https://spacewatch.global/tag/international-space-station-iss/ AN INDEPENDENT PERSPECTIVE ON SPACE Thu, 16 Apr 2026 06:32:05 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 https://spacewatch.global/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/SpaceWatchGlobal-Sign-90x90.png https://spacewatch.global/tag/international-space-station-iss/ 32 32 https://spacewatch.global/2026/04/nasa-contracts-voyager-technologies-for-7th-private-astronaut-mission-to-the-iss/ Thu, 16 Apr 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=73022 Voyager Technologies has signed an order with NASA for the seventh Private Astronaut Mission (PAM) to the International Space Station, launching no earlier than 2028, reflecting the agency's strategy to transition low-Earth orbit operations to the private sector. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/03/vast-secures-500m-in-funding-to-accelerate-production-of-haven-space-stations/ Mon, 09 Mar 2026 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=71817 Vast has raised $500 million in new funding, comprising $300 million in Series A equity and $200 million in debt, to advance its mission of enabling humanity to live and work in space long-term, and support the continued development of Vast’s Haven space stations. The company will leverage the funding to expand facilities, grow its team, and advance its proposed successor to the ISS, Haven-2, ensuring continuous human presence in LEO.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/02/nasa-selects-vast-for-sixth-private-astronaut-mission-to-the-international-space-station/ Mon, 16 Feb 2026 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=71223 NASA and Vast have signed an order for the sixth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, targeted to launch no earlier than summer 2027 from Florida. This private astronaut mission marks Vast's first selection to the orbiting laboratory, underscoring NASA’s commitment to enabling commercial providers utilize the International Space Station as a destination for their missions.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/02/mexican-university-deploys-gxiba-1-satellite-through-unoosa-and-jaxas-kibocube-program/ Wed, 04 Feb 2026 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=70929 A student-built satellite from Mexico has been successfully deployed from the International Space Station to monitor volcanic activity and ash dispersion through optical observation. Developed by a team of students and professors from the Popular Autonomous University of the State of Puebla (UPAEP), the Gxiba-1 satellite was selected through the 6th round of the KiboCUBE program,]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/01/voyager-technologies-secures-patent-for-in-orbit-manufacturing-of-crystals-for-optical-communications/ Fri, 16 Jan 2026 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=70445 Voyager Technologies has won a patent for an extraterrestrial manufacturing method that produces larger, purer crystals essential to high-performance optical communications – the backbone of Earth’s data centers and the AI-driven global economy. By harnessing microgravity, the patented process delivers material performance beyond what is possible on Earth.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/01/talos-and-endurosat-launch-european-partnership-for-icarus-2-0-to-monitor-animals-from-space/ Tue, 13 Jan 2026 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=70340 TALOS and EnduroSat are collaborating to build the ICARUS 2.0 satellite constellation. The mission – also known as the “Internet of Animals” – is a research project by the Max Planck Society to monitor wildlife movements and environmental changes through advanced satellite technology. TALOS leads the mission design, operations and development of the tracking technology, while EnduroSat is providing the satellite platform as well as facilitating ground station access through its network of partners. On the other hand, the Max Planck Society, as the scientific lead, contributes its expertise in animal tracking.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/12/starlab-announces-investment-from-sumitomo-mitsui-sumi-trust-bank-for-its-space-station-technologies/ Mon, 29 Dec 2025 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=70043 Starlab Space LLC has received an investment from Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, Limited to support its efforts in developing and commercializing space station technologies. As part of its broader initiatives to support projects addressing social and industrial challenges, including impact investments, SuMi TRUST Bank has been promoting efforts to provide financial backing for innovative ventures. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/11/esa-member-states-approve-e22-1bn-at-2025s-ministerial-council-meeting-cm25-in-bremen-germany/ Fri, 28 Nov 2025 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=69341 ESA member states have approved €22.1bn at this year's Council meeting at Ministerial level (CM25) in Bremen, Germany. This year’s Ministerial Council also served as the first stage of the implementation of ESA’s Strategy 2040 The Member States consequently guaranteed a historic increase of 3.5% per year beyond inflation that will enable significant European missions, bolstering the region's scientific leadership. