Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation   Space Exploration & Science Missions   Human Spaceflight & Space Stations   NASA  
Ars Technica • Stephen Clark

Managers warn of 'launch fever' as pressure mounts on NASA's Moon mission

NASA managers are warning of 'launch fever' as schedule and external pressures mount around the agency's Moon mission, urging caution and emphasis on crew safety. Agency officials stressed, "I've got one job, and it's the safe return of Reid, Victor, Christina, and Jeremy."

2026-01-16T22:12:34.103233-08:00
China   Moon   Space Exploration & Science Missions  
Universe Today • Matthew Williams

Analysis of Chang'e-6 Samples Addresses Mysteries About the Far Side of the Moon.

By Universe Today: Our nearest neighbor, the Moon, is still something of a mystery to us. For decades, scientists have wondered why it appears so lopsided, with dark volcanic plains on the near side (the side we see) and rugged, cratered mountains and a thicker crust on the far side.

2026-01-16T16:12:40.876136-08:00
Space Exploration & Science Missions   Space Defense & Militarization  
Universe Today • Matthew Williams

Study: Iron-Rich Asteroids Far More Resilient Than Expected — Implications for Planetary Defence

By Universe Today: Physicists at the University of Oxford have contributed to a new study which has found that iron-rich asteroids can tolerate far more energy than previously thought without breaking apart - a breakthrough with direct implications for planetary defence strategies.

2026-01-16T14:27:12.334384-08:00
Satellite   North America   Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation   Space Defense & Militarization  
Spaceflight Now • Will Robinson-Smith

NRO, SpaceX to launch reconnaissance satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base

By Spaceflight Now: ![](http://spaceflightnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/20260117_NROL-105.jpeg) Update Jan. 17, 12 a.m. EST (0500 UTC): SpaceX landed its booster at Landing Zone 4.

Also: Space.com and azernews.az
2026-01-16T09:07:06.409528-08:00
Satellite   Commercial Space   Policy & Regulation  
Via Satellite • Rachel Jewett

Convergence Comes of Age: 2026 Turns Direct‑to‑Device Satellites and 3GPP NTNs into Commercial Reality

By Via Satellite: With the first commercial direct-to-device (D2D) constellations now scaling up and 3GPP standards maturing, it will become harder for users to distinguish between terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks (NTNs), with connectivity blending seamlessly between the two.

2026-01-16T12:11:31.570302-08:00