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 [...]

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 [...]

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.

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

At the World Space Business Week conference in Paris, SpaceNews host Mike Gruss interviewed Josef Aschbacher, director‑general of the European Space Agency. Aschbacher outlined Europe’s push for greater sovereignty in space and other domains, highlighting the agency’s current strengths, gaps, and strategic priorities. He discussed new European investments aimed at boosting independence, fostering innovation, and maintaining competitiveness in the global space sector. The conversation underscored ESA’s role in shaping policy and technology for the continent’s future space ambitions. [...]