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Isaacman attends Soyuz launch of ISS crew
Also covered by: NASA
Original Publication Date: 2026-07-15 09:21
On July 14, 2026, Soyuz MS‑29 launched from Baikonur carrying NASA astronaut Anil Menon and Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina to the ISS. After a three‑hour, two‑orbit flight it docked with the station’s Prichal module, joining Expedition 74’s crew of ten.
Space acquisition and NRO picks face SASC
Original Publication Date: 2026-07-14 19:06
Erich Hernandez‑Baquero and Roger Mason appeared before the Senate Armed Services Committee to discuss their nominations to lead the Air Force’s space acquisition office and the National Reconnaissance Office, respectively. Both candidates are the administration’s picks for these high‑profile civilian roles. The committee will evaluate their qualifications and suitability for the positions. Their confirmation will shape the future of U.S. Space and intelligence capabilities.
U.K. government preparing to release new space strategy
Original Publication Date: 2026-07-14 12:07
The UK is set to unveil a new space strategy in the coming weeks that will align civil, commercial and national‑security space activities around two core outcomes: economic growth and national security. The plan will focus on satellite communications, launch, space domain awareness, sustainability, and in‑space servicing, backed by a £2.3 billion boost for satellite comms, £880 million for ISR, and a planned £9 billion investment in defense systems through 2035. The strategy stresses strong international partnerships, highlighting the UK’s role in the European Space Agency, close ties with the United States, and a priority partnership with Japan. By folding the U.K. Space Agency into the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, the government aims to provide a single, coherent voice for space policy across the country and abroad.
SpaceX launches a flight-proven Falcon booster for 600th time
Also covered by: Space.com
Original Publication Date: 2026-07-13 19:53
SpaceX completed its 600th flight of a flight‑proven Falcon 9 booster on Tuesday, launching 29 new Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral while a second launch earlier that day from Vandenberg deployed 27 satellites. The booster, B‑1080, on its 28th flight, flew north‑easterly and landed on the droneship “A Shortfall of Gravitas,” marking the vessel’s 161st touchdown and the company’s 638th booster recovery.
Europe Space Networks Look to Scale Optical Connectivity
Original Publication Date: 2026-07-14 21:20
Lithuanian laser‑technology firm Astrolight has unveiled a strategic framework aimed at replacing legacy radio‑frequency networks with optical communications. The company argues that optical links can eliminate bottlenecks in both commercial and defense sectors, offering higher bandwidth, lower latency and greater security. Astrolight urges European policymakers to accelerate investment in laser‑based infrastructure to keep pace with growing data demands. The firm sees this shift as essential for maintaining the region’s technological edge.
Iridium Opens Commercial Availability for Hardware-Level Assured PNT Modems
Original Publication Date: 2026-07-14 20:34
Iridium Communications Inc. Announced on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, that its new Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Application‑Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) will soon be widely available to commercial customers. The chip is the first of its kind to address widespread vulnerabilities in global satellite navigation systems, providing more secure and reliable positioning data. By leveraging advanced cryptographic techniques and redundant signal processing, the ASIC aims to protect critical infrastructure from spoofing and jamming attacks. This move positions Iridium as a leader in secure satellite navigation technology.
Ground Control Deploys RockFLEET for Large-Scale Turkish Fisheries VMS Program
Original Publication Date: 2026-07-14 20:05
Maritime IoT specialist Ground Control is launching a major tracking hardware rollout in Turkey to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing across the Mediterranean and Black Sea. The new system will provide real‑time vessel monitoring, helping authorities detect and deter illicit fishing activities.
Space ISAC to Convene Classified VOSS VII Summit in Colorado Springs
Original Publication Date: 2026-07-14 15:51
On Monday, August 31, 2026, the Space Information Sharing and Analysis Center will launch its seventh annual Value of Space Summit in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The event will bring together government, industry, and academia to examine the economic, national‑security, and societal benefits of space activities. Participants will share data, best practices, and insights to help shape future space policy and investment. The summit aims to strengthen collaboration and accelerate growth in the space economy.
Curiosity Blog, Sols 4947-4953: Gale Crater Then and Now
Original Publication Date: 2026-07-15 05:25
Curiosity captured a dusty north‑looking image of Gale Crater on July 8, 2026, and over the next week it traversed three distinct geological units, using MAHLI, APXS and ChemCam to study the rocks. Two darker samples stood out, prompting LIBS analyses to determine if they were meteorites or locally sourced material. Meanwhile, the rover’s Mastcam and Navcam monitored the transition from the dusty “C” storm season to the cloudy period, while REMS continues its daily meteorological record.
Heat Dome Broils the Western U.S.
