Space Exploration & Science Missions News

Ars Technica • Eric Berger

SpaceX Starship V3 Super Heavy booster B18 explodes during pressure test at Starbase, delaying upgrade timeline

During a Nov. 21, 2025 pressure proof test at Starbase, SpaceX’s first Version 3 Super Heavy booster (B18) suffered a visible detonation; there were no injuries. The anomaly will delay rollout of Starship v3 upgrades and compress the program’s planned launch cadence and testing schedule.

2025-11-21T04:25:09.639866-08:00

Space.com

JWST may have detected the universe’s first stars in a lensed source (LAP1‑B)

2025-11-18T14:12:16.869410-08:00

Spaceflight Now

Blue Origin's New Glenn lofts NASA's ESCAPADE to Mars and lands reusable booster at sea

2025-11-13T14:54:35.583881-08:00

NASA Spaceflight

Sentinel‑6B launched on Falcon 9 from Vandenberg to extend decades‑long sea‑level record

2025-11-16T13:11:26.427821-08:00

Space Exploration & Science Missions News Timeline

SpaceNews.com

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ESA selects Thales Alenia Space‑led all‑European consortium for €600M Argonaut lunar lander ESA selected a Thales Alenia Space‑led all‑European consortium to build Argonaut, a €600 million uncrewed lunar cargo lander to secure Europe’s autonomous access to the Moon. Contracts assign system integration, propulsion, GNC and data handling for a vehicle of roughly 10 tonnes and 6 m, applying lessons from past crashes.

2025-11-21T09:09:12.318971-08:00

ESA selects Thales Alenia Space‑led all‑European consortium for €600M Argonaut lunar lander

Ars Technica

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SpaceX Starship V3 Super Heavy booster B18 explodes during pressure test at Starbase, delaying upgrade timeline During a Nov. 21, 2025 pressure proof test at Starbase, SpaceX’s first Version 3 Super Heavy booster (B18) suffered a visible detonation; there were no injuries. The anomaly will delay rollout of Starship v3 upgrades and compress the program’s planned launch cadence and testing schedule.

2025-11-21T04:25:09.639866-08:00

SpaceX Starship V3 Super Heavy booster B18 explodes during pressure test at Starbase, delaying upgrade timeline

Space.com

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JWST Detects Rapidly Feeding Supermassive Black Hole in the Infant Universe, Challenging Formation Models NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has detected a supermassive black hole actively accreting in the infant universe, a finding that contradicts prevailing formation scenarios. The observation of rapid feeding at such early epochs challenges our understanding of black hole and galaxy co-evolution and the timeline of structure formation.

2025-11-20T13:10:21.138902-08:00

JWST Detects Rapidly Feeding Supermassive Black Hole in the Infant Universe, Challenging Formation Models

NASA

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Orion stacked on SLS as NASA completes major Artemis II integration milestone ahead of early‑2026 crewed flight NASA stacked the Orion crew module atop the Space Launch System and used Exploration Ground Systems cranes to secure it, completing a major integration milestone. The assembly advances Artemis II toward a crewed flight targeted for early 2026, no later than April.

2025-11-20T09:32:06.016805-08:00

Orion stacked on SLS as NASA completes major Artemis II integration milestone ahead of early‑2026 crewed flight

kold.com

University of Arizona to lead mission probing galaxy formation and evolution The University of Arizona will lead a new space science mission to probe galaxy formation and evolution, aiming to redefine academic space research and advance understanding of cosmic structure. The mission will deploy targeted observations and instrumentation developed by university teams to push scientific and technological boundaries.

2025-11-20T00:24:51.985439-08:00

University of Arizona to lead mission probing galaxy formation and evolution

NASA Spaceflight

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SpaceX tears down Starbase Pad 1 to fast‑track Block 3 upgrades as FAA clears 25 Starship launches in 2025 SpaceX is demolishing Starbase Pad 1 to build taller, multi‑engine Block 3 Starships and is upgrading pads across Starbase, Pad 2 and KSC. An FAA clearance for 25 Starship launches in 2025 enables orbital‑refueling and booster‑catch demos and a stepped‑up test cadence.

2025-11-19T20:49:05.434696-08:00

SpaceX tears down Starbase Pad 1 to fast‑track Block 3 upgrades as FAA clears 25 Starship launches in 2025

Ars Technica

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Startup Racing SpaceX to Mars Accused of Unsafe, Amateur Practices A private startup racing SpaceX to Mars faces allegations its development and launch practices are unsafe and amateurish, with employees saying “we knew better as untrained college students.” Regulators and industry observers are reportedly scrutinizing the program’s technical and procedural readiness for interplanetary flight.

2025-11-19T13:06:11.641085-08:00

Startup Racing SpaceX to Mars Accused of Unsafe, Amateur Practices

tectonicdefense.com

Interlune wins $1.25M AFWERX SBIR to double U.S. helium‑3 supply for quantum R&D Interlune has won a $1.25 million AFWERX Direct-to-Phase II SBIR to develop a system that separates helium‑3 from domestic helium, a process the company says could double the U.S. annual supply of the rare isotope to support quantum R&D and defense-related programs.

2025-11-19T08:27:53.265253-08:00

Interlune wins $1.25M AFWERX SBIR to double U.S. helium‑3 supply for quantum R&D

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