https://spacewatch.global/tag/nasa/ AN INDEPENDENT PERSPECTIVE ON SPACE Fri, 06 Nov 2026 09:24:56 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.4 https://spacewatch.global/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/SpaceWatchGlobal-Sign-90x90.png https://spacewatch.global/tag/nasa/ 32 32 https://spacewatch.global/2026/11/spacewatchgl-gray-space-democrats-sweep-both-u-s-congressional-chambers-space-and-defence-now-what/ Fri, 06 Nov 2026 09:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=79937
Written by Christophe Bosquillon
The Democrats have swept both chambers of the U.S. Congress. But what does that mean for American space and defence policy? Christophe Bosquillon examines the implications for NASA, the Space Force, Golden Dome and Pentagon spending, and considers what the political shift means for Europe.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/11/starfish-space-loses-otter-24c-servicing-spacecraft-following-communications-failure/ Wed, 04 Nov 2026 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=79813 Starfish Space has lost contact with its first full-scale Otter servicing spacecraft, Otter 24C, following a communications failure during commissioning in orbit. Launched on October 1, 2026, the spacecraft was intended to demonstrate autonomous rendezvous and inspection capabilities for approaching and observing inactive satellites in low Earth orbit.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/11/nasas-upcoming-uvex-space-telescope-advances-toward-new-era-of-ultraviolet-astronomy/ Mon, 02 Nov 2026 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=79706 NASA has confirmed its $590 million UltraViolet EXplorer (UVEX) space telescope for further development after the mission successfully completed Key Decision Point C, a major review of its technical and programmatic readiness. The decision commits NASA to launching the observatory by January 2031 and allows the mission to proceed into its next development phase, bringing it closer to delivering a new ultraviolet observatory for studying the universe.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/10/earthdaily-secures-3-million-nasa-task-order-to-advance-landsat-integration-with-commercial-eo-data/ Tue, 27 Oct 2026 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=79460 EarthDaily has secured a $3 million NASA task order to assess whether data from its commercial satellite constellation could be incorporated into the Landsat programme, a joint U.S. government effort that has monitored changes across Earth’s land surface for more than five decades.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/10/eradrive-cleared-to-test-autonomous-spacecraft-manoeuvring-software-on-nasas-starling-mission/ Tue, 27 Oct 2026 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=79466 EraDrive has been cleared to proceed with autonomous manoeuvring experiments aboard NASA’s Starling mission, advancing efforts to let spacecraft adjust their trajectories in orbit without waiting for ground operators to issue corrective commands. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/10/nasa-revises-spacex-and-blue-origin-lander-plans-for-2028-artemis-moon-landing/ Mon, 26 Oct 2026 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=79392 NASA is revising the designs and operational plans for SpaceX’s and Blue Origin’s lunar landers as it works to return astronauts to the Moon in 2028. In an October 23 update, the agency outlined changes to how the two landers will be fuelled, travel to the Moon, and rendezvous with NASA’s Orion spacecraft. The update also introduces additional development milestones intended to accelerate lander readiness and strengthen crew safety.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/10/japan-launches-mmx-mission-with-european-built-rover-bound-for-mars-phobos-moon/ Tue, 20 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=79154 JAXA has successfully launched its Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission aboard an H3 rocket, beginning a five-year journey to explore Mars’ two moons and return samples to Earth. The H3 Flight No. 10 vehicle lifted off from Tanegashima Space Center on October 20 at 4:41 a.m. Japan Standard Time, with JAXA confirming that MMX separated from the rocket and entered orbit approximately 71 minutes later. The mission aims to return the first samples collected from a moon of Mars.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/10/nasa-to-host-media-briefing-outlining-artemis-mission-plans-ahead-of-2028s-lunar-landing-target/ Fri, 16 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=79042 NASA will outline the next steps in its Artemis lunar exploration campaign during a media briefing on October 23, as the agency works toward returning astronauts to the Moon by 2028. Scheduled for 2 p.m. EDT at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the briefing will cover the status of upcoming missions, including Artemis III, which is planned to send four astronauts into low Earth orbit in 2027 to test systems needed for future lunar landings.