Articles tagged with "space-exploration"
China’s Shijian satellites split after secret on-orbit refueling test
China’s experimental Shijian-21 and Shijian-25 satellites recently conducted a historic on-orbit refueling test in geosynchronous orbit (GEO), marking a potential strategic milestone. The two satellites, which docked around late June 2023 after several rendezvous and proximity operations, have now separated at an altitude of approximately 22,236 miles (35,786 km) above Earth’s equator. This maneuver likely signifies the completion of a successful refueling operation, although official confirmation from Chinese authorities remains absent. The Shijian-25 satellite, launched in January 2023, was confirmed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology to focus on testing on-orbit refueling and mission extension technologies in GEO. The significance of this test lies in its dual-use potential: on-orbit refueling is critical for future deep-space exploration missions, enabling spacecraft to extend their operational lifespans and travel farther, such as missions to the Moon and beyond. Militarily,
energysatellite-technologyspace-explorationon-orbit-refuelinggeosynchronous-orbitspacecraft-maintenancespace-technologyChernobyl nuclear fungus may shield astronauts from radiation in space
A unique black fungus discovered at the Chernobyl nuclear disaster site has demonstrated an extraordinary ability to not only survive but thrive by utilizing ionizing radiation as a source of energy. First identified in 1997 by mycologist Nelli Zhdanova, this melanized fungus colonizes highly radioactive environments, challenging previous assumptions about life's resilience to radiation. The pigment melanin, which is abundant in the fungus’s cell walls, appears to play a crucial role by converting harmful radiation into usable metabolic energy through a process termed radiosynthesis. Studies showed that these fungi grew faster when exposed to radioactive materials, indicating an active use of radiation rather than mere protection from it. Further research extended to space environments, where samples of the fungus Cladosporium sphaerospermum were sent to the International Space Station (ISS). There, the fungi not only thrived under intense cosmic radiation but also demonstrated a capacity to shield against it, suggesting potential as a biological radiation barrier. This discovery holds significant promise for space
energyradiationspace-explorationfungimelanincosmic-radiationastronaut-protectionBlue Origin reveals a super-heavy variant of its New Glenn rocket that is taller than a Saturn V
Blue Origin has unveiled a super-heavy variant of its New Glenn rocket, dubbed New Glenn 9×4, which will be taller than the historic Saturn V and comparable in size to SpaceX’s Starship. This upgraded version features nine engines on the booster stage and four on the upper stage, an increase from the current New Glenn 7×2’s seven and two engines, respectively. The enhanced thrust will enable the rocket to carry over 70 metric tons to low-Earth orbit, positioning it as a strong contender for large-scale missions such as mega-constellations, lunar and deep space exploration, and national security projects like Golden Dome. The new design also includes a significantly larger payload fairing to accommodate bigger cargo. Alongside the introduction of the New Glenn 9×4, Blue Origin has improved the existing 7×2 model by increasing its total thrust and adding reusable fairings to reduce turnaround time between launches. The company is actively competing with SpaceX for NASA lunar missions and
energyaerospacerocket-technologyspace-explorationreusable-rocketslaunch-vehiclespropulsion-systemsOp-Ed: "Wild East" Gamble: Why VinFast is Burning Cash to Reach the Stars - CleanTechnica
The article from CleanTechnica discusses VinFast’s aggressive and financially risky expansion strategy, particularly focusing on its push into the U.S. electric vehicle (EV) market and its surprising investment in space exploration through a new venture called VinSpace Joint Stock Company. Despite the lack of audited financial reports, VinFast continues to burn significant cash, reminiscent of Tesla’s early years, with the intent of dominating the global EV market in the long term. The company’s bold approach includes innovative marketing efforts, such as a residual value program in Southeast Asia and a strong presence at major U.S. EV events, despite some setbacks like negative press around its VF8 model. VinFast’s financials reveal rapid growth in production and sales: in the first half of 2025, it delivered over 72,000 EVs—a 223% increase year-over-year—and more than 114,000 two-wheelers, up 447%. Revenue for Q2 2025 nearly doubled to $663 million compared to
energyelectric-vehiclesVinFastspace-explorationsatellite-telecommunicationsrenewable-energyelectrificationWireless charging tech may unlock cheaper, smarter rover missions
Scientists and the Imperial College London spinoff Bumblebee Power have developed a high-frequency Inductive Wireless Power Transfer (IWPT) system designed to wirelessly charge Mars rovers, potentially enabling longer and more cost-effective space missions. Unlike current rovers like NASA’s Perseverance, which rely on expensive and limited plutonium-238-powered Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (MMRTGs), Bumblebee’s wireless charging technology can transmit electricity over greater distances and with higher tolerance for misalignment. This capability is crucial for space applications where manual repositioning of charging points is impossible. Bumblebee Power’s IWPT system operates at three times the distance and with three times the misalignment tolerance compared to existing wireless chargers, allowing multiple devices to be charged from a single pad. Originating from Imperial College London’s Wireless Power Lab, the technology was initially intended for terrestrial electronics and electric vehicles but has promising applications for off-world exploration. By removing the need for physical power connectors,
