NASA News

Associated Press • Marcia Dunn

Link satellite rescue mission for NASA’s Swift Observatory hits attitude control failures after reaction wheel and thruster prob

Katalyst Space Technologies’ Link spacecraft—launched nearly a month ago to reboost NASA’s Swift Observatory—has developed attitude control issues. Preliminary findings indicate two of three reaction wheels are not operable, and Link has also encountered thruster problems, leading to an uncontrolled spin that is disrupting communications.

4 Sources

2026-07-28T14:41:42.119420-07:00

Space.com

NASA loads fuel for Roman Space Telescope ahead of August launch

1 Source

2026-07-28T14:13:01.747040-07:00

SpaceNews.com

NASA selects Advanced Space to fly successor to CAPSTONE for cislunar rendezvous and proximity testing

2 Sources

2026-07-28T05:22:11.627763-07:00

Ars Technica

NASA says thermal-protection research has seen limited investment for decades, underscoring reusability and heat-shield challeng

1 Source

2026-07-27T11:38:07.089625-07:00

NASA News Timeline

Associated Press

4 sources

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Link satellite rescue mission for NASA’s Swift Observatory hits attitude control failures after reaction wheel and thruster prob Katalyst Space Technologies’ Link spacecraft—launched nearly a month ago to reboost NASA’s Swift Observatory—has developed attitude control issues. Preliminary findings indicate two of three reaction wheels are not operable, and Link has also encountered thruster problems, leading to an uncontrolled spin that is disrupting communications.

2026-07-28T14:41:42.119420-07:00

Link satellite rescue mission for NASA’s Swift Observatory hits attitude control failures after reaction wheel and thruster prob

Space.com

1 source

NASA loads fuel for Roman Space Telescope ahead of August launch NASA has secured the fuel supply for its next-generation Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, positioning the observatory for an August launch. The fueling milestone advances Roman’s final countdown work, building on its recent arrival at Kennedy Space Center for prelaunch servicing.

2026-07-28T14:13:01.747040-07:00

NASA loads fuel for Roman Space Telescope ahead of August launch

Payload

1 source

White House sets sweeping vision for U.S. R&D enterprise with major implications for space science The White House released a broad strategy for America’s R&D enterprise, outlining priorities that carry direct downstream implications for how space science programs are funded, structured, and scaled. The plan’s scope signals potential shifts in research focus areas, timelines, and coordination across relevant space science stakeholders.

2026-07-28T10:37:00.409004-07:00

White House sets sweeping vision for U.S. R&D enterprise with major implications for space science

SpaceNews.com

2 sources

NASA selects Advanced Space to fly successor to CAPSTONE for cislunar rendezvous and proximity testing NASA has selected Advanced Space to build and fly a successor mission to CAPSTONE, targeting cislunar smallsats. The effort will test rendezvous and proximity operations around the Moon, validating mission techniques needed for future lunar logistics and more complex spacecraft interactions.

2026-07-28T05:22:11.627763-07:00

NASA selects Advanced Space to fly successor to CAPSTONE for cislunar rendezvous and proximity testing

Ars Technica

1 source

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NASA says thermal-protection research has seen limited investment for decades, underscoring reusability and heat-shield challeng Despite recent breakthroughs, the path to frequent, rapid reuse—such as SpaceX’s Starship approach—remains constrained by re-entry/thermal protection gaps. NASA indicates thermal protection research has not received substantial investment for decades, raising questions about the technical depth behind next-generation reusability timelines.

2026-07-27T11:38:07.089625-07:00

NASA says thermal-protection research has seen limited investment for decades, underscoring reusability and heat-shield challeng

Universe Today

2 sources

NASA’s Habitable Worlds Observatory: from concept to detailed “Great Observatory” plan for characterizing potentially habitable NASA outlines the development of the Habitable Worlds Observatory as the next “Great Observatory,” moving from earlier proposal stage to a more defined mission plan. The focus: observing and characterizing potentially habitable exoplanets, building on multi-year work to define objectives and approach.

2026-07-27T09:36:45.852099-07:00

NASA’s Habitable Worlds Observatory: from concept to detailed “Great Observatory” plan for characterizing potentially habitable

SpaceNews.com

1 source

Blue Origin to test New Glenn upper stages at NASA Stennis Space Center Blue Origin says it will use NASA’s Stennis Space Center to test New Glenn upper stages as it rebuilds its Cape Canaveral launch complex. The move shifts part of New Glenn’s development and validation work to Stennis infrastructure while Blue Origin continues ground-site recovery and integration planning.

2026-07-27T04:10:19.467774-07:00

Blue Origin to test New Glenn upper stages at NASA Stennis Space Center

Associated Press

28 sources

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Soyuz MS-28 brings U.S.-Russian ISS crew back after 241 days; Expedition 74 ends with Kazakhstan landing Roscosmos and NASA confirmed the Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft returned safely on July 26, 2026, bringing Expedition 74’s joint U.S.-Russian crew—NASA astronaut Chris Williams plus Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev—down to Kazakhstan after 241 days aboard the ISS. Expedition 75 is set to run into spring 2027.

2026-07-26T03:50:38.679958-07:00

Soyuz MS-28 brings U.S.-Russian ISS crew back after 241 days; Expedition 74 ends with Kazakhstan landing