Universe Today
• Mark Thompson
Ahead of Artemis II’s far-side Moon flyby, NASA trained four astronauts to interpret and “read” the lunar environment using mission-support information beyond routine spacecraft piloting. The approach underscores how crew-developed situational awareness is being built into Artemis operations as NASA transitions toward sustained lunar work.
Space.com
• Josh Dinner
By Space.com: Rocket Lab is poised to launch the "Ten Owl of Ten" mission from New Zealand today (June 26), adding to Japanese company Synspective's imaging constellation.
NASA
• Leejay Lockhart
By NASA: NASA has selected Rocket Lab to provide the launch service for both the agency’s PolSIR (Polarized Submillimeter Ice-cloud Radiometer) and Total and Spectral Solar Irradiance Sensor-2 (TSIS-2) missions.
SpaceNews.com
SpaceNews.com
• Jeff Foust
By SpaceNews.com: The African nation of Botswana is the latest country to sign the Artemis Accords outlining best practices for space exploration.
Reuters
• Joey Roulette
By Reuters: SpaceX plans to begin next month building an eight‑mile (13-km) natural gas pipeline called "Starpipe" to its Texas launch facilities, according to county filings, as Elon Musk’s company seeks to ramp up launches of its next‑generation Starship rocket.
Breaking Defense
• Theresa Hitchens
By Breaking Defense: Three Chinese rocket bodies have exploded over the last four years, creating dangerous debris that "will linger for decades to centuries, potentially colliding with other space objects," LeoLabs study author Darren McKnight told Breaking Defense.
Via Satellite
• Rachel Jewett
By Via Satellite: Capella Space validated a Mynaric optical communications terminal on its newest satellite — the first time Capella has deployed an optical terminal.
Via Satellite
• Mark Holmes
By Via Satellite: A group of companies and organizations including Infleqtion, Voyager Technologies, Monarch Quantum, Armada, and the University of Colorado Boulder have joined forces to move the U.S.’s quantum space ambitions forward.
European Spaceflight
• Andrew Parsonson
SpaceWatch Global
• Joshua Faleti
