Space Exploration & Science Missions News

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Casey Dreier wins 2025 Icon Award for defending NASA science amid sweeping budget cuts

Casey Dreier received the 2025 Icon Award for Individual Achievement on Dec. 2 in recognition of his public advocacy defending NASA science funding amid sweeping budget cuts, underscoring the role of policy engagement in protecting planetary science and other research programs facing reductions.

2025-12-02T16:08:46.954095-08:00

Space.com

German named first European astronaut slated to fly to the Moon

2025-12-01T12:08:57.835785-08:00

Space Intel Report

ESA secures record €22.1bn at Bremen ministerial, delivering 99% of proposed €22.25bn

2025-11-27T03:42:31.985160-08:00

SpaceNews.com

ESA secures record €22bn ministerial package, but exploration programmes face funding shortfalls

2025-11-27T12:22:30.681208-08:00

Space Exploration & Science Missions News Timeline

Universe Today

JWST spots Milky Way–like spiral 'Alaknanda' just 1.5 billion years after the Big Bang Using JWST imaging amplified by gravitational lensing, researchers — including two Indian astronomers — identified a fully formed spiral galaxy, Alaknanda, just 1.5 billion years after the Big Bang; its ordered disk, sweeping arms and rapid star formation contradict slow, chaotic early-assembly models.

2025-12-03T12:05:47.420049-08:00

JWST spots Milky Way–like spiral 'Alaknanda' just 1.5 billion years after the Big Bang

NASA

Perseverance confirms electrical discharges and shock waves inside Martian dust devils NASA's Perseverance rover has confirmed that electrical discharges — 'mini‑lightning' — and associated shock waves can originate within Martian dust devils, detecting sparks and pressure disturbances in Jezero Crater. Video captured multiple dust devils while onboard instruments recorded shock signatures, validating a long‑suspected phenomenon.

2025-12-03T09:04:55.505370-08:00

Perseverance confirms electrical discharges and shock waves inside Martian dust devils

Ars Technica

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Study: More than 500,000 planned satellites could wreck space-telescope images by 2040, Hubble already affected Simulations show more than half a million satellites scheduled for launch by the end of the 2030s will severely degrade space-based astronomy—already producing streaks and artifacts in Hubble images—and could cause satellites to cross nearly every exposure from future orbiting telescopes by about 2040.

2025-12-03T08:42:40.926999-08:00

Study: More than 500,000 planned satellites could wreck space-telescope images by 2040, Hubble already affected

Space.com

ESA confirms industrial partners for Argonaut lunar lander; Nammo UK to supply main engine for 2030 mission ESA and prime integrator Thales Alenia Space have picked industrial partners for the Argonaut robotic lunar lander, confirming Nammo UK will supply the main propulsion engine. The lander is targeted for a first mission in 2030 to support NASA’s Artemis programme; the deal was signed 20 November in Cologne.

2025-12-03T08:04:42.446964-08:00

ESA confirms industrial partners for Argonaut lunar lander; Nammo UK to supply main engine for 2030 mission

Universe Today

ESA study maps strict discovery and geometry requirements to intercept a future interstellar visitor A paper by Prof. Colin Snodgrass and colleagues defines the narrow discovery-to-launch timing, orbital geometry and brightness conditions an ESA mission would need to intercept a future interstellar object or a comet making its first inner‑solar‑system pass. It evaluates the likelihood of locating a suitable target within a realistic launch window.

2025-12-03T04:05:09.947683-08:00

ESA study maps strict discovery and geometry requirements to intercept a future interstellar visitor

SpaceNews.com

Antares raises $96M Series B to develop small nuclear reactors for Earth and space Antares, a nuclear power startup, announced a $96 million Series B on Dec. 2 to fund development of small nuclear reactors. The financing will advance the company’s work on compact reactors intended for terrestrial energy use and power systems for space missions.

2025-12-03T03:23:59.670796-08:00

Antares raises $96M Series B to develop small nuclear reactors for Earth and space

SpaceNews.com

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Casey Dreier wins 2025 Icon Award for defending NASA science amid sweeping budget cuts Casey Dreier received the 2025 Icon Award for Individual Achievement on Dec. 2 in recognition of his public advocacy defending NASA science funding amid sweeping budget cuts, underscoring the role of policy engagement in protecting planetary science and other research programs facing reductions.

2025-12-02T16:08:46.954095-08:00

Casey Dreier wins 2025 Icon Award for defending NASA science amid sweeping budget cuts

SpaceNews.com

Blue Ghost wins 2025 Icon Award — a vindication for NASA's CLPS and a commercial victory for Firefly NASA's Blue Ghost lunar lander was awarded the 2025 Icon Award for Commercial Space Achievement on Dec. 2, an industry accolade recognizing the mission's performance. The prize is being framed as a vindication of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) approach and a business win for Firefly Aerospace.

2025-12-02T16:08:42.901249-08:00

Blue Ghost wins 2025 Icon Award — a vindication for NASA's CLPS and a commercial victory for Firefly

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