NASA's Psyche Goes Full Thrust Toward Metal Asteroid After Mars Boost
NASA's Psyche began near-continuous ion thrusting Sept. 28 after a Mars gravity assist, targeting orbit around the metal-rich asteroid Psyche in summer 2029.
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New JWST Strings Method Reveals True Shape of Exoplanet WASP-17b
Cornell and Bristol astronomers used JWST transmission strings to map hot Jupiter WASP-17b's lopsided atmosphere and 650-K morning-evening contrast.
SpaceX Ends Starlink Pause as Station Cargo Dragon Stands Ready
SpaceX launched 27 Starlink satellites Oct. 12 from Vandenberg, then targeted the CRS-35 Dragon cargo launch to the space station for Oct. 13.
NASA Issues Final RFP for Commercial Space Stations
NASA released its final commercial station solicitation Oct. 9, seeking bids due Dec. 8 for privately owned ISS successors.
SpaceX Launches 21 Military Satellites as NASA Opens Station Bids
SpaceX launched 21 Northrop Grumman satellites for the Pentagon on Oct. 10 after an abort, while NASA sought final commercial space-station bids.
NASA Selects GIMLI to Hunt for a Cave on the Moon
NASA selected GIMLI to probe the Marius Hills Pit and test whether it connects to a lunar lava tube for shelter and science.
SpaceX Awaits New Try for 21 SDA Satellites After Abort
As of Oct. 8, a Falcon 9 carrying 21 Northrop Grumman SDA satellites awaited a new attempt after an Oct. 5 abort and range delays.
NASA's SPHEREx Is Mapping the Whole Sky in Infrared
NASA's SPHEREx telescope is mapping the entire sky in 102 infrared colors to test inflation, trace life-related ices and decode faint light from the first galaxies.
NRAO Cancels VLA Open House After Flooding, Moves Talks Online
NRAO canceled in-person attendance at the Oct. 10 VLA Open House after flooding closed State Route 60, moved three talks online, and closed in-person registration for an ALMA workshop.
ISS Crew Swap, Starship Orbit, Artemis Honors: Oct. 5 Status
ISS hosts 11 during Crew-13/Crew-12 swap, Starship completes first orbital satellite delivery, and Artemis II crew is honored for record lunar flight.
Two Giant Newborn Stars Caught Linking Up After Chance Encounter
Eight years of ALMA, VLA, Webb and VLT tracking show massive protostars IRAS 07299-1651 met recently and may have bound by chance.
NASA Launches Otter Debris Inspector on Transporter-18
Three NASA small satellites launched Oct. 1 on SpaceX Transporter-18, led by Starfish Space's Otter debris inspector, as Crew-12 targeted Oct. 7 undocking.
Astronomers Detect First Radio Emission From Exoplanet Beta Pictoris b
Astronomers traced repeating radio bursts to Beta Pictoris b with MeerKAT, measuring a magnetic field at least 200 times stronger than Jupiter's.
SpaceX launches 130 payloads on Transporter-18 rideshare flight
SpaceX launched 130 satellites on Transporter-18 from Vandenberg on Oct. 1, testing Google AI hardware, power beaming and servicing tech.
NASA Clears Crew-13 for Oct. 1 Launch to Space Station
NASA and SpaceX cleared Crew-13 for an Oct. 1 launch to the space station after final reviews, pad tests and a dress rehearsal.
Starship Reaches Orbit for First Time: What's Next for SpaceX
Starship reached orbit on Sept. 28, 2026 and deployed 26 satellites. Three milestones remain: catching Ship, refueling in orbit and crew certification.
Starship Hits Orbit First Time, Deploys 26 Satellites
SpaceX reached orbit with Starship for the first time on Sept. 28, cut the flight short after an engine issue, while NASA reset Boeing's Starliner plan.
Starship Reaches Orbit, Returns Early in Hawaii Splashdown
SpaceX's Flight 14 reached orbit for the first time, deployed 26 Starlink satellites, and splashed down north of Hawaii after about three hours.
NASA's SpaceX Crew-13 Lands at Kennedy Ahead of Oct. 1 Launch
Crew-13's four astronauts landed at Kennedy on Sept. 26 for quarantine and final checks ahead of a planned Oct. 1 Falcon 9 launch to the ISS.
SpaceX Aims for Crew-13 and Falcon Heavy Launches on Same Day
SpaceX targets Oct. 1 launches for NASA Crew-13 at 11:10 a.m. and classified NROL-97 on Falcon Heavy at 11:53 p.m., with three land-based booster landings planned.
NASA DAVINCI Probe Survives Six Blasts of Venus Heat
NASA's DAVINCI engineering model survived six furnace cycles to 869°F, clearing a key thermal test for a future Venus descent.
