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SpaceX launches NASA science and cargo to the International Space Station
Original Publication Date: 2026-10-13 14:07
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket roared away from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 6:33 a.m. EDT (1033 UTC) The 35th Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-35) is carrying more than 6,300 pounds of science and supplies to the orbiting outpost.
Launch preview: NASA, SpaceX to launch new solar arrays, 6,300 pounds of cargo to the space station
Original Publication Date: 2026-10-13 01:19
SpaceX is set to launch its 35th commercial resupply mission to the International Space Station on Tuesday morning, with a Falcon 9 rocket scheduled to lift off at 6:33 a.m. EDT from Cape Canaveral. The Cargo Dragon, tail number C211, will deliver a suite of supplies—including the final pair of roll‑out solar arrays and scientific experiments ranging from artificial retina production to heart‑tissue studies—and will dock at the Harmony module around 11 a.m. EDT. The spacecraft will remain attached for about a month before returning to Earth, continuing SpaceX’s streak of successful CRS missions. Live coverage will begin an hour before liftoff, offering listeners a front‑row seat to this critical resupply effort.
York Space Systems Details Two Space Force Task Orders for Space Data Network Interoperability
Original Publication Date: 2026-10-13 22:57
York Space Systems revealed on October 12, 2026 the technical specifications for two satellites it will deliver under newly awarded U.S. Space Force task orders for the Space Data Network (SDN). The company disclosed that the satellites will carry high‑bandwidth, secure payloads operating in the Ka‑band, and will be integrated with the SDN’s existing constellation to enhance real‑time data links for military operations. Launch plans call for the first satellite to reach orbit in early 2027, with the second following shortly thereafter, and the contracts total more than $1.2 billion. This milestone underscores the U.S. Military’s commitment to expanding its space‑based communications infrastructure.
Satlyt Secures $8 Million Seed Round to Expand Onboard Satellite AI Software and Cloud Virtualization
Original Publication Date: 2026-10-13 22:46
Satlyt, a software venture focused on orbital spacecraft, secured an $8 million seed round on October 13, 2026. The funding will help the company tackle the downlink bottleneck and limited onboard computing power that currently constrain space missions. By deploying artificial intelligence and edge‑computing solutions, Satlyt aims to enable real‑time data processing directly in orbit. This move positions the firm to transform how satellites manage and transmit information.
Germany Arrests Two Suspects Over Arson Attack at Starlink Ground Station in Poland
Original Publication Date: 2026-10-13 18:24
On October 12, 2026, Polish officials announced that German police had arrested two Turkish nationals suspected of orchestrating an arson attack on a Starlink satellite gateway in Poland. The suspects are believed to have targeted the ground station to disrupt satellite communications, raising concerns over the security of critical space infrastructure. Authorities say the investigation is ongoing and that the suspects face serious charges. The incident underscores the growing threat to satellite networks and the importance of international cooperation in safeguarding them.
Czech Defense Group CSG Acquires 9.5% Anchor Stake in MDA Space for $434 Million
Original Publication Date: 2026-10-13 17:39
On October 13, 2026, Czech defense and industrial conglomerate Czechoslovak Group announced it had taken a 9.5 percent stake in Canadian satellite maker MDA Space Ltd., marking the first major European investment in the Canadian space sector. The deal is expected to strengthen MDA’s supply chain and broaden its reach into European markets. CSG said the acquisition will support its strategy to expand into advanced technology sectors across the globe. The move signals a growing trend of cross‑border collaboration in the rapidly evolving space industry.
Hurricane Simon Lurks Off the Mexican Coast
Original Publication Date: 2026-10-14 04:01
Hurricane Simon, a Category 4 storm, brushed the Mexican Pacific coast on October 11, 2026, with sustained winds reaching 250 km/h (155 mph) as it passed just 50 km offshore between Manzanillo and Puerto Vallarta. The Sierra Madre mountains helped shrink its wind field, but the storm still dumped heavy rain, caused flooding in coastal towns like Manzanillo, and raised mudslide risks in the mountains. Satellite imagery from Suomi NPP and NOAA‑21 captured not only the eye but also atmospheric gravity waves radiating into the upper atmosphere, a rare visual of a cyclone’s influence on the mesosphere. Forecasts for Simon’s future path and intensity remain uncertain, while large swells threaten dangerous nearshore conditions along Mexico’s southwestern and west‑central coasts.
NASA Names Astronaut Christina Koch Acting Deputy Chief Engineer
Original Publication Date: 2026-10-13 20:41
NASA has named astronaut Christina Koch its acting deputy chief engineer, effective Nov. 1, after Katherine Van Hooser retires on Oct. 21. Koch, who spent 328 days on the International Space Station and flew on Artemis II, will lead the agency’s engineering community, overseeing technical oversight, mission readiness and excellence across all programs. The appointment moves Koch into a management astronaut role, making her ineligible for future spaceflights.
Comparing Off-World Rover Driving Distances
Original Publication Date: 2026-10-13 17:56
NASA’s latest infographic compares how far rovers have traveled on the Moon and Mars, highlighting the active Mars rovers Perseverance and Curiosity. As of October 11, 2026, Perseverance has surpassed the distance record set by Opportunity, which stopped after covering about 28.1 miles in 2018. The data, compiled by JPL‑Caltech for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, underscores the continued success of the Mars Exploration Program. This milestone showcases the enduring capabilities of robotic exploration beyond Earth.
