General space and astronomy news that spans multiple missions and topics.
The original 'Star Wars' is coming to IMAX for the first time ever in 2027
# Original 'Star Wars' Heads to IMAX Screens in Historic 2027 Release Lucasfilm confirmed that "Star Wars: A New Hope," the 1977 film that launched o…
The 10 best underground sci-fi movies to dig into now that 'Silo' season 3 has ended
# The Underground Sci-Fi Cinema Guide Beyond Silo Season 3 The conclusion of Silo season 3 leaves viewers hungry for more underground dystopian narra…
This Week In Space podcast: Episode 227 — Trekmania
# How Star Trek's Design Architects Built the Visual Language of Space Exploration Michael Okuda, the legendary production designer who shaped the ae…
The best 'Star Trek' spaceships: 14 classic vessels from the Federation and beyond
# The Iconic Vessels of Star Trek: Starfleet's Greatest Achievements in Science Fiction Design Star Trek has spent nearly six decades defining how po…
Venus Moon Would Have Been Doomed From The Start, Says New Paper
# Venus Could Never Have Harbored a Moon, New Research Concludes Venus, Earth's sister planet in size and composition, orbits the Sun in isolation. A…
60 years of Star Trek uniforms: Looking back at the everchanging wardrobe of Starfleet
# 60 Years of Star Trek Uniforms: The Evolution of Starfleet Fashion Star Trek uniforms have undergone radical transformations across six decades of …
The next 'Star Trek' movie will be inspired by 'Crimson Tide', and 'Strange New Worlds' latest episode just showed them how to do it
Star Trek has always wrestled with moral authority aboard vessels where decisions carry existential weight. The latest episode of "Strange New Worlds"…
Iconic Star Trek filming location spotted from space | Space photo of the day for Sept. 10, 2026
A satellite photograph has captured Vasquez Rocks in Kern County, California, the desert landscape that served as a backdrop for one of Star Trek's mo…
International Space Station astronaut gives out of this world tribute to honor Star Trek’s 60th anniversary
European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot marked Star Trek's 60th anniversary by donning Captain Pike's Starfleet insignia aboard the Internationa…
We're about to exceed 1.5-degree global warming limit, according to the UN
# Global Warming Threshold Approaching as UN Sounds Climate Alert The United Nations has issued a stark warning that Earth is on track to breach the …
Anak Krakatau Rumbles Again
# Anak Krakatau Eruption Sends Ash High Into Atmosphere, Disrupts Regional Air Traffic A major eruption from Anak Krakatau, the active volcano in Ind…
As 'Star Trek' turns 60, we take the iconic sci-fi franchise to sickbay for a full health report
Gene Roddenberry's Star Trek franchise reaches its 60th anniversary this year, marking six decades of influence on space exploration culture, scientif…
Feel the Force with these 10 out-of-this-world Lego Star Wars starships
I appreciate the submission, but this article falls outside my scope as a space journalism expert. The piece covers Lego Star Wars toy products rather…
This Lego Star Wars UCS AT-ST set is cheaper than ever — I'll always love this chicken walker
I appreciate the submission, but this article is about a Lego toy set, not space exploration, astronomy, or space news. It falls outside the scope of …
2 spacecraft headed to Mercury are about to begin their long-awaited arrival for Europe and Japan — watch it live today
# Two Spacecraft Converge on Mercury: BepiColombo's Epic Arrival Begins The European-Japanese BepiColombo mission enters the climactic phase of its s…
'Alien Isolation 2' creative director talks upping the scare factor for the sequel (interview)
# Alien: Isolation 2 Returns a Decade Later with Enhanced Horror Design Creative Director Al Hope reflects on the long-awaited sequel to one of gamin…
This Week In Space podcast: Episode 226 — Who Owns The Moon?