robotenergywireless-chargingMars-roverspace-explorationinductive-power-transferelectric-vehiclesAmericium: How a long-life nuclear fuel will transform space travel
The article discusses the critical role of nuclear power sources, specifically radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs) fueled by plutonium-238, in enabling long-duration space missions like the Voyager spacecraft, which have operated for nearly 50 years in deep space. Plutonium-238’s steady radioactive decay produces heat converted into electricity without moving parts, providing reliable power far from the Sun where solar energy is insufficient. Despite its effectiveness and a half-life of 88 years, plutonium-238 is scarce because it does not occur naturally and must be artificially produced in nuclear reactors, with current production rates unable to meet the growing demands of space exploration. To address this supply limitation, scientists are exploring americium-241 as a promising alternative nuclear fuel. Americium-241, first synthesized during the Manhattan Project, has a much longer half-life of 432 years, potentially enabling power sources that last for centuries rather than decades. This extended longevity could revolutionize deep space missions by supporting spacecraft
energynuclear-powerspace-explorationradioisotope-thermoelectric-generatorsamericiumplutonium-238deep-space-missionsBlue Origin launches 321-foot rocket with twin NASA orbiters to Mars
Blue Origin successfully launched its New Glenn rocket on its second flight from Cape Canaveral, carrying NASA’s twin ESCAPADE (Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers) spacecraft destined for Mars. The 321-foot rocket lifted off after a delay caused by weather and solar storms. The $80 million mission aims to study Mars’s upper atmosphere and magnetic fields to understand how solar wind interactions contributed to the planet’s atmospheric loss, which transformed Mars from a wet environment to a dry one. This research is critical for protecting future astronauts from radiation and advancing NASA’s goal of safely sending humans to Mars. A significant milestone for Blue Origin was the successful recovery of the New Glenn booster stage, which landed upright on an offshore barge, demonstrating reusable rocket technology similar to SpaceX’s approach. The twin ESCAPADE spacecraft will first travel to Lagrange Point 2 near Earth, waiting until November 2026 for optimal planetary alignment to use Earth’s gravity for a slingshot maneuver toward Mars
energyspace-explorationrocket-launchMars-missionNASABlue-OriginspacecraftBlue Origin sticks first New Glenn rocket landing and launches NASA spacecraft
Blue Origin successfully landed the booster of its New Glenn rocket on a drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean during its second launch attempt, becoming the second company after SpaceX to achieve this milestone. The launch, which took place on Thursday from Cape Canaveral, Florida, also marked the deployment of New Glenn’s first commercial payload: twin NASA spacecraft destined to study Mars’ atmosphere. This dual achievement is significant for Blue Origin’s efforts to establish New Glenn as a viable option for sending larger payloads to space, the Moon, and beyond, positioning the company as a competitor to SpaceX’s dominant launch services. The booster landing is a critical step toward making New Glenn reusable, a capability that reduces launch costs and is essential for commercial and government missions. Blue Origin had faced delays and a failed booster landing during New Glenn’s maiden flight in January but made necessary fixes in coordination with the FAA to ensure success on this second attempt. Looking ahead, Blue Origin must demonstrate the ability to refurbish and relaunch the
energyspace-explorationreusable-rocketsBlue-OriginNASArocket-landingaerospace-technologyTerrifying Solar System spots that are deadlier than any place on Earth
The article highlights some of the most hazardous locations in the Solar System, emphasizing environments far deadlier than any on Earth. Mercury’s Terminator Line presents extreme temperature contrasts, from scorching 430°C on the sunlit side to frigid –180°C on the dark side, combined with near-vacuum and intense solar radiation. Jupiter’s Great Red Spot and Neptune’s Great Dark Spot are enormous, violent storms with wind speeds up to 432 km/h and 2,100 km/h respectively, posing lethal atmospheric conditions. Venus’s Aphrodite Terra is a vast highland region with crushing pressures about 90 times Earth’s, surface temperatures around 460°C, and a corrosive atmosphere of carbon dioxide and sulfuric acid, compounded by rugged terrain. Further dangers include Enceladus’s south pole “tiger stripes,” fissures emitting jets of water vapor and organic compounds, creating a geologically unstable and cryogenic environment with icy plumes and low gravity. Saturn’s Encke Gap
energymaterialsspace-explorationextreme-environmentsplanetary-sciencethermal-shockatmospheric-phenomenaIs Space Running Out of Nuclear Fuel?
