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ISS Crew Prepares to Send Japan’s HTV-X1 Cargo Spacecraft Back to Earth After Four Months
The Expedition 74 crew aboard the International Space Station is preparing to release Japan’s HTV-X1 cargo spacecraft after four months docked. Using Canadarm2, the vehicle will detach, conduct additional experiments in orbit, and later deorbit, while astronauts continue biology and AI research onboard.
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Space Rocket Crashes in 2025: Why This Year Saw an Unusually High Number of Orbital Launch Failures
A wave of launch failures marked the global space race in 2025, with rockets from the US, China, Japan, India, South Korea and Europe suffering fiery mishaps. From Starship test explosions to failed orbital insertions and crashed lunar landers, setbacks underscored the risks of rapid innovation.
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ISS Astronauts Celebrate Christmas in Orbit, Send Messages to Earth
Astronauts aboard the International Space Station marked Christmas in orbit by sending a warm video message to Earth. Members of Expedition 74 shared festive traditions, reflected on being away from home, and joked about orbiting higher than Santa. The crew highlighted teamwork, global support, and the spirit of togetherness that defines life in sp...
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Japan’s H3 Rocket Suffers Setback as Michibiki 5 Navigation Satellite Launch Fails
The Japanese H3 rocket failed to place the Michibiki 5 satellite in orbit, marking the second launch failure in seven missions.
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International Space Station Makes History As Eight Visiting Spacecraft Simultaneously Dock
In December 2025, the ISS reached a historic milestone with eight visiting spacecraft docked simultaneously for the first time. The lineup included Soyuz crew vehicles, Progress cargo ships, Japan’s HTV-X1, Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus, and two SpaceX Dragons. The rare configuration highlighted intense crew rotation operations and the ISS’s role...
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Venus' Winds Race Around The Planet At Extreme Speeds Due To Solar Heat
New findings suggest that diurnal tides, driven by solar heat, are a major contributor to the extreme speeds of Venus's winds.
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Japan’s Akatsuki Spacecraft Declared Inoperable, Marking End of Dedicated Venus Missions
Japan’s Akatsuki spacecraft, which studied Venus for nearly a decade, has been declared inoperable by JAXA. Successfully orbiting in 2015 after an initial failure, Akatsuki uncovered major insights into Venus’s swirling clouds and atmosphere. Its mission’s end leaves a gap until NASA’s VERITAS and DAVINCI+ missions take over.
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India, Japan Sign Deal For Joint Chandrayaan-5 Mission To Explore Moon's South Pole
India and Japan on Friday signed the implementing arrangement for the Chandrayaan-5 mission, a joint exploration of the polar region of the moon by the space agencies of the two countries.
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Axiom 4 Mission Crew Settles Down at ISS, Begins Conducting Biomedical Research
Crews aboard the ISS carried out crucial biomedical research focused on immunity and muscle function in space. JAXA’s Takuya Onishi and the Ax-4 astronauts contributed to ongoing health studies, while engineers completed maintenance tasks and offloaded cargo from Progress 92. These activities mark another step forward in preparing humans for long...
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Japan Launches Final H-2A Rocket with GOSAT-GW Satellite to Monitor Climate and Oceans
Japan concluded the H-2A rocket program with the launch of the GOSAT-GW satellite, dedicated to monitoring greenhouse gases and sea temperatures. The mission strengthens Japan’s long-term commitment to climate research and marks a transition to the more cost-effective H3 launch system. Over its 25-year lifespan, H-2A recorded 49 successes out of ...
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Japan Committed To Moon Missions As Trump Cuts NASA Budget: JAXA Chief
Japan is ready to support the United States' lower-cost lunar missions, its space agency chief said, after the US administration proposed a $6 billion cut to NASA's budget.
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NASA Astronaut Zena Cardman Appointed to Lead SpaceX Crew-11 Mission to ISS
NASA astronaut Zena Cardman has been selected to command SpaceX’s Crew-11 mission to the ISS. The four-member crew will include Mike Fincke from NASA, Kimiya Yui from JAXA and Oleg Platonov from Roscosmos. Cardman’s appointment follows her removal from the Crew-9 mission after reshuffling to accommodate Boeing’s Starliner crew. This will be t...
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Japan’s First Space Launch of 2025 Sends Michibiki 6 Navigation Satellite into Orbit
Japan launched the Michibiki 6 satellite aboard an H3 rocket from Tanegashima Space Center, marking the country’s first space mission of 2025. The 4,900-kilogram satellite was deployed into a geostationary transfer orbit 29 minutes after liftoff. Michibiki 6 will enhance the Quasi-Zenith Satellite System, improving GPS services in Japan and nearb...
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Japan's Wooden Satellite LignoSat Launched: Everything You Need to Know
Japan has launched LignoSat, the world’s first wooden satellite, into orbit, marking a step toward sustainable space technology. Developed by JAXA, the satellite is crafted from honoki magnolia wood, chosen for its durability and resistance to environmental stress. Sensors onboard will monitor temperature, radiation, and physical strain to assess...
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First Wooden Satellite Deployed Into Earth's Orbit, May Transform Space Exploration
The world's first wooden satellite LignoSat was among the five CubeSats deployed into the Earth's orbit last month, above 400 km above the planet.
