Space News for Saturday, July 25, 2026

SpaceX conducts 13th Starship test flight

Original Publication Date: 2026-07-25 00:29

SpaceX launched its Starship V3 on a 13th suborbital test flight from Starbase, Texas, on July 24 after a 24‑hour delay caused by cloud cover. The mission fixed engine failures from the previous flight, deployed 20 working Starlink V3 satellites for the first time, and performed a 14‑second Raptor engine relight before re‑entry. Starship executed a soft splashdown in the Indian Ocean, remaining intact and floating, providing valuable heat‑shield data. If the flight meets expectations, SpaceX may pursue its first orbital Starship launch on Flight 14.

ULA deals with financial challenges caused by Vulcan grounding

Original Publication Date: 2026-07-24 20:18

Lockheed Martin has guaranteed a loan of up to $500 million for United Launch Alliance (ULA) after two Vulcan Centaur rocket anomalies in 2024 and early 2026, with the guarantee’s fair value recorded at $64 million. The grounding of the Vulcan after a solid‑rocket‑booster anomaly has halted launches and strained ULA’s finances, prompting both Lockheed and Boeing to provide near‑term financial support. Despite the setbacks, ULA remains optimistic about resuming a high launch cadence and has a backlog of more than 80 missions, while Lockheed has trimmed its space‑division profit outlook to reflect the impact of the investigation. The company expects a stronger second half of 2026 as it works to resolve the technical issues.

LatConnect 60 Unveils Proprietary AI Capabilities Following Growing Indo-Pacific Defence Interest in SWIRSAT

Original Publication Date: 2026-07-24 14:59

Australian satellite and AI firm LatConnect 60 announced a new proprietary intelligence‑fusion technology that blends cutting‑edge AI with high‑resolution satellite imagery. The launch comes amid growing Indo‑Pacific defence interest in the SWIRSAT platform, positioning LC60 to provide advanced surveillance and data‑fusion services for military and security agencies. Company officials said the capability will enable real‑time decision making and improve situational awareness.

Office of Space Commerce to move ahead on mission authorization

Original Publication Date: 2026-07-24 12:04

The Commerce Department’s Office of Space Commerce is moving forward with a voluntary certification program, Space Commerce Certification, to authorise novel space activities that fall outside the jurisdiction of the FAA or FCC. The system will coordinate an interagency review and automatically approve applications within 120 days if no action is taken, aiming to streamline licensing and reduce regulatory uncertainty for companies.

Lightning strikes Long March 3B after liftoff, Kinetica-1 launches 5 satellites

Original Publication Date: 2026-07-24 10:32

China launched two rockets on Thursday, including a Long March 3B that successfully placed its payload into orbit despite a lightning strike during liftoff. The second launch, Kinetica‑1, deployed five satellites into space. Both missions showcase the resilience and expanding capabilities of China’s space program. The successful flights underscore the country’s commitment to growing its satellite constellation.

Super Heavy-Starship rocket chalks up mostly successful test flight

Original Publication Date: 2026-07-25 01:08

SpaceX’s 13th Super Heavy‑Starship test launch on Friday saw the 397‑foot, methane‑fueled rocket lift off from Starbase with all 33 Raptor engines firing, only to splash down hard off the Texas Gulf Coast when most of the booster’s engines failed to restart. Meanwhile, the Starship upper stage completed a sub‑orbital hop, deployed 20 third‑generation Starlink satellites, re‑ignited an engine in space, and landed safely in the Indian Ocean after a belly‑first re‑entry. NASA welcomes the upper‑stage performance as it eyes the vehicle as a lunar lander for the Artemis program, though the U.S. Government Accountability Office warns that cryogenic fuel management and on‑orbit propellant transfer remain significant risks. This flight marked another milestone for Elon Musk’s company, but it also highlighted the challenges that must be overcome before the Super Heavy‑Starship can reliably ferry humans to the Moon.