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/10/nasa-advances-post-iss-plans-with-commercial-space-station-rfp/ Mon, 12 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=78854 NASA has released the final RFP for its Commercial Low Earth Orbit Destination Contract, inviting US companies to propose the next generation of commercial stations for the post-ISS transition.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/10/eqt-completes-exolaunch-acquisition-as-the-latters-space-services-portfolio-expands/ Fri, 09 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=78783 EQT has completed its acquisition of German space services company Exolaunch, its first move into the space sector, following the deal announced in June.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/10/telespazio-belgium-leads-consortium-to-build-ground-infrastructure-for-esas-prospect-lunar-mission/ Fri, 09 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=78804 Telespazio BeNeLux will lead a consortium with EarthLab Luxembourg and Hungary’s Astro42 to deliver the operations centre for ESA’s PROSPECT lunar drilling mission, ahead of its 2027 flight.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/10/mission-control-to-enable-communications-for-uaes-rashid-rover-2-lunar-mission-in-2027/ Thu, 08 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=78766 Mission Control Space Services has been selected by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre to provide wireless communications technology for the UAE’s Rashid Rover 2, which is scheduled to explore the far side of the Moon aboard Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost Mission 2. The agreement will provide the rover with a communications subsystem designed to support surface operations and maintain connectivity with its supporting infrastructure.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/10/spacewatchgl-recap-iac-2026-day-one-antalya-talks-cooperation-builds-sovereignty/ Tue, 06 Oct 2026 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=78549
Written by Torsten Kriening
IAC 2026 opened with a promise of international cooperation, but the message underneath was sovereignty. From Türkiye's lunar ambitions and Europe's crewed autonomy debate to NASA's reshaped Artemis plans and China's planetary defence push, Torsten Kriening reflects on the signals from day one in Antalya.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/10/nasa-and-spacex-target-7-october-for-crew-12-departure-from-iss/ Mon, 05 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=78503 NASA and SpaceX are targeting no earlier than 7 October for Crew-12's departure from the ISS, beginning the four astronauts' return after more than seven months in orbit.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/10/spacex-launches-130-payloads-on-transporter-18-rideshare-mission/ Fri, 02 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=78438 SpaceX has successfully launched its 18th Transporter rideshare mission, sending 130 payloads into orbit aboard a Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The mission demonstrates the scale of SpaceX’s recurring rideshare program, which provides commercial and institutional customers with regular access to orbit without requiring dedicated launches for individual spacecraft.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/10/nasa-sets-2028-crewed-return-for-boeing-starliner-after-2024-flight-problems/ Thu, 01 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=78394 NASA and Boeing are targeting an uncrewed Starliner ISS mission for December 2026 or January 2027, ahead of a crewed flight in 2028, as they work to certify the vehicle after its troubled 2024 test.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/09/cote-divoire-signs-artemis-accords-as-african-participation-expands/ Tue, 29 Sep 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=78293 Côte d'Ivoire has signed the Artemis Accords, the fifth African country to join in 2026, as the framework expands across the continent.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/09/djibouti-joins-artemis-accords-as-eighth-african-signatory-expanding-its-national-space-program/ Wed, 16 Sep 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=77745 Djibouti has joined the Artemis Accords as the eighth African signatory and 72nd globally, building on its transition from establishing a national space programme to operating satellites.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/09/international-space-summit-manny-shar-of-astrolab-on-building-a-lunar-rover-in-17-months/ Mon, 14 Sep 2026 11:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=77625 From the International Space Summit in Paris, Manny Shar, Senior Director of Growth at Astrolab, joins Laura Todd to explain how the company is building NASA's astronaut-driven lunar rover in just 17 months - and what its hardware-fast, iterate-often culture can teach the wider industry.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/09/vast-greece-mission-advances-european-human-spaceflight-as-macron-calls-for-greater-autonomy/ Fri, 11 Sep 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=77560 ESA has signed with Vast for a Greek astronaut mission to the ISS under NASA's private astronaut framework, as Macron calls for Europe to establish its own crewed capability within a decade.]]>