Astronomers using NASA's Chandra X-ray spacecraft have captured the most detailed image yet of a jet erupting from the supermassive black hole at the center of the galaxy Messier 87 (M87). This black hole, with a mass 6.5 billion times that of the sun, was the first to be imaged by humanity in 2019. The X-ray image reveals a complex flow of material through the jets, with some structures moving at speeds that appear to be five [...]

A NASA investigation into a Deep Space Network (DSN) antenna mishap in Goldstone, California, has identified poor training and procedures as the primary causes of the incident. The 70-meter DSN antenna suffered damage when it over-rotated, resulting in $4.1-$4.6 million in damage. The investigation found six critical events leading up to the mishap, including inadequate training, procedures, and a reliance on undocumented behaviors. The incident has led to 20 recommendations, including improving training and procedures to prevent [...]

SpaceX will launch three giant direct-to-cell satellites, BlueBird 8, 9, and 10, from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on June 17, during a 96-minute window. The satellites, built by AST SpaceMobile, will form part of a constellation that beams internet service directly to cell phones. This is the company's eighth launch, and it will quadruple the number of next-generation satellites in low Earth orbit. The launch will be carried out using a Falcon 9 rocket, which [...]

PiLogic, a Los Angeles-based startup, has partnered with the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory to test its artificial intelligence software for predicting satellite faults. The two-year agreement will use an AFRL cubeSat launched in 2022 as a platform to evaluate PiLogic's software, which analyzes onboard sensor data to detect anomalies and predict potential failure modes. The company's software aims to provide engineers with an explainable understanding of spacecraft behavior, rather than simply generating alerts. This approach could [...]

SpaceX has surpassed Amazon as the fifth-most valuable company in the world, with a valuation of $2.7 trillion following a 20% stock price increase on Monday and an 8% rise in early trading Tuesday. The company's valuation has grown by $1 trillion since its initial public offering (IPO) on Friday, despite a $4.9 billion loss on $18.7 billion in revenue last year. SpaceX's recent acquisition of AI coding startup Cursor for $60 billion and compute leasing deals [...]

Katalyst Space Technologies has raised $12 million for a geosynchronous orbit demonstration mission. The funding will support development of its first Nexus spacecraft, scheduled to launch in 2027 on an Ariane 6. Nexus-1 will approach a U.S. Space Force satellite and install a space domain awareness sensor, then conduct additional rendezvous operations. This mission follows the upcoming launch of its Link spacecraft, which will raise the orbit of NASA's Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory. The Link spacecraft is [...]

A Blue Origin New Glenn rocket exploded violently during a hot-fire test at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in late May 2026. The incident occurred shortly after the rocket's seven BE-4 engines ignited, resulting in a costly failure. The explosion is expected to have significant repercussions for the Artemis program, which relies on Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket for future missions. The incident raises concerns about the program's ability to meet its 2028 deadline for landing humans [...]