Berlin, Germany (SPX) Mar 18, 2025
THOR 8, the next-generation satellite from Space Norway, has secured Intelsat as its principal customer for broadcasting services. Scheduled for a 2027 launch, THOR 8 will deliver dual broadcasting payloads designed specifically for the Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) region and Nordic markets. Additionally, the satellite will support a wide range of government and commercial data communication

Paris, France (SPX) Mar 18, 2025
Asia's top satellite operator, SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation, has awarded Thales Alenia Space a contract to construct its latest geostationary satellite, JSAT-32. Set to operate on Ku and Ka bands, JSAT-32 will deliver enhanced communication services across Japan and nearby maritime regions. Notably, the satellite will introduce new spot beams specifically designed for mobility-related appl

Brest, France (AFP) Mar 17, 2025
Could lumpy metallic rocks in the deepest, darkest reaches of the ocean be making oxygen in the absence of sunlight? Some scientists think so, but others have challenged the claim that so-called "dark oxygen" is being produced in the lightless abyss of the seabed. The discovery - detailed last July in the journal Nature Geoscience - called into question long-held assumptions about the

Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Mar 18, 2025
ispace, inc. has entered into a formal agreement with Kurita Water Industries, Ltd., a Japanese specialist in water treatment and chemical manufacturing, to support the delivery of a water purification demonstration system to the Moon. The memorandum of understanding sets the stage for transporting this experimental payload to the lunar surface on a future ispace mission scheduled for post-2027.

Paris, France (SPX) Mar 18, 2025
The Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt (EMA) has successfully completed its Critical Design Review (CDR), a pivotal milestone in the project, held from February 24 to 26 with participation from Emirati and global experts. This review evaluated the detailed development of the MBR Explorer spacecraft, confirming its readiness to progress into the Assembly, Integration, and Test (AIT) phase.

San Antonio TX (SPX) Mar 18, 2025
Although NASA's Lucy spacecraft's upcoming encounter with the asteroid Donaldjohanson is primarily a mission rehearsal for later asteroid encounters, a new paper suggests that this small, main belt asteroid may have some surprises of its own. New modeling indicates that Donaldjohanson may have been formed about 150 million years ago when a larger parent asteroid broke apart; its orbit and spin p

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Mar 17, 2025
Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) has confirmed that its third Pioneer spacecraft, developed for Varda Space Industries, Inc. ("Varda"), has been successfully deployed and is operating in orbit. The mission, designated W-3, launched on March 14 from Vandenberg Space Force Base at 11:43 p.m. PDT (06:43 a.m. UTC). This deployment follows closely on the heels of Varda's W-2 mission, which c

Sydney, Australia (SPX) Mar 18, 2025
Galactic Energy, a private aerospace firm based in Beijing, successfully conducted its 18th mission using the Ceres 1 rocket on Monday, placing eight satellites into orbit. According to a company release, the Ceres 1 rocket lifted off at 4:07 pm from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, located in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region. The vehicle deployed the satellites into a sun-synchron

Washington (AFP) Mar 18, 2025
A pair of astronauts stranded in space for more than nine months were finally headed home Tuesday after their capsule undocked from the International Space Station. The SpaceX craft carrying Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams detached from the orbital outpost at 0505 GMT, ending their prolonged mission that has captivated global attention. The NASA duo are joined onboard by American Nick Ha

ESA Impact: Top 2025 space photos so far