Space News

Moon Space Exploration & Science Missions Commercial Space NASA

European Spaceflight • Andrew Parsonson

NASA JPL, Firefly complete preliminary design review for Elytra lunar transit spacecraft

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Firefly Aerospace have completed a preliminary design review for Elytra, a spacecraft architecture intended to carry autonomous survey drones to the lunar south pole. The milestone validates the design approach for delivering robotic assets to the region.

2 Sources

2026-10-22T08:04:48.908669-07:00

China Moon Space Exploration & Science Missions

SpaceNews.com • Andrew Jones

China seeks payloads for crewed moon lander test mission

By SpaceNews.com: China is seeking payloads to fly on an uncrewed mission of its Lanyue human moon landing system, ahead of a planned crewed landing before 2030.

1 Source

2026-10-22T05:49:07.248900-07:00

Europe Space Exploration & Science Missions

SpaceWatch Global • Judith Delany

ESPI AC 2026 – Are We Alone? Why Europe Could Lead the Search for Life with Dr. Sarah Rugheimer

By SpaceWatch Global: Dr. Sarah Rugheimer joins Judith Delany to discuss LIFE, exoplanets and why Europe has the expertise to lead the search for life beyond Earth.

1 Source

2026-10-22T05:04:25.443502-07:00

defense Satellite Defense Industry & Major Contractors

SpaceNews.com • Debra Werner

BlackSky announces Gen-3 contract with international defense agency

By SpaceNews.com: ISCO — BlackSky Technology announced a “seven-figure” contract to provide an international defense agency in a “contested region” with assured access to high-resolution Gen-3 imagery and data, Herndon, Virginia-based BlackSky announced Oct.

1 Source

2026-10-22T05:35:43.875841-07:00

Moon Space Exploration & Science Missions Human Spaceflight & Space Stations NASA

SpaceNews.com • Jeff Foust

Study recommends four locations for human lunar missions beyond the south pole

By SpaceNews.com: A study has recommended several locations on the moon for future crewed missions even as NASA focuses on a base at the lunar south pole.

Also: Payload

2 Sources

2026-10-22T03:15:49.362927-07:00

Moon NASA

Space.com • Mike Wall

NASA giving update about Artemis moon plans on Oct. 23: Watch it live

By Space.com: NASA will provide an update about its Artemis III mission and its plans to land astronauts on the moon during a press conference on Friday (Oct. 23). Here's how to watch it live.

1 Source

2026-10-22T03:05:46.572866-07:00

defense Space Force Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation

Politico • Audrey Decker

Space Force scrambles as Musk’s SpaceX retires its major rocket

By Politico: Other rocket-makers have faced delays getting their vehicles up and running, leaving the Pentagon in a bind.

1 Source

2026-10-22T03:37:08.459279-07:00

Event Europe Space Policy & International Cooperation

SpaceWatch Global • Judith Delany

#SpaceWatchGL Recap: ESPI at 20 – Europe's aspirations are big. Now it needs the nerve.

By SpaceWatch Global: At ESPI’s 20th Annual Conference, Europe confronted fragmentation, sovereignty and ambition. Can it move from reacting to setting its own space agenda?.

1 Source

2026-10-22T02:04:28.666151-07:00

NASA JPL, Firefly complete preliminary design review for Elytra lunar transit spacecraft

China seeks payloads for crewed moon lander test mission

ESPI AC 2026 – Are We Alone? Why Europe Could Lead the Search for Life with Dr. Sarah Rugheimer

BlackSky announces Gen-3 contract with international defense agency

Study recommends four locations for human lunar missions beyond the south pole

NASA giving update about Artemis moon plans on Oct. 23: Watch it live

Space Force scrambles as Musk’s SpaceX retires its major rocket

#SpaceWatchGL Recap: ESPI at 20 – Europe's aspirations are big. Now it needs the nerve.

ESA Provides New Details on Failed Space Rider Drop Test

BlackSky announces Gen-3 contract with international defense agency

China seeks payloads for crewed moon lander test mission

ESPI AC 2026 – Are We Alone? Why Europe Could Lead the Search for Life with Dr. Sarah Rugheimer

How United is banking on Starlink to offset 12 more months of high fuel costs

Space Force scrambles as Musk’s SpaceX retires its major rocket

How United is banking on Starlink to offset 12 more months of high fuel costs

NASA to change how it selects science missions

Musk Tries to Lock In His Tesla-SpaceX Dream Before Trump’s Exit

Musk Is Getting It Wrong on India’s Space Oligarchs

SpaceX and Tesla form committees to explore a potential merger

Musk pledges one SpaceX share to every U.S. child, a gift valued at nearly $11 billion

FAA expected to certify Boeing 737 MAX 10 Tuesday, completing the 737 MAX family after nearly a decade

Musk ordered a slowdown of Ukraine’s military-grade Starlink service, raising concerns over Kyiv’s reliance on the network for w

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