Spaceflight

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  Starlink Constellation Crosses 10,600 Satellites After Latest SpaceX Launch

  A Falcon 9 rocket launched 24 Starlink satellites from California, expanding the constellation beyond 10,600 spacecraft. The mission also brought booster B1071 within one flight of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 reusability record.

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  NASA Plans Giant Moon Base at Lunar South Pole for Artemis Era

  NASA plans to build a vast lunar base near the Moon’s south pole during the 2030s. Water ice, near-constant sunlight, drones, and advanced rovers could support long-term human settlement under the Artemis program.

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  Scientists Discover New Fuel-Saving Route to the Moon

  A new study has revealed a fuel-efficient path to the Moon using hidden gravitational corridors in space. The route saves propellant, lowers mission costs, and maintains continuous communication with Earth, potentially improving future lunar missions.

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  NASA, SpaceX Delay ISS Mission Launch Due to Bad Weather

  NASA and SpaceX have delayed the Crew-12 mission to the International Space Station because of unfavorable weather expected at Cape Canaveral. The launch is now targeted for February 12, with four astronauts waiting in quarantine as teams prepare the Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon spacecraft for the next launch window.

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  Blue Origin Halts New Shepard Space Tourism for at Least Two Years

  Blue Origin has announced a temporary halt to flights of its New Shepard spacecraft, pausing its suborbital space tourism business for at least two years. The company says the decision will free resources to accelerate development of its Blue Moon lunar lander for NASA’s Artemis programme, including robotic tests and a planned crewed Moon landing...

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  NASA Confirms Axiom Mission 5 Private Astronaut Launch to ISS in Early 2027

  NASA has selected Axiom Space to conduct its fifth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station. Launching in early 2027, Axiom Mission 5 will carry up to four private astronauts for a two-week stay, supporting NASA’s push toward a commercial future in low Earth orbit.

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  NASA, SpaceX Move Up Crew-12 Launch After ISS Medical Emergency

  NASA and SpaceX have moved the Crew-12 launch to Feb. 11, 2026, following the first-ever medical evacuation from the ISS. The early launch will replenish the station’s crew after it was left with just three astronauts, ensuring safe operations and continuity of research.

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  NASA Astronaut Sunita Williams Retires After 27 Years of Space Service

  NASA astronaut Sunita “Suni” Williams will retire in December 2025 after nearly three decades of service. A veteran of three space missions, she logged 608 days in orbit, led the ISS twice, and set records that continue to shape human spaceflight and future Artemis missions.

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  Celestis to Send Human Ashes Beyond the Moon on Deep-Space Memorial Flight in 2026

  Celestis, a Texas-based pioneer of space memorial services, is preparing its next deep-space mission, Infinite Flight, scheduled for late 2026. Launched aboard Stoke Space’s fully reusable Nova rocket from Cape Canaveral, the mission will carry cremated remains and DNA samples beyond the Moon into a permanent solar orbit. Part of Celestis’s Voy...

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  Russia Patents Rotating Space Station Concept to Generate Artificial Gravity in Orbit

  Russia’s Energia rocket company has patented a rotating space station concept designed to generate artificial gravity for astronauts. The system would use spinning habitable modules to simulate half of Earth’s gravity, potentially reducing health risks linked to long missions as the International Space Station nears retirement.

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  Woman Engineer Becomes 1st Wheelchair User To Fly To Space On Blue Origin

  A German woman engineer on Saturday became the first wheelchair user to blast into space, taking a brief ride on a Blue Origin flight.

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  Rocket Lab Clears Final Tests for New 'Hungry Hippo' Fairing on Neutron Rocket

  Rocket Lab has completed final qualification tests on its innovative “Hungry Hippo” fairing for the Neutron rocket, a reusable design that stays attached during flight and closes again for recovery. This breakthrough brings the company closer to Neutron’s planned 2026 debut and marks a major step in reducing launch costs in an increasingly co...

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  China to Launch Empty Shenzhou-22 Lifeboat After Shenzhou-20 Damage

  After debris punctured a window on the Shenzhou-20 spacecraft, China will launch an uncrewed Shenzhou-22 lifeboat to Tiangong to protect its crew. The capsule will deliver supplies and guarantee a safe return, highlighting growing orbital-debris dangers and echoing similar past incidents such as Russia’s Soyuz MS-22 failure.

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  Galactic Energy Ceres-1 Mission Fails to Reach Orbit in Rare Setback

  In November 2025, China’s Galactic Energy suffered a setback when its Ceres-1 rocket failed to reach orbit, losing three satellites launched from Jiuquan. The premature engine cutoff ended the mission early. Despite the failure, the company has pledged improvements to enhance the reliability and performance of future commercial launches.

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  India Nears Human Spaceflight Goal with Successful Gaganyaan Parachute Drop

  India achieved a major step toward its first human spaceflight as ISRO successfully tested the Gaganyaan capsule’s parachute system. Dropped from a 2.5 km altitude, the 7.2-tonne dummy module deployed its 10 chutes flawlessly, ensuring a safe descent even under off-nominal conditions. This success validates a key safety system for crewed missions...