News IN Space

NASA

• Curiosity Shakes Loose a Pesky Rock
  May 15, 2026 by HQ Web Team
  After NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover drilled a sample from this rock on April 25, 2026, it withdrew its robotic arm and pulled the entire rock off the surface with it. Engineers spent several days repositioning the arm and vibrating the drill to try and get the rock loose. When it finally detached on May 1, […]
• Hubble Sights Galaxy in Transition
  May 15, 2026
  This NASA Hubble Space Telescope image reveals an enigmatic galaxy with a bright center and a face that hints at spiral structure, yet it holds no obvious spiral arms. Reddish-brown clumps and filaments of dust partially obscure the galaxy’s full face, while red, blue, and orange light from distant galaxies shines through its diffuse outer […]
• Picturing Earth in a New Light
  May 15, 2026
  A recent analysis revealed where artificial light at night has intensified, as well as where it has diminished.
• NASA Draws on Industry for Mars Telecommunications Network
  May 14, 2026 by Lauren E. Low
  On Thursday, NASA issued a Request for Proposal (RFP), seeking industry collaboration for the Mars Telecommunications Network. Reliable, high bandwidth communications is necessary to relay science data, high-definition imagery, and critical information during Mars missions. The network will use high-performance Mars telecommunications orbiters at the Red Planet to support future surface, orbital, and human exploration. […]
• NASA, Industry Prepare Cryogenic Fuel Technology Demo
  May 14, 2026 by Lee Mohon
  NASA is collaborating with Eta Space of Rockledge, Florida, on an in‑orbit technology demonstration to advance a key capability for future deep space missions. The Liquid Oxygen Flight Demonstration, or LOXSAT, will test cryogenic fluid management technologies necessary for creating in-space propellant depots, essentially gas stations in space, that could support long-term exploration. During a […]

SpaceNews

• Joint ESA-China SMILE mission set for launch to study Earth’s magnetic shield
  May 15, 2026
• Virgin Galactic reaffirms plans to begin commercial service this year
  May 15, 2026
• Chinese satellite maker MinoSpace seeks $736 million in IPO
  May 15, 2026
• Cowboy files plans for up to 20,000 orbital data centers
  May 14, 2026
• Intuitive Machines to buy ground station company
  May 14, 2026

ArsTechnica

• Preprint server arXiv will ban submitters of AI-generated hallucinations
  by John Timmer
• Making cement from a different type of rock could clean up emissions
  by Scott K. Johnson
• Casimir force co-opted to generate free energy, midichlorians not included
  by Chris Lee
• Rocket Report: Cowboy up for data centers in LEO; Russia's new ICBM actually works
  by Stephen Clark
• Men use "vocal fry" more than women, counter to stereotype
  by Jennifer Ouellette