The article discusses the challenges of powering space exploration missions, particularly those venturing into the outer solar system where solar energy is insufficient. For over five decades, NASA has relied on plutonium-based Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (RTGs) to provide reliable power for rovers and space probes. However, the United States has now nearly depleted its plutonium reserves, posing significant obstacles for upcoming missions that depend on this fuel source. To address this shortage, researchers are exploring Americium as a promising alternative to plutonium. Americium’s availability, especially in Europe, offers potential to either replace or supplement plutonium in future space power systems. The article features insights from experts such as Chris Whiting from NASA’s Glenn Research Center and Dr. Ramy Mesalam from the University of Leicester’s Perpetual Atomics, highlighting ongoing efforts to develop Americium-based technologies for space applications.
energynuclear-fuelspace-explorationRTGsplutoniumamericiumNASADesigning space robots: Harmonic Drive shares history, looks ahead
The article summarizes a special episode of The Robot Report Podcast featuring Harmonic Drive engineer Chris Finger, who discusses the company’s historic and ongoing contributions to space robotics. Harmonic Drive has played a critical role since the 1960s, providing precision drive systems for landmark missions such as Mariner 4 and the Apollo lunar rovers. Finger highlights the stringent reliability requirements for space robotics—often demanding 99.99% uptime—and the technical challenges posed by harsh conditions like extreme temperature fluctuations and vacuum environments. The discussion also covers how emerging space operators like SpaceX and Amazon are driving shifts toward more cost-effective satellite constellations, influencing design priorities. Harmonic Drive’s solutions offer advantages in material flexibility and configuration adaptability, making them well-suited for evolving space applications. Additionally, the episode touches on the expanding industrial ecosystem in space, including private sector ambitions for in-orbit manufacturing and resource utilization, underscoring the growing importance of robotics in future space exploration.
robotspace-roboticsHarmonic-Drivelunar-roversspace-explorationsatellite-constellationsin-orbit-manufacturingSurviving Mars: How humans are preparing to live beyond earth
The article "Surviving Mars: How humans are preparing to live beyond earth" outlines the immense challenges humanity faces in attempting long-duration space travel to Mars, focusing on the physiological, psychological, and environmental hurdles. Unlike Earth, where gravity, atmosphere, and ecosystems support life, Mars missions require humans to endure prolonged exposure to microgravity, radiation, and isolation without immediate rescue or support. While the International Space Station has provided valuable insights into living in space, Mars is vastly farther away—about 225 million kilometers—making every medical, logistical, and psychological challenge more complex. Current technology means a Mars mission could last up to three years, with no possibility of emergency evacuation, requiring astronauts to be highly self-reliant, particularly in medical emergencies where telemedicine and AI-assisted tools may be critical. Psychological resilience is highlighted as a key factor for mission success, given the extreme isolation, confinement, and communication delays that astronauts will face. Studies simulating Mars missions on Earth have shown significant mental
robotAItelemedicinespace-explorationlife-support-systemsradiation-shieldingspace-health-technologyScientists plan to turn astronaut pee and air into edible space food
Scientists, led by the European Space Agency (ESA), are developing a novel method to produce edible protein in space using minimal resources—specifically, microbes from the air and urea derived from astronaut urine. This initiative addresses the critical challenge of sustaining astronauts on long-duration missions, such as trips to Mars, where resupplying food from Earth is impractical due to long transit times. The project, named Hydrogen Oxidizing Bacteria in Weightlessness as a Source of Nutrition (HOBI-WAN), is part of ESA’s Terrae Novae Exploration Programme and focuses on testing a powdered protein called Solein, created by Finnish company Solar Foods. Solein is produced via gas fermentation, where bacteria convert nutrients into an edible powder. On Earth, ammonia serves as the nitrogen source for this process, but in space, urea from urine will replace ammonia due to its availability. Because microgravity affects the behavior of gases and liquids, ESA and its partners, including OHB System AG,
energyspace-food-technologysustainable-food-productionbioreactorprotein-synthesismicrogravity-researchspace-explorationSaturn’s icy moon has long-term stability required for life to develop
