Space Exploration & Science Missions News

SpaceNews.com • Jeff Foust

NASA ends Draper lunar lander effort after major development delays

NASA and Draper have terminated plans for a lunar lander mission following significant delays in development of the spacecraft. The cancellation marks a setback for the program’s timeline and underscores continuing schedule risk in lunar surface systems procurement.

1 Source

2026-07-17T17:10:04.484630-07:00

Payload

NASA awards SpaceX Starlink contract for Artemis III laser communications in LEO

3 Sources

2026-07-17T05:58:32.578049-07:00

NASA

Serbia becomes Artemis Accords signatory as NASA welcomes 69th partner

4 Sources

2026-07-16T15:50:51.949598-07:00

SpaceNews.com

SWISSto12, Apex, Space Pioneer and Impulse Space pull in fresh funding to scale small GEO satellites, high-rate bus production a

10 Sources

2026-07-16T00:04:43.512436-07:00

Space Exploration & Science Missions News Timeline

SpaceNews.com

1 source

NASA ends Draper lunar lander effort after major development delays NASA and Draper have terminated plans for a lunar lander mission following significant delays in development of the spacecraft. The cancellation marks a setback for the program’s timeline and underscores continuing schedule risk in lunar surface systems procurement.

2026-07-17T17:10:04.484630-07:00

NASA ends Draper lunar lander effort after major development delays

Via Satellite

1 source

Sky Perfect JSAT and ispace sign MoU to collaborate on lunar exploration Sky Perfect JSAT has entered a new memorandum of understanding with ispace to pursue collaboration in lunar exploration. The partnership signals closer alignment between a satellite communications operator and a lunar mission company as both look to support the growing demand for reliable space connectivity and mission services.

2026-07-17T12:29:08.410625-07:00

Sky Perfect JSAT and ispace sign MoU to collaborate on lunar exploration

Payload

3 sources

NASA awards SpaceX Starlink contract for Artemis III laser communications in LEO NASA has selected SpaceX to deliver laser communications capabilities for the Artemis III mission using Starlink. The contract supports ship-to-ship communications in low Earth orbit, aiming to improve how Earth-based observers view and monitor planned in-orbit activity in the 2027 timeframe.

2026-07-17T05:58:32.578049-07:00

NASA awards SpaceX Starlink contract for Artemis III laser communications in LEO

NASA

4 sources

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Serbia becomes Artemis Accords signatory as NASA welcomes 69th partner Serbia signed the Artemis Accords on 16 July at a NASA ceremony hosted at the agency’s Washington headquarters, becoming the 69th nation to commit to “peaceful, transparent and responsible” space exploration. The move arrives over two years after Serbia’s original policy alignment with China’s lunar base project.

2026-07-16T15:50:51.949598-07:00

Serbia becomes Artemis Accords signatory as NASA welcomes 69th partner

Space.com

3 sources

Astronomers report the first detected atmosphere around a rocky, Earth-like planet in its star’s habitable zone Researchers say they have identified an atmosphere around a rocky, Earth-like exoplanet orbiting within its star’s habitable zone—described as the first such detection of its kind. The finding marks a major step toward characterizing potentially habitable worlds beyond the solar system.

2026-07-16T11:56:35.708509-07:00

Astronomers report the first detected atmosphere around a rocky, Earth-like planet in its star’s habitable zone

SpaceNews.com

10 sources

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SWISSto12, Apex, Space Pioneer and Impulse Space pull in fresh funding to scale small GEO satellites, high-rate bus production a SWISSto12 closed a $70M Series C to scale “sovereign hardware” for small GEO satellite development. Apex said it raised over $200M and nearly doubled its valuation to $2.3B to ramp productized, configurable satellite bus production. Space Pioneer raised $29M (200M CNY) and Impulse Space secured $500M in a Series D to build in-space mobility infrastructure.

2026-07-16T00:04:43.512436-07:00

SWISSto12, Apex, Space Pioneer and Impulse Space pull in fresh funding to scale small GEO satellites, high-rate bus production a

Space.com

1 source

NASA accelerates Artemis III preparations for 2027 crewed lunar launch on SLS NASA is ramping up preparations for Artemis III, targeting a 2027 launch of its next crewed moon mission. The flight is planned to ride atop the Space Launch System (SLS), and the agency is stepping up work ahead of the astronaut launch next year.

2026-07-15T15:17:08.358902-07:00

NASA accelerates Artemis III preparations for 2027 crewed lunar launch on SLS

Payload

16 sources

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SDA to relaunch PWSA buildout with Falcon 9 launch of 21 York Space Systems data transport satellites after tech fixes The Space Development Agency plans to resume launches after a nine-month pause, sending a second (Tranche 1) batch of 21 York Space Systems transport-layer satellites on a SpaceX Falcon 9 from California. SDA says it implemented tech fixes to restart momentum for its Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) and secure military/ally communications.

2026-07-15T05:52:31.043058-07:00

SDA to relaunch PWSA buildout with Falcon 9 launch of 21 York Space Systems data transport satellites after tech fixes

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