News

New York Times • Kenneth Chang

NASA’s Swift Observatory orbital rescue: Katalyst Space Tech mission to be air-launched on Northrop Grumman’s Pegasus XL from a

NASA and Katalyst Space Technologies will launch an orbital-servicing mission on June 30, 2026 to arrest the atmospheric decay of the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory. The Pegasus XL rocket will be released from a Lockheed L-1011 TriStar Stargazer on a racetrack approach from Kwajalein Atoll—its final operational flight.

2026-06-29T10:55:39.248124-07:00

Space.com

ISS Expedition 74 astronauts to perform June 30 spacewalk to repair Canadarm2 robotic arm

2026-06-29T13:11:04.295684-07:00

SpaceNews.com

NASA and ESA advance lunar-surface capability planning with industry input and Argonaut mapping data strategy

2026-06-29T08:29:09.385236-07:00

Payload

NASA ISS Risk Margin Warned ‘Alarming’ as 2030 Extension Date Nears

2026-06-29T05:42:51.690099-07:00

News Timeline

Space.com

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ISS Expedition 74 astronauts to perform June 30 spacewalk to repair Canadarm2 robotic arm NASA astronaut Chris Williams and ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot prepare for a June 30 EVA to fix the International Space Station’s Canadarm2. Expedition 74 crew completed spacesuit configuration and procedure reviews, with the three cosmonauts continuing servicing of Roscosmos scientific, electronics, and life-support systems throughout Monday.

2026-06-29T13:11:04.295684-07:00

ISS Expedition 74 astronauts to perform June 30 spacewalk to repair Canadarm2 robotic arm

New York Times

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NASA’s Swift Observatory orbital rescue: Katalyst Space Tech mission to be air-launched on Northrop Grumman’s Pegasus XL from a NASA and Katalyst Space Technologies will launch an orbital-servicing mission on June 30, 2026 to arrest the atmospheric decay of the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory. The Pegasus XL rocket will be released from a Lockheed L-1011 TriStar Stargazer on a racetrack approach from Kwajalein Atoll—its final operational flight.

2026-06-29T10:55:39.248124-07:00

NASA’s Swift Observatory orbital rescue: Katalyst Space Tech mission to be air-launched on Northrop Grumman’s Pegasus XL from a

SpaceNews.com

NASA and ESA advance lunar-surface capability planning with industry input and Argonaut mapping data strategy NASA is seeking industry input to accelerate development of lunar surface technologies, including in-situ resource utilization oxygen production, surface power, in-space manufacturing tools, and advanced nanomaterials. Separately, ESA says it will use external lunar topographic data for the Argonaut lunar lander’s design and possibly early missions while building its own lunar mapping capability for later flights.

2026-06-29T08:29:09.385236-07:00

NASA and ESA advance lunar-surface capability planning with industry input and Argonaut mapping data strategy

Payload

NASA ISS Risk Margin Warned ‘Alarming’ as 2030 Extension Date Nears A NASA advisory committee chair says the International Space Station’s risk margin for regular operations has fallen to an “alarming” level as time runs out to sustain the ISS in orbit. The warning comes with NASA nearing its 2030 extension target date.

2026-06-29T05:42:51.690099-07:00

NASA ISS Risk Margin Warned ‘Alarming’ as 2030 Extension Date Nears

Ars Technica

NASA’s X-59 “frankenjet” completes quiet-supersonic flight test campaign, aiming for future national tour without sonic boom NASA says its X-59 “frankenjet” test flights are designed to enable quiet supersonic operations by mitigating the sonic boom impact. The agency describes the tests as a stepping stone toward potential follow-on public/region demonstrations, including a future national tour.

2026-06-29T03:41:38.412018-07:00

NASA’s X-59 “frankenjet” completes quiet-supersonic flight test campaign, aiming for future national tour without sonic boom

SpaceWatch Global

NASA funds Max Space to accelerate testing of expandable lunar habitat technology for sustained lunar surface missions NASA has selected Max Space for funding aimed at accelerating testing of its expandable habitat technology. The effort targets future human lunar surface applications, supporting development of a permanent lunar presence by validating deployable habitation approaches through earlier and faster technology testing.

2026-06-29T00:06:44.551000-07:00

NASA funds Max Space to accelerate testing of expandable lunar habitat technology for sustained lunar surface missions

NASA Spaceflight

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Euclid expands survey work to backfill Milky Way center observations ahead of Roman Space Telescope launch Euclid has been operating outside its regular survey in support of NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope’s exoplanet program. The Roman observatory has arrived at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, where technicians will prepare it for a SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch no earlier than Aug. 30.

2026-06-28T14:55:25.575585-07:00

Euclid expands survey work to backfill Milky Way center observations ahead of Roman Space Telescope launch

European Spaceflight

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NASA delivers first braking engines for ESA Rosalind Franklin Mars mission; RHU procurement remains a gating item NASA has delivered the first braking engines for ESA’s Rosalind Franklin Mars mission, advancing key hardware needed for the spacecraft’s Mars entry and descent profile. Separate work continues to secure the required RHUs (radioisotope heater units), keeping power-system qualification on the critical path.

2026-06-26T07:56:36.020069-07:00

NASA delivers first braking engines for ESA Rosalind Franklin Mars mission; RHU procurement remains a gating item

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NASA News

NASA’s Swift Observatory orbital rescue: Katalyst Space Tech mission to be air-launched on Northrop Grumman’s Pegasus XL from a

ISS Expedition 74 astronauts to perform June 30 spacewalk to repair Canadarm2 robotic arm

NASA and ESA advance lunar-surface capability planning with industry input and Argonaut mapping data strategy

NASA ISS Risk Margin Warned ‘Alarming’ as 2030 Extension Date Nears

News Timeline