The number of satellites and space debris in Earth orbit is increasing rapidly, according to ESA's new space environmental report. Commercial constellations like Starlink are driving the increase as hundreds of payloads are launched into orbit every day.
US President Donald Trump is pushing forward commercial space travel and is calling for new launch sites on government property within 90 days. NASA should also explore manned flights to Mars.
The Japanese space agency Jaxa plans to launch the MMX spacecraft to Mars on October 19th. On board is the German-French rover “Idefix”, which is scheduled to land on the Martian moon Phobos in 2029.
A Chinese Long March 7A carrier rocket exploded less than 90 seconds after takeoff from Wenchang on Monday evening. The mission was intended to launch the ChinaSat-4B communications satellite into space.
The Japanese space probe Hayabusa 2 has completed a successful test flight in close proximity to the near-Earth asteroid Torifune. The aim was to check the precise control for possible deflection of celestial bodies.
The ILA trade fair in Berlin discussed the moon, but Europe's own lunar ambitions are unclear. NASA is overhauling its Artemis program, putting European astronaut seats on hold. ESA boss Aschbacher is calling for more independence and European projects, while German start-ups like Isar Aerospace are struggling with technical problems.
The Artemis 3 mission will be a test flight in Earth orbit to test the docking of lunar modules. The crew consists of three US astronauts and the Italian Luca Parmitano. Landing on the moon is planned for Artemis 4 at the earliest.
Three Chinese astronauts arrived at the Tiangong space station on the Shenzhou-23 spacecraft. For the first time, the mission includes a one-year stay for an astronaut and serves to prepare for lunar missions.
China has sent three new astronauts to the Tiangong space station on the Shenzhou 23 spacecraft. For the first time, the mission includes a one-year stay by a Chinese astronaut and the replacement of the current crew.
NASA boss Jared Isaacman defends the selection of an all-male crew for the “Artemis 3” moon mission. He emphasizes that the crew is selected according to criteria that maximize mission success and hopes that process integrity will be recognized despite criticism.
NASA is intensifying its plans to allow humans to live permanently on the moon, supported by Blue Origin, Firefly Aerospace, Astrolab, Lunar Outpost and ESA. Artemis 2 successes show the ongoing space race as a lunar station is set to be realized in the 2030s.
Three Chinese astronauts launched the Shenzou 23 spacecraft to the Tiangong space station. The mission involves the replacement of the current crew and plans a year-long stay for a crew member to research the effects of long-term missions on the human body.
China has launched three new astronauts to the Tiangong space station with "Shenzhou 23". For the first time, a crew member will stay in space for a whole year to study the effects of long-term missions on the human body.