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ISS Crew Prepares to Send Japan’s HTV-X1 Cargo Spacecraft Back to Earth After Four Months
The Expedition 74 crew aboard the International Space Station is preparing to release Japan’s HTV-X1 cargo spacecraft after four months docked. Using Canadarm2, the vehicle will detach, conduct additional experiments in orbit, and later deorbit, while astronauts continue biology and AI research onboard.
-
Space Rocket Crashes in 2025: Why This Year Saw an Unusually High Number of Orbital Launch Failures
A wave of launch failures marked the global space race in 2025, with rockets from the US, China, Japan, India, South Korea and Europe suffering fiery mishaps. From Starship test explosions to failed orbital insertions and crashed lunar landers, setbacks underscored the risks of rapid innovation.
-
ISS Astronauts Celebrate Christmas in Orbit, Send Messages to Earth
Astronauts aboard the International Space Station marked Christmas in orbit by sending a warm video message to Earth. Members of Expedition 74 shared festive traditions, reflected on being away from home, and joked about orbiting higher than Santa. The crew highlighted teamwork, global support, and the spirit of togetherness that defines life in sp...
-
Japan’s H3 Rocket Suffers Setback as Michibiki 5 Navigation Satellite Launch Fails
The Japanese H3 rocket failed to place the Michibiki 5 satellite in orbit, marking the second launch failure in seven missions.
-
International Space Station Makes History As Eight Visiting Spacecraft Simultaneously Dock
In December 2025, the ISS reached a historic milestone with eight visiting spacecraft docked simultaneously for the first time. The lineup included Soyuz crew vehicles, Progress cargo ships, Japan’s HTV-X1, Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus, and two SpaceX Dragons. The rare configuration highlighted intense crew rotation operations and the ISS’s role...
-
Venus' Winds Race Around The Planet At Extreme Speeds Due To Solar Heat
New findings suggest that diurnal tides, driven by solar heat, are a major contributor to the extreme speeds of Venus's winds.
-
Japan’s Akatsuki Spacecraft Declared Inoperable, Marking End of Dedicated Venus Missions
Japan’s Akatsuki spacecraft, which studied Venus for nearly a decade, has been declared inoperable by JAXA. Successfully orbiting in 2015 after an initial failure, Akatsuki uncovered major insights into Venus’s swirling clouds and atmosphere. Its mission’s end leaves a gap until NASA’s VERITAS and DAVINCI+ missions take over.
-
India, Japan Sign Deal For Joint Chandrayaan-5 Mission To Explore Moon's South Pole
India and Japan on Friday signed the implementing arrangement for the Chandrayaan-5 mission, a joint exploration of the polar region of the moon by the space agencies of the two countries.
-
Axiom 4 Mission Crew Settles Down at ISS, Begins Conducting Biomedical Research
Crews aboard the ISS carried out crucial biomedical research focused on immunity and muscle function in space. JAXA’s Takuya Onishi and the Ax-4 astronauts contributed to ongoing health studies, while engineers completed maintenance tasks and offloaded cargo from Progress 92. These activities mark another step forward in preparing humans for long...
-
Japan Launches Final H-2A Rocket with GOSAT-GW Satellite to Monitor Climate and Oceans
Japan concluded the H-2A rocket program with the launch of the GOSAT-GW satellite, dedicated to monitoring greenhouse gases and sea temperatures. The mission strengthens Japan’s long-term commitment to climate research and marks a transition to the more cost-effective H3 launch system. Over its 25-year lifespan, H-2A recorded 49 successes out of ...
-
Japan Committed To Moon Missions As Trump Cuts NASA Budget: JAXA Chief
Japan is ready to support the United States' lower-cost lunar missions, its space agency chief said, after the US administration proposed a $6 billion cut to NASA's budget.
-
NASA Astronaut Zena Cardman Appointed to Lead SpaceX Crew-11 Mission to ISS
NASA astronaut Zena Cardman has been selected to command SpaceX’s Crew-11 mission to the ISS. The four-member crew will include Mike Fincke from NASA, Kimiya Yui from JAXA and Oleg Platonov from Roscosmos. Cardman’s appointment follows her removal from the Crew-9 mission after reshuffling to accommodate Boeing’s Starliner crew. This will be t...
-
Japan’s First Space Launch of 2025 Sends Michibiki 6 Navigation Satellite into Orbit
Japan launched the Michibiki 6 satellite aboard an H3 rocket from Tanegashima Space Center, marking the country’s first space mission of 2025. The 4,900-kilogram satellite was deployed into a geostationary transfer orbit 29 minutes after liftoff. Michibiki 6 will enhance the Quasi-Zenith Satellite System, improving GPS services in Japan and nearb...
-
Japan's Wooden Satellite LignoSat Launched: Everything You Need to Know
Japan has launched LignoSat, the world’s first wooden satellite, into orbit, marking a step toward sustainable space technology. Developed by JAXA, the satellite is crafted from honoki magnolia wood, chosen for its durability and resistance to environmental stress. Sensors onboard will monitor temperature, radiation, and physical strain to assess...
-
First Wooden Satellite Deployed Into Earth's Orbit, May Transform Space Exploration
The world's first wooden satellite LignoSat was among the five CubeSats deployed into the Earth's orbit last month, above 400 km above the planet.
