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SpaceWatch Global • Joshua Faleti

Rocket Lab to acquire Motiv Space Systems, bringing Mars-proven robotics and precision mechanism capabilities in-house

Rocket Lab has agreed to acquire Motiv Space Systems, a move designed to expand its internal space-robotics portfolio. Motiv is known for multi-degree-of-freedom robotic arms, actuators and drive electronics used on missions including NASA’s Mars Perseverance rover, CADRE lunar rovers and precision scientific-instrument mechanisms.

2026-05-11T06:19:48.716854-07:00

SpaceNews.com

Tianzhou-10 delivers supplies, equipment, experiments and propellant to China’s Tiangong

2026-05-11T04:30:09.956686-07:00

European Spaceflight

Italy completes air-launched suborbital rocket demonstrator test using Aviolancio and T4i HAX25 sounding rocket

2026-05-11T04:30:08.683788-07:00

SpaceNews.com

ESA and JAXA lock in joint Apophis close-flyby mission for 2029

2026-05-10T10:47:18.759164-07:00

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SpaceWatch Global

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Rocket Lab to acquire Motiv Space Systems, bringing Mars-proven robotics and precision mechanism capabilities in-house Rocket Lab has agreed to acquire Motiv Space Systems, a move designed to expand its internal space-robotics portfolio. Motiv is known for multi-degree-of-freedom robotic arms, actuators and drive electronics used on missions including NASA’s Mars Perseverance rover, CADRE lunar rovers and precision scientific-instrument mechanisms.

2026-05-11T06:19:48.716854-07:00

Rocket Lab to acquire Motiv Space Systems, bringing Mars-proven robotics and precision mechanism capabilities in-house

SpaceNews.com

Tianzhou-10 delivers supplies, equipment, experiments and propellant to China’s Tiangong China launched the Tianzhou-10 cargo spacecraft on a Long March 7 Y11 rocket and docked it with the Tiangong space station hours later. The mission is delivering supplies, equipment, experiments, fresh crew support items (including a spacesuit) and propellant to sustain station operations in Earth orbit.

2026-05-11T04:30:09.956686-07:00

Tianzhou-10 delivers supplies, equipment, experiments and propellant to China’s Tiangong

European Spaceflight

Italy completes air-launched suborbital rocket demonstrator test using Aviolancio and T4i HAX25 sounding rocket Italy has successfully completed a suborbital demonstration of its Aviolancio air-launched rocket using a T4i HAX25 sounding rocket. The test underscores progress toward an air-launched approach for fast, flexible suborbital flight campaigns tied to Europe’s growing launch activity.

2026-05-11T04:30:08.683788-07:00

Italy completes air-launched suborbital rocket demonstrator test using Aviolancio and T4i HAX25 sounding rocket

SpaceNews.com

ESA and JAXA lock in joint Apophis close-flyby mission for 2029 ESA and JAXA have finalized an agreement to collaborate on a mission to study the Apophis asteroid during its close Earth flyby in 2029. The partnership formalizes international cooperation on near-Earth asteroid characterization around a high-profile encounter timeline.

2026-05-10T10:47:18.759164-07:00

ESA and JAXA lock in joint Apophis close-flyby mission for 2029

SpaceNews.com

MDA Space keeps building Gateway robotic arm while coordinating with the Canadian Space Agency MDA Space says it is continuing its work on a robotic arm intended for the lunar Gateway as it engages the Canadian Space Agency on the program’s future. The update ties Gateway payload development to the broader pace of MDA activity across space systems and on-orbit capabilities.

2026-05-09T18:04:38.391468-07:00

MDA Space keeps building Gateway robotic arm while coordinating with the Canadian Space Agency

Space.com

Voyager twin spacecraft reach very low power after nearly 50 years—NASA faces an end-of-mission cliff NASA’s Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 are still operating deep in interstellar space, but their power generation is now very low after nearly five decades. The agency’s ability to sustain operations is increasingly uncertain as systems continue to age and margins tighten.

2026-05-09T07:53:09.090996-07:00

Voyager twin spacecraft reach very low power after nearly 50 years—NASA faces an end-of-mission cliff

SpaceNews.com

Swift reboost mission completes environmental testing ahead of June launch for NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory NASA says the spacecraft built to reboost the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory—an astrophysics satellite facing orbital decay—has passed environmental tests and is on track for a June launch. The completed test campaign moves the mission into readiness for the upcoming launch window.

2026-05-08T14:58:34.189612-07:00

Swift reboost mission completes environmental testing ahead of June launch for NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory

Space.com

Blue Origin continues end-to-end testing of its first lunar lander at NASA centers ahead of later-this-year launch Blue Origin is running additional verification activity for its first lunar lander by testing the spacecraft at NASA facilities across the U.S. The work is intended to close remaining readiness items ahead of a lunar launch later this year and support mission preparation for a near-term return to the Moon.

2026-05-08T10:35:36.377115-07:00

Blue Origin continues end-to-end testing of its first lunar lander at NASA centers ahead of later-this-year launch

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Space Exploration & Science Missions News

Rocket Lab to acquire Motiv Space Systems, bringing Mars-proven robotics and precision mechanism capabilities in-house

Tianzhou-10 delivers supplies, equipment, experiments and propellant to China’s Tiangong

Italy completes air-launched suborbital rocket demonstrator test using Aviolancio and T4i HAX25 sounding rocket

ESA and JAXA lock in joint Apophis close-flyby mission for 2029

News Timeline