https://spacewatch.global/tag/nasa/ AN INDEPENDENT PERSPECTIVE ON SPACE Fri, 11 Sep 2026 10:51:24 +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/tag/nasa/ 32 32 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.]]> 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/pixxel-raises-100-million-in-series-c-funding-to-expand-beyond-hyperspectral-imaging/ Wed, 09 Sep 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=77390 Pixxel has raised $100 million in Series C funding to accelerate the development of its Earth-observation and space infrastructure capabilities, bringing its total capital raised to $195 million The raise marks a transition for Pixxel from a hyperspectral satellite company into a broader Earth-intelligence and space-infrastructure business.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/09/nasa-awards-blue-origin-700-million-contract-for-mars-communications-network/ Thu, 03 Sep 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=77220 NASA has awarded Blue Origin a $700 million contract to develop a Mars Telecommunications Orbiter for its dedicated high-speed relay network at the Red Planet.]]> 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/turkiye-joins-artemis-accords-as-71st-signatory/ Tue, 01 Sep 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=77142 Türkiye has become the 71st signatory to the Artemis Accords, signed at NASA headquarters on 31 August, as the country advances its own lunar ambitions.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/08/spacewatchgl-opinion-washington-is-building-a-space-academy-eight-weeks-ago-europe-liquidated-one/ Mon, 31 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=77127 President Trump's executive order of 28 August creates no campus and appropriates no money. One overlooked clause seals the proposed academy off from allies entirely - and it lands eight weeks after a Strasbourg court liquidated the International Space University. Torsten Kriening on the question Washington has answered and Europe has not yet asked.]]> 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/trump-signs-executive-order-establishing-a-u-s-space-academy/ Mon, 31 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=77102 President Trump has signed an executive order beginning the establishment of a United States Space Academy, intended to strengthen the country's space workforce and develop its next generation of leaders.]]> 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/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/scientists-chase-the-moons-shadow-as-total-solar-eclipse-sweeps-across-europe/ Thu, 13 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=76536 Europe witnessed a total or partial solar eclipse on 12 August - totality visible from Greenland, Iceland, northern Spain, and northeastern Portugal - and scientists worldwide seized the moment for solar science and public events.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/08/blue-origin-traces-cause-of-new-glenns-explosion-as-the-company-targets-a-return-to-flight-this-year/ Fri, 07 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=76275 Blue Origin has traced New Glenn's May static-fire explosion to a main oxygen valve on one of the BE-4 engines, confirmed by hardware recovery and hotfire testing, with return-to-flight targeted this year.]]> 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.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/08/intuitive-machines-completes-acquisition-of-goonhilly-earth-station-and-comsat-positioning-itself-as-a-vertically-integrated-prime/ Wed, 05 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=76198 Intuitive Machines has completed its acquisition of Goonhilly Earth Station and COMSAT, adding a global deep-space ground-station network as it positions itself as a vertically integrated prime.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/08/nasa-selects-lunar-outpost-to-advance-its-starweave-autonomous-robotic-swarm-software/ Tue, 04 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=76141 NASA has selected Lunar Outpost to advance Starweave, its distributed software layer enabling robotic swarms to operate as autonomous, coordinated fleets for lunar and Mars infrastructure.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/07/farnborough-2026-day-2-laura-todd-rosa-schmidt-on-uk-billions-nasas-new-chief-and-the-how-behind-collaboration/ Mon, 27 Jul 2026 14:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=75963 Day two from Farnborough 2026: Laura Todd and Rosa Schmidt debrief the opening day - Rosa's panel on European space leadership, the UK's multi-billion commitment, NASA chief Jared Isaacman's call for Europe to fill the gaps rather than duplicate, and the buzzwords defining the Space Zone.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/07/mauritius-joins-the-artemis-accords-becoming-the-programs-70th-and-7th-african-signatory/ Mon, 20 Jul 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=75782 The Republic of Mauritius has officially joined the U.S. led Artemis Accords, becoming the 70th signatory and seventh African country to join the Artemis Accords. Mauritius joins Nigeria, Rwanda, Angola, Senegal, Morocco, and Botswana who signed the Accords earlier this July.]]>