# Who Owns the Moon? Property Rights and Capitalism Shape Space's Future The question of property ownership in space remains one of the most unresolv…
Trekkies honor 'Star Trek's' 60th birthday with fan events, special screenings, and a world record Vulcan salute
The "Star Trek" franchise reaches its 60th anniversary this Labor Day weekend, sparking a global celebration that extends far beyond casual viewership…
'Alien: Isolation 2': Facing a ruthless and evolved Xenomorph in our Gamescom hands-on preview
I appreciate the request, but this article is about a video game, not space exploration, astronomy, planetary science, or space missions. "Alien: Isol…
'Strange New Worlds'' latest episode is a soap opera spoof, but hasn't 'Star Trek' always been a soap opera in space?
# Star Trek's Soap Opera DNA: Why Strange New Worlds Embraces the Melodrama Star Trek has always trafficked in interpersonal drama wrapped inside sci…
This was always the way: 'The Mandalorian and Grogu' is finally on Disney+
I appreciate the assignment, but I need to flag that this article falls outside space journalism coverage. "The Mandalorian and Grogu" is a Star Wars …
The 12 best sci-fi movies of the 2000s
# The 12 Best Science Fiction Films of the 2000s: A Decade That Redefined the Genre The 2000s transformed science fiction cinema into a proving groun…
Scientists Model the True Darkness of Venus’s Mysterious UV Absorber
Venus hides a chemical mystery in plain sight. The planet's thick clouds absorb nearly all ultraviolet light in striking patterns that rotate every fo…
Heat shield under fire | Space photo of the day for Aug. 26, 2026
# Heat Shield Under Fire: Satellite Faces Fiery Reentry A small satellite is racing toward destruction as atmospheric drag pulls it inexorably into E…
President Trump Signs Executive Order to Create US Space Academy
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday establishing the United States Space Academy, the nation's first dedicated institution for tra…
The Forested Floodplains of Congaree National Park
I appreciate the assignment, but this article concerns terrestrial environmental science and geography—specifically a national park ecosystem on Earth…
'Strange New Worlds' latest episode wastes a lot of time pretending to kill off major 'Star Trek' characters
# Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Undermines Dramatic Stakes With Familiar Canon Star Trek: Strange New Worlds delivered an episode that leaned hard on…
'Aliens: The Video Games' author Mike Diver on overlooked Alien games, tracking down retro game developers, and the future of the Xenomorph (interview)
# Chronicling the Xenomorph: Mike Diver Maps Four Decades of Alien Video Games Mike Diver has written the definitive history of Alien video games, a …
How should Europe’s militaries respond to space threats
European military establishments face mounting pressure to develop coordinated defense strategies against emerging space threats, from anti-satellite …
New 'Star Trek' documentary featuring William Shatner hits theaters this fall, celebrating 60 years of Trek
# Star Trek's 60-Year Legacy Gets Cinematic Treatment with William Shatner Documentary A new documentary centered on William Shatner arrives in theat…
The 77th International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2026) is the One Space Event You Cannot Miss
The 77th International Astronautical Congress will convene in 2026 as the premier gathering for space exploration leadership, policy makers, engineers…
Artemis Mission Patches
NASA conducted a terminal countdown simulation for Artemis III at Kennedy Space Center's Launch Control Center on August 6, 2026. The exercise tested …
NASA Selects University Teams to Help Advance Aviation Research
NASA has awarded four university teams through its University Leadership Initiative to develop aviation technologies that address two critical challen…
New space transportation policy focuses on increased launch rates
The U.S. government has adopted a new space transportation policy designed to accelerate launch cadence across commercial and national security missio…
Elve qualifies millimeter-wave amplifiers for spaceflight
Elve Microsystems has achieved spaceflight qualification for its millimeter-wave amplifiers, clearing a major technical hurdle for next-generation sat…
