Space News

Mars Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Space Exploration & Science Missions

Universe Today • Matthew Williams

MIT Research Explores Making Rocket Propellant from Mars’ Atmosphere

MIT PhD candidate Lanie McKinney is developing technology to convert chemicals in the Martian atmosphere into rocket propellant, potentially enabling astronauts to produce the resources needed for their return journey on Mars rather than transporting all return propellant from Earth.

1 Source

2026-09-19T20:05:44.003545-07:00

Commercial Space

Bloomberg • Isabelle Lee

SpaceX’s Nasdaq 100 Weight Is Confirmed at 2.82% in Rebalance

By Bloomberg: SpaceX will make up 2.82% of the Nasdaq 100 when the index’s quarterly rebalance takes effect Monday, according to data obtained by Bloomberg, locking in a sharp increase from its current weighting of about 1.28%.

Also: Seeking Alpha and Yahoo Finance

3 Sources

2026-09-19T07:50:32.079126-07:00

ISS Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Human Spaceflight & Space Stations Commercial Space Boeing NASA

Reuters

SpaceX to fly more NASA crews to space station under expanded $5.92 billion deal

By Reuters: NASA said Friday that the agency had given SpaceX a $946 million contract to fly three more astronaut missions to the International Space Station, extending the company's crewed flights to the station ‌through 2030.

Wall Street Journal

NASA Explores New Missions With Boeing’s Troubled Starliner Spacecraft

Space.com

NASA awards SpaceX $946 million for 3 more astronaut missions to the ISS

Also: SpaceNews.com, Reuters, CNBC, satelliteprome.com, news.ssbcrack.com, Seeking Alpha, Yahoo Finance, newsable.asianetnews.com and 4 more

16 Sources

2026-09-18T10:35:38.220591-07:00

ISS Human Spaceflight & Space Stations

Space.com • Mike Wall

Russia’s Progress 96 Cargo Spacecraft to Arrive at International Space Station

By Space.com: Russia's Progress 96 spacecraft arrived at the International Space Station today (Sept. 19), delivering a wealth of supplies to the orbiting lab.

1 Source

2026-09-18T23:20:09.436056-07:00

Satellite Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space

SpaceNews.com • Jeff Foust

Rocket Lab continues high Electron cadence with Synspective launch

By SpaceNews.com: Rocket Lab launched a radar-imaging satellite for Japanese company Synspective on Sept. 18 on the fifth flight of its Electron rocket in a month and a half.

2 Sources

2026-09-19T03:06:41.469829-07:00

Europe Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Space Exploration & Science Missions Commercial Space

European Spaceflight • Andrew Parsonson

DLR’s Suborbital MAPHEUS-17 Mission to Launch as Early as 1 October

By European Spaceflight: DLR’s MAPHEUS-17 suborbital mission is slated to launch from Esrange in Sweden as early as 1 October.

1 Source

2026-09-18T22:05:17.913190-07:00

Mars China Moon Space Exploration & Science Missions

NASA Spaceflight • Martin Smith

China Advances Mars Sample-Return Plans and Apophis Asteroid Mission

By NASA Spaceflight: As China integrates crewed and robotic missions to further its lunar exploration program, it is also advancing plans to return the first samples collected from Mars.

1 Source

2026-09-18T15:20:28.922398-07:00

Viasat Satellite Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space

SpaceNews.com • Jason Rainbow

Final ViaSat-3 enters service as SES wraps up O3b mPower launch campaign

By SpaceNews.com: The third and final terabit-class ViaSat-3 broadband satellite has entered service over the Americas, the U.S. operator announced Sept. 17, days after SpaceX launched the final three spacecraft for Luxembourg-based SES’ O3b mPower network.

2 Sources

2026-09-18T13:50:39.135752-07:00

MIT Research Explores Making Rocket Propellant from Mars’ Atmosphere

SpaceX’s Nasdaq 100 Weight Is Confirmed at 2.82% in Rebalance

SpaceX to fly more NASA crews to space station under expanded $5.92 billion deal

NASA Explores New Missions With Boeing’s Troubled Starliner Spacecraft

NASA awards SpaceX $946 million for 3 more astronaut missions to the ISS

Russia’s Progress 96 Cargo Spacecraft to Arrive at International Space Station

Rocket Lab continues high Electron cadence with Synspective launch

DLR’s Suborbital MAPHEUS-17 Mission to Launch as Early as 1 October

China Advances Mars Sample-Return Plans and Apophis Asteroid Mission

Final ViaSat-3 enters service as SES wraps up O3b mPower launch campaign

MIT Research Explores Making Rocket Propellant from Mars’ Atmosphere

SpaceX’s Nasdaq 100 Weight Is Confirmed at 2.82% in Rebalance

Rocket Lab continues high Electron cadence with Synspective launch

DLR’s Suborbital MAPHEUS-17 Mission to Launch as Early as 1 October

Russia’s Progress 96 Cargo Spacecraft to Arrive at International Space Station

China Advances Mars Sample-Return Plans and Apophis Asteroid Mission

SpaceX Starship Flight 14: What Pilots and Space Enthusiasts Need to Know

Record Maritime GPS Jamming Drives Demand for Navigation Resilience Away From Space-Based Systems

Opinion: How Europe Can Close Its Space Competitiveness Gap

Exclusive: Space Cargo Unlimited Booked a Third of its Starfall Capacity

NASA weighs 10 or more Starliner missions as SpaceX wins $950 million for three additional ISS flights

SpaceX targets Sept. 28 for Starship’s first orbital flight, with 26 V3 Starlink satellites

NASA plans more Boeing Starliner missions and support for certification of a new rocket

U.S. Space Command says orbital tracking must connect faster to combat systems

The day’s aerospace signal, in one email.

More in Space

Astra projecting early 2027 for the introduction of Rocket 4.0

Rocket Report: China wants a Raptor 3 engine; SpaceX set for big Starship test

Europe's new spacesuit still needs work, French ISS astronaut says: 'We are at the very beginning of its journey'

Space Command says satellite tracking must evolve for combat in orbit

ViaSat-3 F2 Enters Service over Americas

Aschbacher upbeat about winning support for a European human spaceflight program

After being sidelined, Boeing's Starliner to get starring role in NASA's spaceflight plans

NigComSat Buys Jupiter Gateway Access from Hughes for Upcoming 2A, 2B Satellites