NASA taps SpaceX for more astronaut missions as Boeing Starliner remains grounded

teslarati.com Sep 19, 2026

NASA taps SpaceX for more astronaut missions as Boeing Starliner remains grounded

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Sep 19, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

NASA awarded SpaceX a $946 million contract modification for three additional crew missions—Crew‑15, Crew‑16, and Crew‑17—to the International Space Station. The new award brings the Commercial Crew Transportation Capability contract to $5.92 billion over 17 flights, extending the program through 2030. SpaceX confirmed the deal on X, noting the missions will include launch, in‑orbit operations, cargo transport, and lifeboat capability. The award follows Boeing’s Starliner delays, leaving its future missions uncertain.

💡 Why It Matters

· The contract solidifies SpaceX’s dominance in U.S.
· crew transport, ensuring continuous access to the ISS while Boeing remains grounded.
· This continuity supports long‑term scientific research and crew training essential for future deep‑space endeavors.

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A Homegrown Innovation Ecosystem is Taking Root

India is transitioning from a technology importer to a creator, with public research institutions, corporate R&D, and deep‑tech startups driving growth in semiconductors, communications, space, and healthcare. Patent filings have risen, and indigenous products are emerging, yet R&D spending remains low and commercialisation weak. Talent shortages and limited research capacity hinder full market penetration. Government policy pushes for innovation, but stronger industry‑research links, technology transfer mechanisms, and support for frontier technologies are needed to close gaps and build a technology‑driven economy.

💡 The shift signals India’s potential to become a global tech hub, reshaping its economic trajectory and reducing dependence on foreign imports.

taipeitimes.com · Sep 20

Drugmakers eye next phase of space research

As the International Space Station approaches retirement, major drugmakers are preparing to conduct commercial pharmaceutical research and manufacturing in low Earth orbit. Executives from pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and space firms are collaborating with regulators to establish guidelines for space-based medicine production, aiming to prove it can be reliable and cost‑effective. Companies such as LambdaVision, Auxilium Biotechnologies, and Merck have already used the ISS to develop retinal implants, bioprinted tissues, and a subcutaneous cancer therapy. The shift toward next‑generation commercial stations—like Starlab, Vast, and Axiom—promises scalable, automated production environments that could reduce turnaround times and lower costs.

💡 The move to orbital manufacturing could unlock new drug development pathways that are impossible on Earth, offering faster, more precise production of complex biologics and potentially transforming global pharmaceutical supply chains.

malaymail.com · Sep 19

Looking to the stars: Planetarium Negara seeks to inspire a new generation…

Planetarium Negara in Kuala Lumpur has capitalised on a global resurgence in space interest by showcasing an Orlan space suit used by ISS cosmonauts and expanding its educational offerings. Under director Mohd Zamri Shah Mastor, the venue has upgraded its projection system, refreshed exhibit content, and extended outreach to universities to align with initiatives such as NASA’s Artemis program. Attendance has risen sharply, with immersive displays and hands‑on programmes engaging students and the public, reinforcing the idea that space careers are attainable for Malaysians.

💡 By linking local learning with international missions, the planetarium turns curiosity into tangible career pathways, positioning Malaysia as a budding contributor to future space exploration.

spacenews.com · Sep 18

Terran Orbital Promotes Margherita Cardi to Vice President of European Operations &…

Terran Orbital, a Lockheed Martin subsidiary, announced the promotion of Margherita Cardi to Vice President of European Operations and Head of Strategic Programs. Reporting to CEO Peter Krauss, Cardi will become the senior operational leader for the company’s European unit, overseeing all functions in Italy. Cardi, who joined Tyvak International in 2016 as its third employee, has progressed through systems engineering, program management, business development and executive roles, most recently serving as VP of Programs and Business Development. She has led key European contracts with ESA, ASI and commercial customers, including the Milani CubeSat for ESA’s Hera planetary‑defense mission. The appointment positions her to steer Tyvak International’s European activities and deepen ties with institutional and commercial partners.

💡 Cardi’s deep experience with ESA‑backed missions gives Terran Orbital a proven leader to expand its foothold in Europe’s high‑value space market.

scmp.com · Sep 18

China has gained pace in the space race by recovering rockets –…

China’s private aerospace firm LandSpace successfully recovered the first stage of its Zhuque‑3 rocket using deployable landing legs in Gansu, marking the country’s inaugural ground‑based controlled booster recovery. The achievement follows a series of U.S. milestones, with SpaceX claiming over 600 reusable launches. While China has yet to reuse a booster, the Zhuque‑3 landing demonstrates progress toward cost‑effective reusability and signals the nation’s intent to close the gap with U.S. leaders in commercial spaceflight. The event underscores China’s growing capabilities and its strategic push to become a major player in the global space economy.

💡 The landing shows China’s tangible steps toward reusable launch technology, a key driver of lower launch costs and increased launch cadence. It signals a narrowing performance gap with U.S. competitors, potentially reshaping the competitive dynamics of the commercial space sector.

spacenews.com · Sep 18

Icarus Robotics tests Joy in Canada ahead of ISS flight

Icarus Robotics, a New York‑based startup, completed four parabolic‑flight tests of its free‑flying robot Joy in Canada, accumulating 22 minutes of microgravity operation. The trials validated Joy’s flight controller, sensor suite and dexterous manipulators, and allowed the company to rehearse crew coordination, scheduling and safety protocols ahead of a planned 2027 demonstration aboard the International Space Station. Icarus partnered with former astronaut Chris Hadfield because U.S. providers of parabolic flights are currently unavailable, highlighting a gap in domestic microgravity testing capacity. The company will hand Joy to NASA in January for transport to the ISS, positioning the robot as a prototype for a future “robotic workforce” that could service orbital data centers and assemble lunar infrastructure.

💡 The tests expose a critical shortfall in U.S. microgravity test infrastructure, forcing innovators to seek foreign facilities and potentially slowing the rollout of autonomous space‑service robots.