New York NY (SPX) Jan 31, 2026
As NASA counts down toward humanity's first crewed lunar mission in more than half a century, a question beyond engineering is taking shape: Can a flight that never touches the surface still define who "wins" the Second Moon Race? The answer lies not in propulsion equations or landing dynamics, but in the realm where space programs have always competed most fiercely-perception, prestige, and the stories nations tell about themselves.

The journey of Juice

Video series covering Juice's journey to Jupiter

Week in images: 26-30 January 2026

Discover our week through the lens

Image: Dark rings and new light

A study on tectonic plates that converge on the Tibetan Plateau has shown that Earth’s fault lines are far weaker and the continents are less rigid than scientists previously thought. This finding is based on ground-monitoring satellite data.

Citizens living in remote areas could one day receive specialist medical care without leaving their communities, thanks to advances in telemedicine through satellite communications. The European Space Agency (ESA) and the University of Glasgow have successfully run a remote dental examination using a secure satellite link combined with a rapidly usable 5G network.

Image: The Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission takes us over part of the coastal area of Rudong County on China’s eastern seaboard.

Press Release N° 5–2026

The European Space Agency Council has approved the reassignment of Laurent Jaffart, currently Director of Connectivity and Secure Communications (D/CSC) to the newly created position of Director of Resilience, Navigation and Connectivity Directorate (D/RNC), which will take effect from 1 February 2026.