Critical NASA Deep Space ground station in Spain evacuated due to wildfires

Original Publication Date: 2026-07-24 20:11

On April 20, 2024, NASA’s Madrid Deep Space Communication Complex performed a historic test, using all six antennas to simultaneously receive data from Voyager 1 for the first time. The arraying technique boosts signal power, a necessity as Voyager moves farther away and will soon need all six dishes to keep its Plasma Wave System data flowing. That same day, wildfires near Madrid threatened the complex, prompting the evacuation of 90 workers and the seamless transfer of operations to Goldstone to keep spacecraft communications uninterrupted. Officials will assess any damage once it is safe to do so.

Launch preview: SpaceX ready for 2nd attempt to launch Starship Flight 13 following post-abort engine work

Original Publication Date: 2026-07-23 19:12

SpaceX is poised for a second attempt at launching its Starship‑Super Heavy from Pad 2 at Starbase, with a 90‑minute launch window opening at 5:45

AT&T CEO Reaffirms Support for AST SpaceMobile, Dismisses Satellite Revenue Risk

Original Publication Date: 2026-07-24 19:29

AT&T CEO John Stankey confirmed the company’s ongoing commitment to its satellite partner, AST SpaceMobile, during the carrier’s second‑quarter investor call on Wednesday, July 22, 2026. He emphasized the strategic importance of satellite connectivity for expanding coverage and enhancing service offerings. The remarks underscored AT&T’s focus on integrating AST SpaceMobile’s technology into its broader network strategy. This reaffirmation signals the company’s continued investment in satellite communications to support future growth.

New Crew Members Welcomed to International Space Station

Original Publication Date: 2026-07-24 16:43

NASA’s Expedition 74 crew—Roscosmos flight engineers Anna Kikina and Pyotr Dubrov and NASA’s Anil Menon—arrived at the International Space Station on July 14, 2026, after a launch from Baikonur. In a celebratory photo taken July 18, the trio posed with a cake to mark their arrival. They are now in the second week of an eight‑and‑a‑half‑month mission, using their new skills to conduct research while acclimating to life in orbit. For more updates, follow the ISS blog.

NASA Announces New Spacecraft Technology Demonstration Mission at Moon

Original Publication Date: 2026-07-24 16:35

NASA is preparing its next moonwalk simulation with the CAPSTONE 02 mission, slated for a 2027 launch, which will use two identical 400‑kg spacecraft to test advanced rendezvous and proximity operations in lunar orbit. The mission will demonstrate autonomous navigation, cislunar communication, and formation‑flying techniques that mirror those planned for Orion’s lunar lander docking, helping to build confidence for future crew transfers. CAPSTONE 02 will also serve as an operational testbed for NASA’s navigation software suites, gathering data during its low‑energy transfer to the Moon and capturing imagery with an optical payload from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. By refining these technologies in space, the mission lays the groundwork for a permanent lunar presence and supports the Artemis program and future deep‑space exploration.

Hubble Spies One-Sided Spiral

Original Publication Date: 2026-07-24 11:11

Hubble captured a striking image of the spiral galaxy NGC 4654, 72 million light‑years away in the Virgo Cluster, revealing a dramatic one‑sided tail of gas pulled by ram pressure as the galaxy barrels through the cluster’s hot intracluster medium. The galaxy’s asymmetric shape—rich in stars on its leading edge but star‑poor on the opposite side—also hints at a past gravitational fly‑by with neighboring NGC 4639 about 500 million years ago.

Blue Origin to conduct New Glenn second stage hot fires on Stennis B-2 stand

Also covered by: NASA

Original Publication Date: 2026-07-24 18:01

NASA and Blue Origin have agreed to use the historic B‑2 test stand at Stennis Space Center for a hot‑fire test of New Glenn’s second stage, the GS2 powered by two BE‑3U engines. The test, scheduled for this fall, will be conducted while repairs to Cape Canaveral’s Launch Complex 36 continue, with the Pegasus barge ferrying the stage from the Cape to Mississippi. NASA will provide the necessary equipment and expertise, keeping the program on schedule. The partnership revives U.S. Lunar‑era infrastructure to support Blue Moon landers and future Artemis missions.

