity Space for the Aeolus mission, aiming to launch a Martian orbiter in 2028. Relativity Space will provide spacecraft and launch services for NASA's science instruments, which will study Martian winds, temperatures, dust, and clouds to improve future landing systems.
NASA has awarded Relativity Space a contract to build and launch a spacecraft, named Aeolus, to Mars in 2028. The mission aims to provide daily global views of Mars' atmosphere, enhancing safety for future human missions. This public-private partnership model leverages commercial innovation for ambitious space exploration.
The upper stage of China's Zhuque-2E rocket broke apart in low-Earth orbit on June 9, creating an estimated 100-150 pieces of debris. The fragments pose a potential threat to SpaceX's Starlink satellites and other spacecraft, though they are expected to reenter the atmosphere within months due to aerodynamic drag.
Blue Origin is downplaying a recent launchpad explosion that destroyed its New Glenn rocket, with CEO Dave Limp stating they "will fly again before the end of this year." NASA, a key partner, is providing significant support for the investigation and pad cleanup, emphasizing the importance of Blue Origin's lunar lander for the Artemis program. Experts suggest the recovery timeline depends on identifying the cause of the anomaly.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman defended the selection of an all-male crew for the upcoming Artemis III mission, citing astronaut expertise and availability. The decision sparked online criticism, with some pointing out the irony of an all-male crew for a mission named after a Greek goddess.
Nasa's Artemis III mission, aiming to return humans to the Moon, is drawing criticism for selecting an all-male crew, despite previous commitments to diversity and landing the first woman and person of color on the Moon. Nasa defends the choice, citing mission requirements and astronaut expertise.
NASA announced the Artemis III crew, targeting a summer 2027 launch. The mission will involve docking with Blue Origin and SpaceX landers. Program manager Jeremy Parsons discussed the readiness of the SLS rocket, Orion spacecraft, and the challenges with the lunar landers and their launch vehicles.
NASA announced the four-person, all-male crew for the Artemis III mission, a test flight in low-Earth orbit designed to reduce risks for future lunar landings. The mission will test lunar lander prototypes from Blue Origin and SpaceX before a planned lunar landing in 2028.
NASA has named the crew for Artemis III, now a low Earth orbit mission testing lunar lander technology due to SpaceX Starship delays and Blue Origin's launch pad damage. The mission is now a tech demo, with a lunar landing targeted for Artemis IV in 2028.
Relativity Space, led by Eric Schmidt, will launch NASA's Aeolus payload to Mars in 2028. The mission aims to provide the first daily global view of Martian winds, temperatures, dust, and clouds, informing future astronaut missions.
SpaceX's Cargo Dragon spacecraft has undocked from the ISS after its 34th resupply mission. It will return to Earth with experiment results, including bioprinted cartilage tissue and cancer research materials, and is expected to splash down off California in 15 hours.
SpaceX is set for the 12th test flight of its Starship rocket, featuring the new V3 model, on Thursday. This launch is a crucial demonstration for investors ahead of the company's IPO next month, with Starship being key to expanding its Starlink constellation and future Mars missions.
Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket explodes on the launch pad, China's launches increase space junk, and various space tech developments.
NASA astronauts on ISS took shelter in a SpaceX Crew Dragon for about an hour on Friday as a precaution during a Russian service module leak repair, which was paused for further assessment.
NASA announces several lunar missions, including three Moon Base missions, to prepare for the 2028 crewed Artemis landing, featuring various landers, rovers, and scientific payloads.
Hong Kong astronaut Li Jiaying, a police officer and mother of three, has been launched into space aboard China's Shenzhou-23 spacecraft. The mission aims to study microgravity effects and includes a year-long orbital stay, part of China's ambitious space program.
China launched Shenzhou 23 with three astronauts, including Lai Ka-ying from Hong Kong, to its Tiangong space station. One astronaut will stay for a year to study long-duration spaceflight effects.
Three Chinese astronauts have arrived at the Tiangong space station. One crew member will remain for over a year, a step towards China's lunar landing ambitions. The mission also involves testing technologies for future Moon missions.
China's Shenzhou-23 mission launched Sunday with three astronauts to the Tiangong space station. A crew member will spend a year in orbit for the first time, a key step in China's lunar ambitions by 2030.
Lai Ka-ying, set to be Hong Kong's first astronaut on the Shenzhou-23 mission, is described by her former professor as meticulous, patient, and a skilled communicator, possessing the intellect and skills for space travel.
Hong Kong will send its first astronaut, police chief inspector Lai Ka-ying, to the Tiangong space station on the Shenzhou-23 mission. She will be the fourth woman in space for China and will work with two other astronauts.
NASA prepares supersonic X-59 flight, FAA grounds SpaceX Starship after mishap, Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket explodes during test
SpaceX postponed its Starship launch on Thursday due to last-minute technical issues, with Elon Musk citing a "hydraulic pin" problem. The company is now targeting Friday for another attempt, crucial for NASA's lunar missions and SpaceX's potential IPO.
SpaceX scrubbed the first launch of its third-generation Starship rocket system from Starbase, Texas, due to issues with launchpad systems. The company plans another attempt for Friday, a crucial test amid SpaceX's expected IPO.
China, in collaboration with Russia, is accelerating its plans for a permanent lunar base, the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), aiming for a manned scientific station by 2035. This initiative, focusing on in-situ resource utilization and international partnerships, puts pressure on NASA's Artemis program, which faces delays and strategic adjustments. The Moon's south pole, rich in water ice, is the focal point of this new space race, emphasizing sustainable bases over mere prestige.
Hong Kong's first astronaut, Lai Ka-ying, has begun her six-month mission, leaving her family behind. Her sister, Lai Ka-man, shared that Lai Ka-ying, a police superintendent, chose the nickname 'big bee' and the family is eagerly awaiting her return for a meal.
China's Manned Space Agency reports smooth progress on its crewed lunar exploration program, emphasizing peaceful use of space and no competition with other nations.
Hong Kong's first astronaut, Lai Ka-ying, overcame motion sickness and other challenges to be selected for China's Shenzhou-23 mission. The 43-year-old mother of three credits sheer willpower for persevering through gruelling training.