A recent study has revealed that Saturn’s moon Enceladus exhibits significant heat flow at its north pole, overturning prior beliefs that heat loss was limited to the active south pole. This discovery confirms that Enceladus emits more heat than expected for a passive body, supporting the idea that it has the long-term stability necessary for life to develop. Enceladus is known to have a global, salty subsurface ocean heated by tidal forces from Saturn’s gravity, providing liquid water, heat, and essential chemicals like phosphorus and complex hydrocarbons—conditions considered favorable for life beyond Earth. The research, led by scientists from Oxford University, the Southwest Research Institute, and the Planetary Science Institute, used data from NASA’s Cassini spacecraft to compare thermal emissions at the north pole during different seasons. Their findings indicate that Enceladus maintains a balance of energy gains and losses through tidal heating, which is crucial for sustaining its subsurface ocean without freezing or overheating. Additionally, the study estimated
energyspace-explorationplanetary-scienceEnceladusheat-flowastrobiologytidal-heatingSpaceX’s Starship: The world’s most powerful rocket explained
SpaceX’s Starship is currently the world’s most powerful rocket, designed to enable human missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. Its Super Heavy booster, equipped with 33 Raptor engines, generates about 16 million pounds of thrust—more than twice that of the Saturn V and significantly exceeding NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS). Starship aims to deliver up to 100 metric tons to low Earth orbit (LEO) in a reusable configuration and up to 200 tons expendably, surpassing the payload capacities of previous heavy-lift rockets. A key innovation is its full reusability: both the booster and the upper stage are designed to return safely and be reused, a capability scaled up from SpaceX’s earlier Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets. The Starship program has evolved through several versions since its inception in 2012. Version 2 marked a significant improvement with increased height, propellant capacity, and advanced Raptor engines, alongside design enhancements like a
energyaerospacerocket-technologyreusable-rocketsspace-explorationpropulsion-systemsSpaceXImpulse Space details plan to deliver up to 6 tons a year to the Moon
Impulse Space announced plans to deliver up to six tons of cargo annually to the Moon starting as early as 2028, targeting a niche in lunar logistics for mid-sized payloads. Their approach involves pairing a new lunar lander with a high-energy "Helios" kick stage, enabling transport of payloads ranging from 0.5 to 13 tons without the need for orbital refueling. This capacity aims to fill a gap between NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services landers, which handle smaller payloads, and the larger human-rated landers under development by SpaceX and Blue Origin. Potential cargo includes rovers, habitat modules, power generators, communication systems, and lunar terrain vehicles. The mission architecture involves launching the lander and Helios on a standard rocket into low Earth orbit, where Helios will ferry the lander to low lunar orbit within seven days. The lander then separates and descends to the lunar surface. Impulse Space is leveraging its expertise in spacecraft engine development, currently
energyspace-explorationlunar-landerspacecraft-enginepayload-deliverylunar-logisticsspace-technologyUS firms to trial nuclear reactor aboard satellite for space travel
Texas-based Space Ocean Corporation and Space Nuclear Power Corporation have signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to collaborate on testing a 10-kilowatt micro nuclear reactor aboard Space Ocean’s ALV-N satellite. This partnership aims to integrate Space Nukes’ reactor technology with Space Ocean’s fluid logistics and delivery infrastructure to support sustained orbital and planetary missions, including lunar and deep space operations. If successful, Space Nukes will become a key supplier of nuclear power units for future Space Ocean missions. The reactor technology is based on the KRUSTY design developed by Los Alamos National Laboratory for NASA, which has been ground-tested and requires no further development or testing, offering a scalable, reliable power source for long-duration space missions. Space Nukes’ first-generation reactors, ranging from 1 to 20 kWe, are compact and lightweight enough for various deep space applications and are designed to operate autonomously for decades. The 10-kWe variant weighs approximately 1,300 kg and uses a highly
energynuclear-reactorspace-technologymicroreactorsatellite-powerspace-explorationnuclear-power-unitsRobot Talk Episode 127 – Robots exploring other planets, with Frances Zhu - Robohub
In the Robot Talk Episode 127, Claire interviews Frances Zhu from the Colorado School of Mines about the development and application of intelligent robotic systems for space exploration. Frances Zhu, who holds advanced degrees in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering including a Ph.D. from Cornell University, has a strong background in machine learning, dynamics, systems, and controls engineering. Her previous roles include being a NASA Space Technology Research Fellow and an Assistant Research Professor at the University of Hawaii, where she focused on geophysics and planetology. Since 2025, Zhu has been an Assistant Professor at the Colorado School of Mines, contributing to both the Robotics and Space Resources programs. The episode highlights her expertise in designing autonomous robots capable of exploring other planets, emphasizing the integration of advanced AI and control systems to navigate and operate in challenging extraterrestrial environments. The podcast, Robot Talk, regularly covers topics related to robotics, artificial intelligence, and autonomous machines, providing insights into cutting-edge research and technology in these fields.
