https://spacewatch.global/space-frontiers/frontiers-news/ AN INDEPENDENT PERSPECTIVE ON SPACE Thu, 10 Sep 2026 10:41:02 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1 https://spacewatch.global/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/SpaceWatchGlobal-Sign-90x90.png https://spacewatch.global/space-frontiers/frontiers-news/ 32 32 https://spacewatch.global/2026/09/venturi-space-expands-lunar-mobility-portfolio-with-alta-luna-rover/ Thu, 10 Sep 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=77484 Venturi Space has unveiled ALTA LUNA, a compact and maneuverable lunar rover designed to support operations around future lunar bases, at the International Space Summit in Paris. With ALTA LUNA, Venturi Space is expanding its lunar mobility ambitions beyond individual vehicle technologies towards a broader family of specialized rovers for future surface operations.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/09/eutelsat-and-infinite-orbits-partner-on-geo-satellite-life-extension-mission/ Thu, 10 Sep 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=77536 Infinite Orbits and Eutelsat are collaborating to prepare a life-extension mission for at least one of the French operator's geostationary orbit satellites, opening another route for Eutelsat to extend the productive lives of spacecraft already in orbit.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/09/as-bepicolombo-nears-mercury-terma-continues-supporting-the-mission/ Tue, 08 Sep 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=77370 The ESA/JAXA BepiColombo mission enters Mercury orbit on 21 November after an eight-year journey, supported throughout by European companies including Denmark's Terma.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/09/sierra-space-secures-customers-for-its-spaceplanes-inaugural-mission/ Thu, 03 Sep 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=77225 Sierra Space has signed undisclosed national security and commercial customers to fly payloads on Dream Chaser's inaugural mission, testing a multi-customer model across civil, commercial, and defence markets.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/09/isar-aerospace-to-launch-astroscale-japans-adras-j2-debris-removal-mission/ Wed, 02 Sep 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=77177 Isar Aerospace will launch Astroscale Japan's ADRAS-J2 debris-removal mission on Spectrum - its second agreement with the Astroscale group after March's ELSA-M deal.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/08/nasa-launches-nancy-grace-roman-space-telescope-to-map-the-universe-at-unprecedented-scale/ Mon, 31 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=77098 NASA launched the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope on 30 August on a Falcon Heavy from Kennedy, beginning a three-month journey to L2, from where its wide-field infrared surveys will map the Universe at unprecedented scale.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/08/china-demonstrates-earth-moon-laser-communication-link-as-lunar-ambitions-expand/ Mon, 31 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=77114 China has completed an Earth–Moon laser communications demonstration, verifying two-way high-speed optical links across more than 400,000 km - a building block for its crewed lunar ambitions.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/08/nasas-roman-space-telescope-arrives-at-complex-39a-ahead-of-30-august-launch/ Thu, 27 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=77031 NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope has arrived at Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy ahead of its targeted 30 August launch, set to deliver an unprecedented panoramic view of the Universe.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/08/adenot-and-menon-complete-second-spacewalk-to-restore-iss-communications-antenna/ Thu, 27 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=77037 NASA astronaut Anil Menon and ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot completed a follow-up spacewalk on 25 August, successfully installing a replacement for the failed Space-to-Ground Antenna 2 (SGANT-2) after delays during their initial 18 August EVA.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/08/shield-ai-sedaro-and-novi-demonstrate-trusted-ai-autonomy-operations-in-orbit-with-hivemind-ai-pilot/ Tue, 25 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=76935 Shield AI, Sedaro, and NOVI Space have completed an in-orbit demonstration of trusted satellite autonomy, layering AI decision-making with onboard validation onto existing and future constellations.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/08/china-postpones-change-7-mission-as-narrow-lunar-south-pole-launch-window-closes/ Mon, 24 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=76864 The China Manned Space Agency has announced that the upcoming Chang'e-7 international lunar mission will no longer launch within its planned 2026 window after failing to meet the required launch conditions. The mission represents another step toward China's proposed International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), acting as an important bridge between China's earlier robotic lunar exploration and its longer-term ambition for a sustained lunar presence.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/08/jaxa-sets-october-launch-for-mmx-mars-region-sample-return-mission/ Fri, 21 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=76816 JAXA has set 20 October for the launch of MMX, the world's first mission designed to return a sample from the Mars region, also demonstrating round-trip Earth–Mars travel technologies."]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/08/zeno-power-systems-radioisotope-heater-unit-to-fly-on-a-firefly-2028-mission-to-the-moons-near-side/ Thu, 20 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=76745 Zeno Power's radioisotope heater unit will fly on a Firefly mission to the Moon's near side in 2028, demonstrating survive-the-night technology for operating through the lunar dark.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/08/link-spacecraft-will-not-attempt-to-raise-the-swift-observatory/ Thu, 20 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=76764 NASA and Katalyst Space have confirmed the LINK spacecraft will not attempt to reboost the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, after attitude-control problems ruled out a docking. LINK will still perform rendezvous and proximity operations as a technology demonstrator - while Swift, without onboard propulsion, is likely to drop below 300km by October 2026.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/08/esa-astronaut-sophie-adenot-makes-history-as-first-frenchwoman-to-perform-a-spacewalk/ Wed, 19 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=76719 ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot has become the first Frenchwoman to perform a spacewalk, venturing outside the International Space Station yesterday, 18 August, with NASA astronaut Anil Menon to repair a crucial piece of equipment.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/08/astrolight-and-atmos-space-cargo-target-first-in-flight-reentry-capsule-to-satellite-laser-link/ Tue, 11 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=76400 Astrolight and ATMOS Space Cargo have signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly demonstrate the first in-flight optical communications link between a re-entry spacecraft and an orbiting satellite next year.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/08/cospar-2026-ends-pascale-ehrenfreund-re-elected-president/ Tue, 11 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=76418 COSPAR has re-elected Dr. Pascale Ehrenfreund as president for a four-year term, closing a Florence assembly that drew 3,000 attendees and returned to Italy after a 46-year gap - with the next edition set for Dubai in 2028.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/08/redwires-spacemd-announces-its-first-commercial-microgravity-research-mission-on-spacexs-starfall-spacecraft/ Mon, 10 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=76359 Redwire's SpaceMD has booked its first commercial microgravity mission on SpaceX's new Starfall reentry capsule, flying drug candidates for in-orbit research before return to Earth.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/08/axiom-space-appoints-dr-renato-krpoun-as-chief-of-international-operations-for-new-swiss-subsidiary/ Fri, 07 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=76270 Axiom Space has appointed Dr. Renato Krpoun to lead its new Swiss subsidiary in Lucerne as Chief of International Operations for EMEA.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/08/nasa-confirms-falcon-9s-upper-stage-crash-onto-the-lunar-surface-after-launching-back-in-january-2025/ Thu, 06 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=76237 NASA has confirmed that a SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage - which launched ispace's Resilience and Firefly's Blue Ghost landers in January 2025 - made an 'unplanned impact' on the lunar surface on 5 August.]]>