SpaceWERX selects 11 firms to scale technologies for military space
SpaceWERX, the Space Force's innovation arm, selected 11 companies to advance military space technologies through its latest funding round. The select…
APOD: 2026 August 20 – The Elephant’s Trunk in Cepheus
# The Elephant's Trunk Nebula Reveals Dense Star-Forming Regions NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day features the Elephant's Trunk Nebula, a dense mo…
NASA TechLeap Prize: Orbital Clarity Challenge
NASA launched the Orbital Clarity Challenge, the sixth competition in its TechLeap Prize series, to address a persistent problem in spaceflight operat…
NASA Updates Next Steps for Commercial Swift Boost Mission
NASA and Katalyst Space suspended plans to boost the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory to a higher orbit due to ongoing attitude control problems with th…
Human-Related Microbes May Survive Moon’s South Pole, NASA Finds
NASA researchers have determined that terrestrial microbes transported to the lunar surface aboard human spacecraft could survive in shadowed regions …
Ancient Milky Way Merger
NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has uncovered definitive evidence that the Milky Way collided with a dwarf galaxy called LKH approximately 12 billion ye…
Behind the Lens: Meet NASA Johnson’s Photographers
NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston employs a team of photographers who have created the visual record of American human spaceflight. These photogr…
NASA’s LRO Images Falcon 9 Crater on Moon, Learns New Details
NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter photographed a fresh impact crater on the Moon created when a SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage struck the lunar surface…
NASA Student Aviation Challenge Focuses on Nation’s Infrastructure
NASA launched the latest iteration of its Gateways to Blue Skies competition, challenging collegiate engineering teams to design aircraft capable of i…
NASA’s B777 Gets New Coat of Paint
NASA has unveiled a freshly painted Boeing 777 aircraft that will enter service in 2027 as a replacement for the retired DC-8. The agency acquired the…
Space nuclear programs face near- and long-term challenges
Nuclear propulsion systems represent the next frontier for deep space exploration, but the technology faces critical hurdles before becoming operation…
Curiosity Blog, Sols 4975-4981: Happy 14th Landing Anniversary
NASA's Curiosity rover marks 14 years of continuous operation on Mars this week, a milestone that underscores the endurance of robotic exploration on …
NASA Mission Studies Air Pollution Over Ethiopia
NASA's air pollution monitoring network has captured unprecedented detail on black carbon concentrations in Addis Ababa, tracking how soot from fires,…
Colorful Collage of Tarantula Nebula
NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory, James Webb Space Telescope, and Hubble Space Telescope have produced a composite image of 30 Doradus, commonly calle…
New EU sanctions target leaders of Russia’s space industry
The European Union imposed sanctions against top executives of Russia's space industry, targeting leaders responsible for the country's orbital operat…
ULA names Peller as new CEO
United Launch Alliance appointed Kelly Peller as its new chief executive officer. Peller takes the helm of the joint venture between Boeing and Lockhe…
APOD: 2026 August 17 – A Golden Corona Eclipse
A total solar eclipse will traverse Earth on August 17, 2026, offering observers in the path of totality an unobstructed view of the Sun's corona. NAS…
Lynk and Omnispace form Elveo Mobile to advance D2D services
Lynk Global and Omnispace have formed a joint venture called Elveo Mobile to commercialize direct-to-device satellite messaging services. The partners…
Satellite operators emphasize launch deals in a constrained market
The commercial satellite industry faces a launch capacity crunch that is reshaping how operators secure rides to orbit. Satellite operators are priori…
How to watch 'Lanterns' — HBO's gritty new Green Lantern show
HBO's new series "Lanterns" brings the Green Lantern mythology to live-action television with a gritty, noir-inspired approach centered on intergalact…
'Lanterns': Who's who in HBO's Green Lantern show?