Lunar Outpost Plans to Fly NVIDIA Chips to the Moon

Original Publication Date: 2026-07-24 12:41

Lunar Outpost has announced that its upcoming Lunar Voyage 2 rover will carry an NVIDIA Jetson AI chip, and later missions will use NVIDIA's upgraded Space‑1 Vera Rubin module. The chips will give the rovers greater autonomy, process sensor data onboard, and compress large data sets to ease the long‑distance communication link with Earth. With the Space‑1 processor, future rovers can generate real‑time Moon maps, plan autonomous paths, and even stream high‑resolution video. This partnership could help Lunar Outpost deploy a fleet of autonomous rovers to support NASA’s plans for a permanent lunar base.

What lurks beneath the volcanoes of Jupiter's moon Io? NASA's Juno probe just took a peek

Original Publication Date: 2026-07-24 16:00

NASA’s Juno probe used its Microwave Radiometer to peer 2–6 meters beneath the surface of Jupiter’s volcanic moon Io, revealing a surprising heat signature that rises more than 40 °F just a few feet underground. The data show localized hotspots up to 36 °F warmer than the surrounding terrain, offering the first glimpse of how heat moves through Io’s crust. Scientists say the technique could transform volcano studies on Earth and other worlds, allowing researchers to monitor subsurface temperatures before eruptions. This breakthrough underscores Io’s role as a natural laboratory for tidal heating and could aid future searches for life on icy moons.

Planet hunter gets the silent treatment | Space photo of the day for July 24, 2026

Original Publication Date: 2026-07-24 14:00

ESA’s Plato spacecraft, designed to hunt Earth‑sized exoplanets, has successfully completed a series of critical tests in the Maxwell Test Chamber, a conductive metal enclosure that simulates the electromagnetic silence of space. The tests verified that the probe’s instruments can operate without interference from onboard electronics, ensuring reliable data collection once launched. By blocking out external signals and mimicking the vacuum environment, scientists confirmed Plato’s readiness for the harsh conditions of launch and spaceflight. This milestone brings the mission one step closer to its planned journey to study rocky worlds beyond our solar system.

Lightning strike on Chinese rocket captured in epic launch photo

Original Publication Date: 2026-07-24 12:57

A Long March‑3B rocket carrying the Tianlian II‑06 communications satellite was struck by lightning just 30 seconds after liftoff from China’s Xichang launch site, yet it reached its intended geostationary orbit. The bolt, captured in vivid photos and video, caused cheers from onlookers but did not compromise the mission. This marks the fourth recorded lightning strike on a launch vehicle, following historic incidents on NASA’s Saturn V, a 2019 Soyuz and the 1987 Atlas/Centaur, the latter of which sparked stricter launch‑weather rules. The satellite will help relay communications to China’s Tiangong space station and other crewed missions.

This Week In Space LIVE: The Viking Mars landings 50 years later

Also covered by: Space.com

Original Publication Date: 2026-07-24 12:00

Tariq Malik has been with Space.com since 2001, rising from intern to Managing Editor in 2009 and to Editor‑in‑Chief in 2019, where he covers human spaceflight, exploration, and space science. A graduate of USC’s journalism and astronomy program, he earned a master’s in science reporting from NYU and has reported on space topics for more than two decades. His work earned him the National Space Club Florida’s Harry Kolcum Award in 2022 and the National Space Society’s Space Pioneer Award in 2025. Outside the newsroom, Malik is an Eagle Scout who frequently attends Space Camp and co‑hosts the “This Week in Space” podcast.

Rocket Report: Lightning strikes in China; Starship launch on deck

Original Publication Date: 2026-07-24 14:34

SpaceX’s 13th Starship test flight has been rescheduled for Friday evening after a last‑minute abort on July 16 forced the booster back to the hangar for an engine swap. Engineers say the launch and reentry will bring the company close to an orbital flight later this year, with a full recap to follow. Meanwhile, India celebrated a milestone as Skyroot Aerospace’s Vikram‑1, the country’s first fully commercial satellite launcher, successfully reached a 280‑mile orbit after a brief delay to resolve a technical issue. The launch, which lifted off from Sriharikota Island in the Bay of Bengal, marks a significant achievement for India’s private space sector.