Space FrontPage

In a bold step for spacecraft servicing, NASA has awarded Katalyst Space Technologies of Flagstaff, Arizona, a $30 million contract to raise the orbit of the agency’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory. The robotic servicing mission, planned for spring 2026, will be the first attempt by a commercial spacecraft to capture and reposition a government-owned satellite that was never designed for in-orbit servicing.

The joint NASA–ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite has returned its first striking images of Earth, offering a preview of the cutting-edge science the mission will deliver when it enters full operations later this year.

The long-awaited debut of Sierra Space’s Dream Chaser cargo spaceplane has been pushed back once again, with the vehicle no longer expected to dock at the International Space Station (ISS) on its first mission. Instead, NASA and Sierra Space have agreed to convert the inaugural flight into a free-flyer demonstration, now targeted for no earlier than late 2026.

On September 25, 2025, United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V rocket thundered off the pad at Cape Canaveral, carrying Amazon’s third batch of broadband satellites for its ambitious Project Kuiper. Liftoff occurred at 8:09 a.m. EDT from Space Launch Complex-41, with the powerful Atlas V 551 configuration placing 27 satellites into low-Earth orbit. The mission, designated KA-03, marked another milestone in Amazon’s effort to build a global internet constellation. 

Just after sunrise, United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) Atlas 5 rocket thundered off the pad at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, carrying the latest batch of Amazon’s Project Kuiper satellites into low Earth orbit. Liftoff from Space Launch Complex 41 occurred at 8:09 a.m. EDT (1209 UTC).

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Launch Complex 39A at 7:30 a.m. EDT (1130 UTC) Wednesday, carrying three major solar and space weather missions for NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Payload deployment wrapped up successfully about 90 minutes after liftoff.

With ambitions to establish a sustained human presence on the Moon and prepare for crewed missions to Mars, NASA has announced the selection of its newest class of astronaut candidates.

The National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) launched another set of small reconnaissance satellites into low Earth orbit (LEO) on Monday morning, marking the 11th mission for its growing “proliferated architecture” constellation.

Blue Origin successfully launched its 35th New Shepard suborbital mission (NS-35) this morning, September 18, following nearly a month of delays. The uncrewed flight lifted off at 9:01 a.m. EDT (1301 GMT; 8:01 a.m. local time) from the company’s West Texas launch site.

Running a day behind schedule due to a software issue, Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus XL cargo freighter successfully reached the International Space Station (ISS) early Thursday, concluding its maiden mission with a smooth robotic capture.

On September 14, 2025, NASA, Northrop Grumman, and SpaceX successfully launched the Cygnus NG-23 mission—also known as CRS-23—from Cape Canaveral. This mission marked a few key firsts and represents a step forward in how cargo is delivered to the International Space Station (ISS).

Northrop Grumman’s next-generation Cygnus XL cargo spacecraft began its maiden voyage to the International Space Station (ISS) Sunday evening, following a flawless launch atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.