Three Chinese astronauts have safely returned to Earth in the recently-launched Shenzhou-21 spacecraft after their own spacecraft was declared unsafe.

The post Shenzhou-20 astronauts safely return to Earth on Shenzhou-21 spacecraft after space debris damage concerns appeared first on SpaceNews.

Virgin Galactic says it remains on schedule to complete development of its next-generation suborbital spaceplane and begin commercial flights before the end of 2026.

The post Virgin Galactic on track to begin commercial flights in 2026 appeared first on SpaceNews.

An Atlas 5 rocket sent Viasat’s second ViaSat-3 satellite toward geostationary orbit Nov. 13, bringing the U.S. broadband provider closer to operating a terabit-per-second giant it had hoped to debut six years ago.

The post ULA launches Viasat’s second shot at a terabit-class broadband satellite appeared first on SpaceNews.

SAN FRANCISCO – Canada’s SBQuantum has won an €800,000 ($932,000) European Space Agency contract to deliver a prototype quantum magnetometer for space-based Earth observation. Under the 21-month contract, announced Nov. 14, SBQuantum will upgrade the quantum diamond magnetometer delivered to ESA for testing and evaluation in 2024. The new version of the sensor will be […]

The post Canada’s SBQuantum wins contract to supply ESA magnetometer appeared first on SpaceNews.

Blue Origin successfully launched a NASA Mars mission on the second flight of its New Glenn booster Nov. 13, landing the vehicle’s first stage in the process.

The post New Glenn launches NASA’s ESCAPADE Mars mission, lands booster appeared first on SpaceNews.

Skyloom Global is a Colorado-based provider of space-based optical communications terminals

The post IonQ expands into space networking with acquisition of Skyloom  appeared first on SpaceNews.

Project Kuiper has shed its seven-year-old code name, emerging as Amazon Leo Nov. 13 as the company nears the start of initial broadband services from the low Earth orbit constellation next year.

The post Project Kuiper becomes Amazon Leo ahead of LEO broadband service debut appeared first on SpaceNews.

On its third-quarter earnings call Nov. 12, Firefly executives highlighted the company’s alignment with the Pentagon’s planned “Golden Dome” missile defense initiative

The post Firefly deepens push into defense market after closing SciTec acquisition appeared first on SpaceNews.

Simi Valley, CA — [November 13, 2025] — ESI Motion, a leader in advanced motion and power solutions, proudly announces the release of its next-generation space-rated satellite battery, SatBat, engineered […]

The post ESI Motion Launches “SatBat,” a Revolutionary Space-Rated Battery Set to Redefine Power Systems in Low Earth Orbit appeared first on SpaceNews.

The Middle East is no longer asking whether it should develop domestic space capabilities; it’s deciding with whom it will develop them. If the United States wants to be the country of choice ahead of China, it must create a joint space partnership agreement framework to align American and partner nations’ industry, government and financial […]

The post Countering China’s Space Silk Road: a U.S. partnership model for the Middle East appeared first on SpaceNews.

In this episode of Space Minds, host David Ariosto speaks with Jim Bridenstine, former NASA Administrator and U.S. Congressman, who oversaw the launch of the Artemis program—America’s renewed effort to return astronauts to the Moon.

The post Keeping America first in space appeared first on SpaceNews.

Lux Aeterna is attracting growing interest from across the U.S. government for heat shield technology designed to make satellites fully reusable, securing two partnership agreements since emerging from stealth in June.

The post Lux Aeterna nets US government partnerships for reusable satellite technology appeared first on SpaceNews.

GOLDEN, CO — The surge in megasatellite constellations is creating problems beyond amplifying the Earth-circling space debris, according to new research. Reentering spacecraft and rocket stages may also be damaging Earth’s atmosphere, as well as increasing the risk of space waste hitting the Earth. New research posted to the preprint database ArXiv finds that “space […]

The post ‘Uncontrolled experiment:’ Study links harmful atmospheric metals to spacecraft reentry appeared first on SpaceNews.

As the world prepares to return to the moon, much of the attention remains fixed on the visible frontier: the rockets, landers and orbital stations that will make it possible. Yet the success of this new era in exploration depends on something far less visible — the communications infrastructure that keeps those missions alive once […]

The post Ground truth: Why the lunar program needs its Earthbound network appeared first on SpaceNews.

Relativity Space, a launch startup developing a reusable rocket, has expanded a contract to provide launches for satellite operator SES.

The post SES expands launch contract with Relativity Space appeared first on SpaceNews.

Firefly Aerospace says contamination in a fluid line caused the loss in September of an Alpha first stage being tested for an upcoming launch.

The post Firefly identifies cause of Alpha booster test failure appeared first on SpaceNews.

China issued an airspace closure notice, suggesting preparations for a spacecraft landing days after a suspected debris strike delayed the planned return of Shenzhou-20.

The post Airspace closure suggests China is preparing for a Shenzhou landing after debris impact scare appeared first on SpaceNews.

SAN FRANCISCO – French startup U-Space has raised €24 million ($27.8 million) to expand its role in the small satellite constellation market. With funding from the Series A round, Toulouse-based […]

The post French startup U-Space raises €24 million for smallsat manufacting appeared first on SpaceNews.

The dream of accessible space travel is inching closer to reality. As private companies push the boundaries of space tourism and orbital logistics, the need for strategically located and versatile spaceports is becoming increasingly critical. While established players like Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and Vandenberg Space Force Base hold significant sway, the future of […]

The post The case for a southern launch corridor: Yuma’s role in the future of spaceflight appeared first on SpaceNews.

Two European companies will cooperate on a mission launching next year to demonstrate microgravity research and manufacturing capabilities.

The post European companies to fly commercial microgravity mission in 2026 appeared first on SpaceNews.

An investigation into the loss of a privately operated methane monitoring satellite could not identify a single root cause for the spacecraft’s failure earlier this year.

The post Investigation fails to determine root cause of MethaneSAT failure appeared first on SpaceNews.

The top Democrat on the House Science Committee is demanding that NASA halt efforts to close facilities at the Goddard Space Flight Center, arguing it jeopardizes key agency missions.

The post Top Science Committee Democrat calls for halt to Goddard facility closures appeared first on SpaceNews.

A new shock-and-awe movie might sharpen public concern about American vulnerability to nuclear attack and defense against it. The fictional ”House of Dynamite” shows United States leaders trying to respond to a single bolt-from-the-blue strike. Missile defense fails. The movie could spur real-world interest in better protection. In ”House of Dynamite”, an intercontinental ballistic missile launched from the […]

The post ‘House of Dynamite’ and where U.S. missile defense goes from here appeared first on SpaceNews.

One of the largest antennas in NASA’s Deep Space Network was damaged in September and may be out of service for an extended period, further straining the system.

The post Key antenna in NASA’s Deep Space Network damaged appeared first on SpaceNews.