Space Exploration & Science Missions News

Space.com • Mike Wall

Launch Preview: SpaceX Transporter-17 (81 payloads) plus debut missions Long March 10B and Skyroot’s Vikram-I

SpaceX will fly the Transporter-17 rideshare on July 7 with 81 payloads, including four Canadian Earth-observation satellites. The same week also features debut flight attempts by China’s Long March 10B and India’s Skyroot Aerospace on Vikram-I, alongside additional Falcon 9 missions carrying global commercial payloads into sun-synchronous orbit.

5 Sources

2026-07-06T14:19:46.203510-07:00

Space.com

Superconducting-magnet space thruster completes first orbital tests, enabling possible “solar-powered” propulsion

1 Source

2026-07-06T09:04:46.392562-07:00

Space.com

JWST spots an “unusual” collision-shaped Centaurus A and flags early-universe “little red dots” as potential black-hole hosts

2 Sources

2026-07-06T11:13:49.729102-07:00

Space.com

NASA faces on-orbit servicing challenge for Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO)

2 Sources

2026-07-06T06:09:44.901373-07:00

Space Exploration & Science Missions News Timeline

Space.com

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Launch Preview: SpaceX Transporter-17 (81 payloads) plus debut missions Long March 10B and Skyroot’s Vikram-I SpaceX will fly the Transporter-17 rideshare on July 7 with 81 payloads, including four Canadian Earth-observation satellites. The same week also features debut flight attempts by China’s Long March 10B and India’s Skyroot Aerospace on Vikram-I, alongside additional Falcon 9 missions carrying global commercial payloads into sun-synchronous orbit.

2026-07-06T14:19:46.203510-07:00

Launch Preview: SpaceX Transporter-17 (81 payloads) plus debut missions Long March 10B and Skyroot’s Vikram-I

Space.com

2 sources

JWST spots an “unusual” collision-shaped Centaurus A and flags early-universe “little red dots” as potential black-hole hosts NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope used unprecedented near- and mid-infrared sensitivity to penetrate Centaurus A’s dust lanes, revealing a densely packed, active, and changing galaxy shaped by a cosmic collision. Separate JWST findings identify early-universe “little red dots” that may conceal black holes firing high-energy neutrinos through space.

2026-07-06T11:13:49.729102-07:00

JWST spots an “unusual” collision-shaped Centaurus A and flags early-universe “little red dots” as potential black-hole hosts

Space.com

1 source

Superconducting-magnet space thruster completes first orbital tests, enabling possible “solar-powered” propulsion A superconducting-magnet thruster has completed its first orbital test campaign, demonstrating acceleration without conventional onboard propellant. The approach aims to tap environmental forces and, in the future, use solar power to propel spacecraft, reducing or rethinking traditional fuel needs for on-orbit maneuvering.

2026-07-06T09:04:46.392562-07:00

Superconducting-magnet space thruster completes first orbital tests, enabling possible “solar-powered” propulsion

Space.com

2 sources

NASA faces on-orbit servicing challenge for Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) NASA’s new exoplanet “alien-hunting” telescope, the Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO), will be serviceable once it is on orbit. The move shifts a key implementation question to how NASA will carry out or enable servicing in space.

2026-07-06T06:09:44.901373-07:00

NASA faces on-orbit servicing challenge for Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO)

SpaceNews.com

1 source

BAE Systems’ Endura space microprocessor clears radiation testing for national security spacecraft BAE Systems says its Endura space microprocessor has demonstrated operation in demanding radiation environments relevant to national security spacecraft, clearing a key qualification hurdle for onboard computing. The result targets the needs of military satellite programs seeking higher-performance spaceborne processing.

2026-07-06T06:09:44.338596-07:00

BAE Systems’ Endura space microprocessor clears radiation testing for national security spacecraft

SpaceNews.com

2 sources

Tianwen-2 spacecraft reaches near-Earth asteroid Kamoʻoalewa; first image disclosed China’s Tianwen-2 sample-return spacecraft has arrived at near-Earth asteroid Kamoʻoalewa, with its first image revealing a small, elongated rocky body. The spacecraft’s arrival at the target asteroid marks the initial characterization phase ahead of mission sampling activities.

2026-07-06T02:28:39.342013-07:00

Tianwen-2 spacecraft reaches near-Earth asteroid Kamoʻoalewa; first image disclosed

SpaceWatch Global

1 source

Apophis 2029: DART, Hera and RAMSES showcase how planetary defence is maturing With asteroid Apophis approaching Earth in 2029, DART, Hera and RAMSES are highlighted as key efforts demonstrating how science, enabling technologies and international cooperation are moving planetary defence from concept to capability. The cluster frames coordinated missions as proof of improved detection-to-response readiness.

2026-07-06T01:31:47.058566-07:00

Apophis 2029: DART, Hera and RAMSES showcase how planetary defence is maturing

SpaceNews.com

1 source

ESA selects Airbus Defence and Space to begin work on Aeolus-2 wind-monitoring satellite The European Space Agency has selected Airbus Defence and Space to start work on Aeolus-2, the successor wind-monitoring satellite. The decision moves the program into the early development phase, setting the groundwork for continuity of space-based wind observations.

2026-07-05T08:28:56.291134-07:00

ESA selects Airbus Defence and Space to begin work on Aeolus-2 wind-monitoring satellite

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