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/07/argentinian-space-agency-and-jaguar-space-sign-mou-on-space-based-agricultural-research/ Wed, 23 Jul 2025 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=66419 The Comisión Nacional de Actividades Espaciales and Jaguar Space have signed an MoU to explore the potential of Argentine crops in space-based research. The collaboration focuses on native species such as peanuts and potatoes—cornerstones of Argentina’s agricultural sector and culinary identity]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/04/esa-contracts-altec-for-iss-and-lunar-gateway-training-services/ Wed, 16 Apr 2025 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=64920 ESA has contracted ALTEC for the consolidation of Training, Logistics, and Operations Services for ISS and Exploration. Director of Human and Robotic Exploration Daniel Neuenschwander and ALTEC CEO Vincenzo Giorgio, in the presence of Italian Space Agency Science & Research Director Mario Cosmo, signed the agreement to finalize the five-year €61 million contract.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/04/vast-signs-agreement-to-leverage-the-national-lab-on-the-international-space-station/ Mon, 14 Apr 2025 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=64855 Vast has signed a strategic agreement with the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space® (CASIS) to support scientific research through the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory. This milestone partnership reinforces Vast’s commitment to advancing space-based research and strengthens its position as a key player in NASA’s private astronaut missions (PAM) to the ISS.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/03/astronauts-wilmore-and-williams-return-to-earth-after-286-day-mission/ Wed, 19 Mar 2025 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=64497 NASA Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have arrived back on earth, together with other members of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9, Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov. The crew splashed down in a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida, in the Gulf of Mexico. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2024/12/polish-esa-reserve-astronaut-to-go-on-ax-4-mission/ Mon, 09 Dec 2024 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=62841 The European Space Agency (ESA), the Polish Ministry of Economic Development and Technology, and the Polish Space Agency (POLSA) have announced the official name of the Polish technological and scientific mission to the International Space Station (ISS) as ‘Ignis’.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2023/09/space-cafe-black-ops-by-dr-emma-gatti-with-dr-namrata-goswami-ep-5-recap/ Fri, 29 Sep 2023 09:00:23 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=51400 The fifth episode of this special series of Space Cafe Black Ops with Dr. Namrata Goswami as resident guest is focused on India. This episode is part of a seven-series focused on the geopolitics of space. India: A Strategy of a Leading Power. The fifth episode of this special series of Space Café Black Ops with Dr. Namrata Goswami as a resident guest is focused on India. This episode is part of a seven-series focused on the geopolitics of space. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2023/08/aws-snowcone-successfully-completes-data-transfer-from-iss/ Wed, 30 Aug 2023 06:00:24 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=50770 Japan Manned Space System Corporation (JAMSS) used an Amazon Web Services (AWS) Snowcone SSD onboard the International Space Station (ISS) to transmit large volumes of data from space into AWS. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2021/08/nasa-prepares-to-launch-starliner-test-mission-to-iss/ Tue, 03 Aug 2021 06:00:22 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=34869&preview=true&preview_id=34869 NASA is preparing for the Starliner test launch to the International Space Station (ISS) today, the agency said. The launch and docking of the agency’s Boeing Orbital Flight Test-2 (OFT-2) to the ISS is the second uncrewed flight for Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft and is part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2021/07/europes-robotic-arm-and-russians-nauka-on-their-way-to-iss/ Fri, 23 Jul 2021 06:00:32 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=34551&preview=true&preview_id=34551 The European Robotic Arm (ERA) is on its way to the International Space Station (ISS) after its launch from Baikonur, the European Space Agency (ESA) said. The 11-m-long robot is travelling folded and attached to what will be its home base – the Multipurpose Laboratory Module, also called ‘Nauka’, ESA said. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2021/05/jaxa-turns-iss-research-on-proteins-into-a-business-model/ Tue, 11 May 2021 06:00:27 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=32647&preview=true&preview_id=32647 The Japanese startup Space BD works for JAXA, the space agency, on a protein experiment on board the International Space Station (ISS). Space BD utilizes the microgravity environment of ISS to grow high-quality protein crystals that are difficult to achieve on the ground.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2021/05/nasa-and-axiom-disclose-details-on-private-iss-mission/ Mon, 10 May 2021 06:00:26 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=32587&preview=true&preview_id=32587 NASA and the space startup Axiom Space will detail the first private astronaut mission to the International Space Station (ISS) today, the U.S. space agency said. The spaceflight, named Axiom Mission 1 (Ax-1), is scheduled to launch no earlier than January 2022 for an eight-day mission aboard the orbiting complex.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2021/04/china-launches-tianhe-core-module-of-its-new-space-station/ Fri, 30 Apr 2021 06:00:48 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=32370&preview=true&preview_id=32370 China has successfully launched the core element of its new space station, officials and media reported. The 16.6 meters long core called Tianhe (which means “harmony of the heavens”) was successfully deployed in low Earth orbit. It is the core element of China's T-shaped new space station.]]>