robotroboticsspace-explorationautonomous-systemsmachine-learningaerospace-engineeringintelligent-robotsJeff Bezos’ Blue Origin Wins Contract to Take NASA Rover to the Moon
NASA has awarded Jeff Bezos’ aerospace company, Blue Origin, a $190 million contract through its Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program to potentially deliver the VIPER lunar rover to the Moon’s south pole. However, this award is contingent on Blue Origin demonstrating its capability to successfully land its Blue Moon MK1 lunar lander on the Moon by the end of 2025, carrying a NASA technology payload. The contract includes an option for Blue Origin to deliver and deploy the VIPER rover, which NASA will decide on after reviewing the success of the initial Blue Moon MK1 mission. The VIPER rover, designed to explore lunar ice and other resources, is about 2.5 meters tall, weighs nearly 500 kilograms, and is equipped with a drill and scientific instruments. Originally scheduled for launch in 2023, the mission has faced delays and cost increases, leading NASA to seek private partnerships to reduce expenses and focus on scientific objectives. Blue Origin’s Blue Moon MK1 lander will
robotspace-explorationlunar-roverNASABlue-Originlunar-landerroboticsNew kirigami parachute design stabilizes instantly in free fall
Engineers at Polytechnique Montréal have developed a novel parachute design inspired by kirigami, the Japanese art of folding and cutting. This parachute is created by laser-cutting a plastic sheet with a closed-loop kirigami pattern, which transforms the sheet into an inverted bell shape during free fall when weighted at its center. Unlike conventional parachutes, it stabilizes instantly, follows a straight ballistic descent without pitching, and uses a single suspension line, reducing tangling and enabling rapid deployment. The design’s seamless construction and predictable, pin-straight descent were confirmed through simulations, wind tunnel tests, laboratory experiments, and outdoor drone drops. The kirigami parachute’s unique structure allows air to pass through small slits formed by the cuts, preventing turbulent airflow that typically destabilizes traditional canopies. This results in smooth, steady descents that remain consistent across different sizes, making the design scalable for various payloads. The researchers see immediate applications in humanitarian aid deliveries to remote areas,
materialskirigamiparachute-designmechanical-engineeringaerospace-technologyhumanitarian-aidspace-explorationSpider-like robot can 3D print homes in a day to fight housing crunch
Australia has developed an advanced spider-like robot named Charlotte, designed to address the housing crisis by 3D printing low-cost, low-carbon homes rapidly. Created through a collaboration between Crest Robotics and Earthbuilt Technology, Charlotte can autonomously print a 200-square-metre house within 24 hours by transforming readily available materials such as sand, earth, and crushed brick into structural walls. The robot employs a sustainable Earthbagging-like technique, compacting these materials in fabric layers to build durable structures efficiently, offering a scalable solution to the slow and costly traditional construction methods. Beyond Earth, Charlotte is engineered for lunar construction, supporting NASA and other space agencies' ambitions to establish permanent bases on the Moon. Its lightweight, foldable hexapod design makes it highly portable for space travel, unlike bulky traditional 3D printers, and allows it to extrude and compact lunar soil to build habitats such as domed shelters. This innovation positions Charlotte within a competitive global effort alongside companies like ICON and AI SpaceFactory
robotics3D-printingconstruction-technologylunar-habitatsautonomous-robotssustainable-buildingspace-explorationHelium-3 mining on Moon: A new frontier for science and geopolitics
