Spacecraft

An op-ed questions whether the space industry is ready for AI-driven spacecraft. Martin Halliwell, a partner at NewSpace Capital, previously led technology and R&D at SES and contributed to SpaceX's reusable rocket initiatives.

NASA has selected 41 commercial technology projects aimed at addressing challenges for future Moon and Mars missions, including powering lunar outposts and protecting spacecraft from Moon dust. These innovations seek to advance space exploration and the commercial space economy.

A three-armed spacecraft launched into orbit to rescue a NASA telescope at risk of crashing back to Earth.

A spacecraft launches from a Pacific atoll and Cape Canaveral, Florida, on a mission to rescue an aging NASA telescope.

Student researchers return to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) for a summer internship program, working with engineers and scientists on spacecraft projects. Caltech announced the 2026 class of interns in collaboration with its Student-Faculty Programs office, highlighting the program's continuation despite budget cuts.

NASA has ended its MAVEN mission studying Mars' atmosphere after losing contact with the spacecraft for six months. MAVEN, which entered Martian orbit in 2014, was designed for a one- to two-year mission but operated for over a decade before falling silent in December 2025.

Scientists have proposed a new data-centered approach to search for life, which may make the process more efficient. This method could potentially be used with existing spacecraft. The goal is to find aliens and determine if we are alone in the universe.

A small robot and a miniature space capsule were launched, with a Lego figurine standing next to it in reddish dirt. The launch is part of a unique spacecraft project. The project's details are not fully specified.

A lunar lander is preparing to touch down on the moon's surface. The lander is a tall cylindrical spacecraft wrapped in gold foil. It is currently in a large metal chamber with a round door.

Scientists are testing drone-mounted ground-penetrating radar at Galena Creek Rock Glacier in Wyoming to develop techniques for identifying water sources on Mars. The technology could help spacecraft pinpoint drilling locations for subsurface water detection.

The Artemis 2 mission captured a space photo showing a crescent Earth above the moon's horizon, taken from a spacecraft on April 10, 2026. This image highlights the celestial view during the mission's journey, showcasing Earth and the moon's crescent phases in space.

A space mission aimed at imaging Earth's protective bubble is set to launch, with scientists from the Mullard Space Science Laboratory in Dorking playing a key role. The spacecraft will capture detailed data about Earth's environment.