NASA JPL Testing Readies Voyager Technologies Lander for Moon Mission
Original Publication Date: 2026-10-13 13:00
Griffin‑1, a commercial lander from Voyager Technologies, has passed a battery of rigorous tests at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, proving it can survive the harsh conditions of space and launch. The tests simulated extreme temperatures, vacuum, vibration, and acoustic loads, including a two‑week thermal cycle between 167 °F and –148 °F in the historic 25‑foot Space Simulator.
Launch Preview: Falcon 9, ZhuQue-2E to launch during quiet week
Original Publication Date: 2026-10-13 22:09
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 dominated this week’s launch schedule with three flights: a Starlink Group 15‑25 launch from Vandenberg on Oct. 12, a CRS‑35 cargo Dragon resupply to the International Space Station from Cape Canaveral on Oct. 13, and
Anna Shaposhnik, ORBES
Original Publication Date: 2026-10-13 12:45
In 2024, Anna Shaposhnik founded ORBES, a California‑based startup that aims to cut the $130,000 per hour cost of human astronauts by deploying robots for both practical and artistic tasks in space. The company’s first product, ORB, will fly aboard the ISS next year to assist with interior operations, while EXO‑ORB is slated for a demo on Symphony Space’s Adagio platform in late 2027 or early 2028 to capture exterior footage of satellites and spacecraft. These missions will not only enable engineers to inspect and maintain space structures but also open the door to filming movies and creating virtual reality experiences of space stations. By providing essential visual data and operational support, ORBES hopes to become a trusted partner for future space infrastructure projects.
Brianna Clark, Vast
Original Publication Date: 2026-10-13 12:45
Los Angeles residents watched the Space Shuttle Endeavour glide over the city on a 747 in 2012, and a decade later Brianna Clark—now a propulsion engineer at Vast—helped build the ship that will launch the Vast Haven‑1 spacecraft in early 2027. Clark’s work on the Haven demo focuses on technologies that support human life in low‑Earth orbit and also deliver medical and pharmaceutical research to benefit everyday people. From childhood “satellite” projects made of coffee cans to internships at Relativity Space, Blue Origin, and Vast, she has earned fellowships with Zed Factor and Brooke Owens, underscoring her commitment to making space accessible. She believes that commercial spaceflight is finally bridging the gap between the public and the cosmos, allowing anyone to look up and see their own contribution to space.
Kayla Bigham, FAA
Original Publication Date: 2026-10-13 12:45
Kayla Bigham, a 27‑year‑old former oil‑and‑gas safety investigator, now serves as a flight‑safety analyst for the FAA’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation, ensuring rockets and reentry capsules can fly without jeopardizing public safety. Her career began with studying fire and gas explosions, a foundation that gives her a holistic view of how failures can cause property damage and personal harm—skills she now applies to every system on every launch vehicle. Bigham has helped shape Part 450, new regulations designed to streamline launch approvals while keeping safety at the forefront, and she argues that regulators are champions of commercial space, not stiflers. She believes that the industry can thrive if safety is rigorously enforced, and she remains committed to protecting the public as space exploration expands.
Bryce Kelly, Deloitte
Original Publication Date: 2026-10-13 12:45
Bryce Kelly, a Deloitte strategy and transformation consultant, has become a key connector in Washington’s booming space sector, regularly attending Space Happy Hour to link industry friends and opportunities. A Seattle native who studied international relations at Pomona College, Kelly discovered the commercial space world through a classmate and has since secured internships at the National Defense Industrial Association, the U.S. Commerce and State departments, and now works at Deloitte.
On this day in space! Oct. 13, 1773: Astronomer Charles Messier discovers the Whirlpool Galaxy before we ever knew it was a galaxy
Original Publication Date: 2026-10-13 21:00
On October 13, 1773, French astronomer Charles Messier first cataloged the Whirlpool Galaxy as M51 while searching for objects that could be mistaken for comets, though he did not recognize its spiral structure. The galaxy, located about 31 million light‑years from Earth, was later identified as a true spiral galaxy by Edwin Hubble after William Parsons noted its whirlpool shape in 1845.
Earth's poles shifted surprisingly fast during the age of dinosaurs, ancient sea levels reveal
Original Publication Date: 2026-10-13 18:00
Scientists have discovered that Earth's geographic poles have shifted in sudden bursts, moving up to 0.6 degrees per million years—faster than the slow dance of plate tectonics—during several key periods from the Jurassic to the Miocene. By mapping ancient sea‑level changes that mirror the planet’s shifting mass distribution, researchers pinpointed four major episodes of true polar wander. These rapid pole migrations would have reshaped climates, moving polar regions toward lower latitudes and altering global weather patterns. This new evidence reshapes our understanding of how Earth's crust and mantle balance their mass and the profound effects on life’s evolution.
SpaceX rocket launch creates incredible 'space jellyfish' visible throughout US East Coast (photos)
Original Publication Date: 2026-10-13 17:02
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 lifted off from Cape Canaveral at 6:35 a.m. EDT, carrying the CRS‑35 Dragon cargo spacecraft to the International Space Station. The rocket’s bright plume formed a spectacular “space jellyfish” that could be seen from Georgia to North Carolina, delighting viewers along the U.S. East Coast. The 6,300‑pound payload, filled with scientific experiments, is scheduled to arrive at the ISS on Oct. 15 and dock at the Harmony module. This launch marks SpaceX’s 35th commercial resupply mission for NASA.
2 spacecraft in orbit and 8 more coming soon: Varda has big plans for in-space manufacturing
Original Publication Date: 2026-10-13 16:00
Varda Space Industries made history on Oct. 1 when it launched two refrigerator‑sized reentry vehicles on SpaceX's Transporter‑18, the first time multiple commercial reentry capsules were sent to orbit simultaneously.