Original Publication Date: 2026-07-15 04:01
On July 12, 2026, a powerful heat dome over the northern Rockies sent temperatures soaring across the western U.S., with Montana, Utah and Wyoming breaking all‑time records—Billings and Miles City hitting 111°F and 115°F, and Sheridan 109°F. The high‑pressure ridge trapped hot air, suppressing clouds and boosting surface heat, and the CDC reported a tenfold spike in heat‑related emergency visits in the Mountain states. NASA’s MERRA‑2 model shows that summer heat waves in the U.S. Have roughly doubled since 1980, and forecasters warn the dome could spread eastward, bringing triple‑digit temperatures to the Midwest and East Coast. This event underscores the growing frequency of extreme heat in North America and beyond.
NASA Invites Media to Serbia Artemis Accords Signing Ceremony
Original Publication Date: 2026-07-14 21:03
Serbia will become the 69th nation to sign NASA’s Artemis Accords at a ceremony in Washington on Thursday, July 16, with Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson hosting Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Đurić and U.S. State Department official Wesley Brooks. The in‑person event, set for 5 p.m. EDT, is open to media with RSVPs due by 3 p.
Hubble Sees Crimson Cloud and Stars
Original Publication Date: 2026-07-14 18:06
NASA’s Hubble captured a stunning view of the LH 95 star‑forming region in the Large Magellanic Cloud, where newborn stars heat and illuminate swirling gas and dust. The image shows a vibrant mix of blue giants and low‑mass protostars amid a crimson glow, highlighting the region’s active stellar association. Scientists from NASA, ESA, the University of Virginia, ESA–ESTEC, and Heidelberg collaborated on the observation, with data processed by Gladys Kober at NASA/Catholic University of America. This picture offers a breathtaking glimpse into the birthplaces of stars beyond our Milky Way.
Soyuz MS-29 launches new crew to ISS from Baikonur
Original Publication Date: 2026-07-14 13:49
On Tuesday, July 14, the Soyuz MS‑29 launched from Baikonur and docked with the ISS in just three hours, a record‑fast rendezvous that not every launch can achieve.
Payload Field Guide: NSSL
Original Publication Date: 2026-07-14 16:00
The Space Force has just added two new launch providers to its National Security Space Launch program, bringing the total to seven companies that can deliver defense payloads to orbit. The NSSL program, which began in its current form in 2019, lets the Pentagon pre‑buy rides from vetted firms, fostering competition and ensuring reliable access to space for military missions.
Spinifex Space Launches With Australian Test Ranges
Original Publication Date: 2026-07-14 12:45
Spinifex Space launched on Monday to offer end‑to‑end suborbital launch support, private range access, and test‑and‑evaluation facilities in southwestern Queensland. The company, spun out of Black Sky Industries, does not build rockets but provides land, licenses and a suite of testing services at its Black Sands Test Range and the Outback Space Port, covering static fire, hypersonic vehicles, kinetic effectors, and destructive testing.
Scientists spot 4 superdense stellar corpses hiding behind their red dwarf companions
Original Publication Date: 2026-07-14 21:00
Scientists have uncovered four white dwarf stars hidden behind bright red dwarf companions, all within 65 light‑years of Earth, marking the first such discovery in our cosmic neighborhood. The dead stars were revealed by subtle wobbles in their partners' motion and confirmed with ultraviolet imaging from the Hubble Space Telescope. One system, G 203‑47, shows a puzzling mismatch between the red dwarf's slow rotation and its rapid orbit around the white dwarf, hinting at a different evolutionary history. This finding supports current models and suggests many more hidden white dwarfs await discovery around nearby red dwarfs.
The 1st of 10,000 'missing' black holes in the Omega Centauri star cluster has been found by the Hubble and James Webb space telescopes
Original Publication Date: 2026-07-14 20:00
Astronomers using data from Hubble and the James Webb Space Telescope have identified the first stellar‑mass black hole in the Omega Centauri globular cluster
1st-ever X-rays in space offer hope for possible patients headed to the moon
Original Publication Date: 2026-07-14 18:00
Scientists have successfully taken the first human X‑ray images in space aboard the private Fram2 Crew Dragon mission, demonstrating that portable X‑ray machines can operate in microgravity with minimal training. The astronauts captured clear images of a hand, smartwatch, abdomen, pelvis and chest, which were reviewed on board and later confirmed by ground experts to be diagnostic‑grade. The lightweight device survived launch, re‑entry and the rigors of spaceflight with only minor damage, proving its ruggedness for future missions. This breakthrough opens the door to advanced medical care for astronauts and could even bring affordable X‑ray technology to remote communities on Earth.
This cosmic 'lighthouse' is blazing a magnetic trail through the Milky Way
Original Publication Date: 2026-07-14 16:00
Scientists have, for the first time, directly mapped the magnetic field around the “Lighthouse” pulsar PSR J1101−6101 using NASA’s IXPE X‑ray polarimetry mission. The measurements confirm that high‑energy particles stream along magnetic field lines that extend through the Milky Way, following a long filament that trails the rapidly moving neutron star. Surprisingly, the field is far more orderly than expected, indicating less magnetic turbulence and hinting at multiple acceleration mechanisms at work. This breakthrough, published in The Astrophysical Journal, offers a rare glimpse into how extreme objects inject energetic particles into our galaxy.