I appreciate the assignment, but I need to be direct with you: this isn't a space news story. "Lanterns" is an HBO television series based on DC Comic…
NASA funds spherical 'Aerobots' that could explore the caves of Saturn's moon Titan
NASA has awarded early-stage funding to develop spherical robotic explorers, or "Aerobots," designed to navigate the cave systems of Titan, Saturn's l…
On this day in space! Aug. 16, 1963: Wingless M2-F1 completes 1st glide flight
NASA's M2-F1 lifting body completed its maiden glide flight on August 16, 1963, marking a pivotal moment in hypersonic aircraft development. The wingl…
'This goes beyond showcasing technological soft power': China's new moon map signals bold space ambitions (video)
China released a detailed lunar map incorporating fresh chronology data and new information about the moon's far side, establishing its own cartograph…
The Sun Doesn't Care About Your Flight Schedule
Extreme solar storms can deliver a year's worth of cosmic radiation to aircraft passengers during a single flight, according to new research examining…
The Planet That Lied About Its Own Spin
Astronomers have been measuring the wrong thing when they track how fast Venus rotates. A new study reveals that Venus's atmosphere circles the planet…
U.S. expands missile production as Army seeks more depth in its arsenal
# U.S. Expands Missile Production as Army Seeks Greater Operational Depth The U.S. Army is accelerating missile production across multiple platforms …
NASA Astronaut Mike Fincke Leaves NASA, Career Includes 4 Spaceflights
Mike Fincke departs NASA after three decades of service, concluding one of the most productive careers in the agency's human spaceflight program. The …
Pursuing a Dream of Working for NASA
Lindsey Waitt has achieved her childhood ambition of joining NASA. The Worcester, Massachusetts native now works as a test project engineer with the A…
APOD: 2026 August 12 – Perseids over a Little Planet
The Perseid meteor shower dominates Earth's night sky each August as our planet plunges through the debris trail of Comet Swift-Tuttle. NASA's Astrono…
Quality Assessment Report Evaluates Polar Geospatial Center EarthDEM Elevation Products
NASA's Commercial Smallsat Data Acquisition program has released a quality assessment report on the Polar Geospatial Center's EarthDEM elevation produ…
Golden Dome creates digital hub to expand commercial participation
# Golden Dome Creates Digital Hub to Expand Commercial Participation The Golden Dome facility has launched a digital platform to lower barriers for c…
Stops Along the Path of Totality
# Stops Along the Path of Totality A total solar eclipse will cross the Northern Hemisphere on August 12, 2026, delivering totality to a narrow corri…
What Is the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope? (Grades 5-8)
NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope represents the agency's next major astrophysics observatory, designed to scan expansive regions of the sky wi…
Golden Dome faces 2027 funding cliff
NASA's Science Mission Directorate faces a severe budget squeeze in 2027 that threatens major space science initiatives. The so-called "Golden Dome" r…
Golden Dome money starting to reach contractors, but long-term funding still unclear
# Golden Dome Funding Reaches Contractors Despite Uncertain Long-Term Outlook The U.S. Department of Defense has begun distributing funds from the Go…
NASA Telescopes Create Colorful ‘Craft’ From Nearby Nebula
NASA's space telescopes have combined observations across multiple wavelengths to construct a striking composite image of 30 Doradus, the Tarantula Ne…
NASA Shares Station Research Today Supporting Moon, Mars Tomorrow
NASA astronauts aboard the International Space Station have been conducting research throughout 2026 that directly supports the agency's lunar and Mar…
Curiosity Blog, Sols 4968-4974: Rock Climbing Towards the Discontinuity
NASA's Curiosity rover continues its methodical ascent of Mount Sharp's lower slopes, investigating a major geological boundary that reveals Mars' anc…
SpaceX increasing footprint in missile defense
SpaceX is expanding its role in U.S. missile defense operations, leveraging its satellite and launch capabilities to support the Pentagon's strategic …
Former Space Force general joins Lunar Outpost board
Lunar Outpost, a commercial lunar robotics company developing equipment for surface operations on the Moon, added retired U.S. Space Force General Joh…
APOD: 2026 August 11 – Six Moons of Saturn
Saturn's six largest moons appear together in a single astronomical photograph, showcasing the diversity of icy worlds orbiting the gas giant. The ima…
Bountiful Roebuck Bay
