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Reuters • Laurie CHEN

China vows space tourism within five years as it escalates commercial and deep‑space push

China’s primary space contractor told state media it will develop space tourism within five years, part of a broader push to scale commercial human spaceflight and accelerate deep‑space exploration. The pledge underscores Beijing’s intensifying technology and capability competition with the United States.

2026-01-28T22:01:22.894688-08:00

Space.com

NASA accelerates SpaceX Crew‑12; crew begins two‑week quarantine ahead of Feb. 11 liftoff

2026-01-28T15:14:50.310306-08:00

Space.com

Hubble and NASA probe track interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, revealing jets, an anti‑tail and spin

2026-01-28T14:06:17.868783-08:00

Universe Today

AES Andes abandons solar–wind project near Paranal after protests, preserving ESO night skies

2026-01-28T13:44:20.593513-08:00

News Timeline

Reuters

China vows space tourism within five years as it escalates commercial and deep‑space push China’s primary space contractor told state media it will develop space tourism within five years, part of a broader push to scale commercial human spaceflight and accelerate deep‑space exploration. The pledge underscores Beijing’s intensifying technology and capability competition with the United States.

2026-01-28T22:01:22.894688-08:00

China vows space tourism within five years as it escalates commercial and deep‑space push

Space.com

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NASA accelerates SpaceX Crew‑12; crew begins two‑week quarantine ahead of Feb. 11 liftoff NASA's four‑person SpaceX Crew‑12 team began a routine two‑week quarantine at Johnson Space Center as the agency advances the mission to Feb. 11 from Feb. 15. The multinational flight — including a Roscosmos cosmonaut — will serve as a relief crew after a station medical evacuation.

2026-01-28T15:14:50.310306-08:00

NASA accelerates SpaceX Crew‑12; crew begins two‑week quarantine ahead of Feb. 11 liftoff

Space.com

Hubble and NASA probe track interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, revealing jets, an anti‑tail and spin On Jan. 22, 2026 Hubble observed interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS nearly aligned with the Sun–Earth line, exposing unprecedented jet structures and an extended anti‑tail. Simultaneously a NASA exoplanet probe tracked the visitor to measure its spin and activity as it departs the inner solar system.

2026-01-28T14:06:17.868783-08:00

Hubble and NASA probe track interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, revealing jets, an anti‑tail and spin

Universe Today

AES Andes abandons solar–wind project near Paranal after protests, preserving ESO night skies AES Andes has dropped plans for a large solar and wind complex sited just kilometres from Chile’s Paranal Observatory after months of protests led by Nobel laureate Reinhard Genzel. The withdrawal preserves the pristine night skies that enable the European Southern Observatory’s most powerful ground-based telescopes.

2026-01-28T13:44:20.593513-08:00

AES Andes abandons solar–wind project near Paranal after protests, preserving ESO night skies

SpaceNews.com

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China to accelerate 2026 launch cadence with crewed-lunar tests, moon mission and reusable‑rocket trials China plans a stepped‑up 2026 space manifest aiming for a record launch cadence while conducting tests tied to a future crewed lunar program, flying a major lunar mission and validating reusable‑rocket technologies — signalling a push toward operational lunar capability and higher domestic launch tempo.

2026-01-28T06:59:08.523252-08:00

China to accelerate 2026 launch cadence with crewed-lunar tests, moon mission and reusable‑rocket trials

SpaceNews.com

NOAA solar observatory reaches Sun–Earth Lagrange point L1 NOAA's new solar observatory has reached the Sun–Earth Lagrange point L1, completing its transfer and assuming its on‑station position. The spacecraft will provide continuous sunward observations to support space‑weather monitoring, research, and operational services that inform satellite and aviation risk management.

2026-01-27T21:45:44.719478-08:00

NOAA solar observatory reaches Sun–Earth Lagrange point L1

Space.com

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Challenger 40 Years On: Engineers' O‑Ring Warnings Ignored and Cultural Failures Echo into the Artemis Era On Jan. 28, 1986 the space shuttle Challenger broke apart 73 seconds after liftoff, killing seven crew members, including teacher Christa McAuliffe. Engineers had warned that cold weather risked O‑ring failure; investigations exposed cultural and management flaws at NASA, reforms followed but concerns linger into the Artemis era.

2026-01-27T21:14:59.991165-08:00

Challenger 40 Years On: Engineers' O‑Ring Warnings Ignored and Cultural Failures Echo into the Artemis Era

orbitaltoday.com

Engineered biofilms: a case for harnessing microbial communities to support long‑duration missions An international study published in npj Biofilms and Microbiomes argues biofilms—microbial communities usually targeted for removal—should be engineered, not eliminated, aboard spacecraft. Researchers outline how managed biofilms could protect crew health, support crop systems and reshape microbiome management for Moon and Mars missions.

2026-01-27T17:13:43.899192-08:00

Engineered biofilms: a case for harnessing microbial communities to support long‑duration missions

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Space Exploration & Science Missions News

China vows space tourism within five years as it escalates commercial and deep‑space push

NASA accelerates SpaceX Crew‑12; crew begins two‑week quarantine ahead of Feb. 11 liftoff

Hubble and NASA probe track interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, revealing jets, an anti‑tail and spin

AES Andes abandons solar–wind project near Paranal after protests, preserving ESO night skies

News Timeline