WASHINGTON — NASA selected SpaceX to develop a spacecraft that will be used to perform the final phases of the deorbiting of the International Space Station around the end of the decade.

HELSINKI — The Chang’e-6 return capsule reentered Earth’s atmosphere early Tuesday, safely delivering unique lunar material expected to provide unique insights into the evolution of the moon. 

WASHINGTON — NASA and Boeing have pushed back the return of the CST-100 Starliner spacecraft from the International Space Station until at least early July to continue studies of propulsion system problems.

WASHINGTON — A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket lifted off June 25 carrying the final spacecraft in a series of geostationary weather satellites that also features several firsts.

Since January, NASA’s Perseverance rover has been tracing the south side of Neretva Vallis, which is possibly the fossil of a river that once fed the rover’s landing site in Jezero Crater.

TAMPA, Fla. — Israel’s Gilat Satellite Networks announced plans June 17 to buy Stellar Blu Solutions, a Texas-based aircraft equipment integration specialist, in a deal worth up to $245 million to chase the emerging market for multi-orbit Wi-Fi on planes.

HELSINKI — China’s main space contractor has carried out a successful static fire test of a rocket first stage designed to take astronauts to the moon. 

WASHINGTON — The governments of the United States and India announced June 17 they are moving ahead with cooperation on human spaceflight that would include flying an Indian astronaut to the International Space Station, although with few details on who would fly and when.

WASHINGTON — NASA and Boeing have again extended the stay of the CST-100 Starliner at the International Space Station as engineers wrap up analysis of thruster problems and helium leaks on the crewed spacecraft.

SAN FRANCISCO — Lockheed Martin will develop and build the next generation of U.S. geostationary weather satellites for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration under a contract announced June 18.

The European Space Agency’s (ESA) Ariane 6 rocket, developed by ArianeGroup, will lift off from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. The date of the rocket’s long-awaited inaugural flight was announced at the ILA Berlin air show on June 5; however, a specific launch time or window has not yet been released. 

In the ever-evolving landscape of the commercial space industry, some sectors face a unique challenge: convincing customers to pay for services that the U.S. government provides at no cost. This situation is particularly evident in the realms of space domain awareness and alternative positioning, navigation, and timing (Alt-PNT) services.

HELSINKI — An ascent vehicle docked with the Chang’e-6 service module Thursday, in a critical step towards bringing the first lunar far side samples to Earth.

HELSINKI — Chinese commercial company Space Pioneer has secured fresh funding for its reusable Tianlong-3 rocket, targeting launch contracts for megaconstellation plans.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft docked with the International Space Station on its first crewed flight June 6 after working through problems with the spacecraft’s thrusters.

TAMPA, Fla. —  Planet’s first hyperspectral satellite is ready for launch to help push the Earth observation operator to profitability by early next year.