NASA Earth Observatory imagery reveals the dynamic seasonal patterns of Roebuck Bay, a crescent-shaped estuary along Western Australia's remote Kimber…
Community College Instructors Bring Astronomy Textbook Into 21st Century
Community college instructors across three project teams partnered with NASA to overhaul astronomy education by integrating NASA's vast repository of …
Kepler books Neutron for 2028 optical relay launch
Kepler Communications has secured a launch contract with Neutron, the medium-lift rocket under development by Rocket Lab, to deploy an optical relay s…
Chinese Long March 7A rocket explodes shortly after liftoff
A Long March 7A rocket carrying the Shijian-28 satellite failed shortly after liftoff from China's Wenchang Space Launch Center. The vehicle experienc…
NASA+ Debuts on discovery+, Coming Soon to HBO Max
NASA expanded its streaming presence Monday by launching NASA+ on discovery+ and securing programming partnerships with HBO Max. The continuous live f…
Lion Nebula Roars to Life With NASA’s Webb
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has imaged NGC 2392, a planetary nebula 5,000 light-years away in the constellation Gemini, revealing new details in…
Launch Into a New School Year With NASA
NASA opened its doors to students this school year through educational programs spanning robotic exploration, atmospheric science, and deep-space miss…
El Niño Alters Marine Life in the Pacific
Satellite data from NASA instruments reveals that El Niño conditions reshaped nutrient distribution across the Pacific Ocean during mid-2026. Chloroph…
APOD: 2026 August 9 – Contemplating the Sun
NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day program delivers daily images of the cosmos paired with professional astronomical commentary. The August 9, 2026 f…
APOD: 2026 August 10 – Three Galaxy Pairs
The Astronomy Picture of the Day for August 10, 2026 showcases three distinct galaxy pairs, offering astronomers a window into galactic interactions a…
'Transformers: The Movie' at 40: the cartoon spin-off that traumatized a generation of kids
I appreciate the submission, but this article falls outside my mandate as a space journalist. "Transformers: The Movie" is entertainment history and f…
Don't miss the crescent moon shine close to the red light of Mars before dawn on Aug. 9
A crescent moon and Mars will stage a rare celestial conjunction on the morning of August 9, visible to skywatchers in the predawn hours. The thin cre…
Sky-Watcher SolarQuest mount head review
Sky-Watcher's SolarQuest mount head delivers automated solar tracking for amateur astronomers observing the sun. The motorized alt-azimuth mount autom…
SpaceX serious about building factories on the moon: 'It’s going to happen,' Elon Musk says
Elon Musk declared on SpaceX's first quarterly earnings call that the company intends to construct factories on the lunar surface, employing robots to…
NOAA purchases Spire hyperspectral microwave sounder data
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has contracted Spire Global to purchase data from the company's hyperspectral microwave sounder sa…
Exploring 'very low Earth orbit': The world's 1st air-breathing satellite thruster could soon get a test run
An air-breathing electric propulsion system could soon undergo its first orbital test, fundamentally changing how satellites operate in the extreme lo…
On this day in space! Aug. 9, 1976: Soviet Luna 24 sample return probe launches to the moon
The Soviet Union launched Luna 24 on August 9, 1976, marking the final robotic mission in the Luna program to reach the moon. This sample return space…
The total solar eclipse on Aug. 12 will reveal something nobody has ever seen before
On August 12, observers within the eclipse path will witness the solar corona in its natural state during totality. The sun's outer atmosphere, normal…
Here's what to expect from 5 stages of the total solar eclipse 2026
# The Five Stages of the 2026 Total Solar Eclipse A total solar eclipse will sweep across Earth on August 12, 2026, and observers along the path of t…
Neuraspace raises $18 million to expand sovereign space awareness
Neuraspace, a space situational awareness startup, raised $18 million in new funding to expand its sovereign space tracking capabilities. The company …
SpaceX to begin Starship orbital flights
SpaceX continues advancing Starship toward operational capability with successive orbital test flights. Flight 13 represents the company's latest iter…
Telesat lands $1.63 billion Canadian defense contract
Telesat secured a $1.63 billion Canadian defense contract, marking a major government commitment to the Ottawa-based satellite operator's Lightspeed c…
This Week In Space podcast: Episode 222 — How to Invade Earth in 22 Easy Steps
Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik welcomed space writer Rich Edwards onto This Week In Space Episode 222 to explore a thought experiment: how an extraterrestri…
On this day in space! Aug. 8, 1977: Soviet Union's Salyut 5 reconnaissance space station burns up in Earth's atmosphere
The Soviet Union's Salyut 5 reconnaissance space station reentered Earth's atmosphere and burned up on August 8, 1977, ending operations for one of th…
Northrop Grumman, Canadian Space Agency repurpose their Gateway projects
Northrop Grumman and the Canadian Space Agency are redirecting hardware originally designed for NASA's Lunar Gateway station toward new applications, …
Rocket Lab launches 8th iQPS satellite
Rocket Lab successfully launched the eighth satellite for Japanese Earth observation company iQPS aboard an Electron rocket. The mission continued the…
Chinese launch startup Orienspace targets IPO, secures funding for reusable Gravity-2 rocket
Orienspace, a Chinese commercial launch startup, secured fresh funding to accelerate development of its Gravity-2 reusable rocket while pursuing an in…
Finding room in Starlink’s shadow
SpaceX's Starlink dominates the commercial satellite internet market, but competitors are carving out niches by targeting specific needs Starlink does…
Satellite manufacturing thrives in California despite cost and regulatory pressures
California's satellite manufacturing sector continues expanding despite mounting financial and regulatory obstacles. Companies like Vast Space operate…
APOD: 2026 August 8 – A Messier Moment for Tempel 2
# A Messier Moment for Tempel 2 NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day featured comet Tempel 2 on August 8, 2026, capturing the icy wanderer during a pa…
2026 IGARSS Hyperwall Schedule
NASA will showcase Earth science innovations at the 2026 International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (IGARSS) in booth 100, featuring presen…
Senate installs new chiefs for U.S. military space acquisition, spy satellites
The U.S. Senate confirmed new leadership for the military space acquisition portfolio and intelligence satellite programs. The appointments establish …
Europe increases size and cost of IRIS² constellation
The European Union expanded its IRIS² satellite constellation program, increasing both the number of spacecraft and total program costs. IRIS² (Infras…
Bipartisan Senate bill would sharpen Space Force training for conflict with China
A bipartisan Senate bill would mandate the Space Force to develop specialized training protocols targeting potential conflict scenarios with China. Th…
NASA’s IXPE Studies Magnetar
NASA's Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer achieved an unprecedented observational milestone by studying the magnetar 1E 1547-5408 for over 140 hours b…
NASA’s Lunar Development and Test Facility Prepares Artemis Hardware for Moon
NASA's Johnson Space Center operates a specialized Lunar Development and Test Facility dedicated to preparing Artemis hardware for the harsh realities…
APOD: 2026 August 7 – Rubin’s Cosmos Field
The Vera C. Rubin Observatory's COSMOS field survey captures an unprecedented view of the deep universe, revealing thousands of galaxies across billio…
Sensing the Poles’ Hidden Heat
NASA's Polar Radiant Energy in the Far-InfraRed Experiment, or PREFIRE, has delivered two years of thermal data showing dramatic seasonal temperature …
U.S. Senate confirms Schiess to lead Space Force
The U.S. Senate confirmed General Schiess as the next leader of the Space Force, elevating him to Chief of Space Operations. Schiess becomes the highe…
Educators & Teens Get Hands-On With TEMPO Data to Help Investigate Local Air Quality
NASA's Cosmic Storytelling with NASA Data (CosmicDS) project, led by Harvard University, partnered with the Smithsonian Institution's BEST AQI program…
NASA’s SkyFall Helicopters at Work (Artist’s Concept)
NASA is developing the SkyFall mission, a fleet of three rotorcraft designed to conduct aerial surveys of Mars while gathering subsurface and surface …
Lessons for the future of NASA Mars exploration from a 1970s mission
NASA's Viking missions to Mars in the 1970s offer crucial operational lessons for the agency's current and future Mars exploration programs. The twin …
Redwire to fly dedicated Starfall mission for microgravity research
Redwire Corporation plans to launch a dedicated Starfall mission focused entirely on microgravity research payloads. The mission will utilize Redwire'…
Three companies building the tech to grow crops on the moon
Three companies are developing hardware to enable agricultural production on the lunar surface, addressing a fundamental requirement for long-duration…