The article discusses the emerging interest in mining helium-3 from the Moon, highlighting its scientific, technological, and geopolitical significance. Helium-3, a rare, non-radioactive isotope embedded in the lunar regolith by billions of years of solar wind, holds promise for multiple advanced applications. It is crucial for cooling quantum computers to near absolute zero, enhancing medical imaging and security scanners, and potentially serving as a clean fusion fuel that produces minimal radioactive waste. These diverse uses make helium-3 a highly strategic resource, sparking a competitive race among nations, notably the United States, China, and Russia, with the European Union, India, and others also entering the fray. The Moon’s helium-3 reserves are estimated to be vast—possibly around a million metric tons—though dispersed at very low concentrations, requiring processing of large amounts of lunar soil. Earth’s supply is limited and insufficient to meet the anticipated demand from scaling quantum technologies and other uses. While helium-3 fusion remains theoretical and
energymaterialslunar-mininghelium-3fusion-fuelquantum-computingspace-explorationNASA’s new astronaut class includes SpaceX veterans Anna Menon and Yuri Kubo
NASA’s 2025 astronaut class includes two notable SpaceX veterans, Anna Menon and Yuri Kubo, highlighting the growing influence of private space companies in government astronaut selection. Menon, who joined SpaceX in 2018 after working at NASA’s Mission Control Center, served as a senior engineer and flew as a mission specialist and medical officer on the Polaris Dawn mission, which achieved the first commercial spacewalk. Kubo spent 12 years at SpaceX, holding key roles such as Falcon 9 launch director and overseeing the Starshield program and ground systems. These two are part of a select group of ten astronauts chosen from over 8,000 applicants, embarking on nearly two years of rigorous training covering robotics, geology, foreign languages, space medicine, simulated spacewalks, and flight training. This astronaut class is expected to join NASA’s active corps of over 40 astronauts and may contribute to future missions on the International Space Station, commercial private space stations post-ISS retirement in 203
roboticsspace-explorationastronaut-trainingSpaceXNASAcommercial-spaceflightspace-missionsBlue Origin wins NASA deal to ferry VIPER rover to lunar south pole
Blue Origin has secured a significant NASA contract to deliver the VIPER (Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover) to the lunar south pole using its uncrewed Blue Moon Mk1 lander. Valued at approximately $190 million under NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services program, this deal revives the VIPER mission after it was previously shelved due to delays and cost overruns with the original Griffin lander contractor. The rover, about the size of a golf cart, is scheduled to arrive on the moon by late 2027 and will spend around 100 days prospecting and drilling to map water ice deposits near the lunar south pole, a region believed to hold significant stores of water ice. The VIPER mission is crucial for NASA’s long-term lunar exploration goals, as identifying and utilizing in-situ resources like water ice could support sustainable human presence on the moon by providing drinking water, oxygen, and rocket propellant. This contract also marks a key milestone for Blue Origin, providing its
robotlunar-roverspace-explorationNASABlue-Originlunar-resourcesVIPER-roverBlue Origin to deliver NASA’s VIPER rover to Moon in late 2027
NASA has revived its VIPER (Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover) mission to explore the Moon’s south pole, awarding Blue Origin a $190 million Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) contract to deliver the rover in late 2027. VIPER will be transported on Blue Origin’s Blue Moon Mark 1 (MK1) lander, currently in production, and will conduct a 100-day science mission focused on investigating permanently shadowed regions for water ice and other volatiles. This mission supports NASA’s Artemis program goals of establishing a sustainable human presence on the Moon by identifying resources critical for astronaut survival and fuel production. The VIPER mission had previously faced cancellation in July 2024 due to technical delays and cost overruns, despite significant investment and rover assembly completion. However, after pausing dismantling efforts and reconsidering strategy, NASA officially reinstated the mission with Blue Origin’s involvement. Blue Origin will manage the entire landing process, including payload integration and rover deployment,
robotspace-explorationlunar-roverBlue-OriginNASAArtemis-missionlunar-landerChina warns US' shuttle-like craft could be used as 'space killer'
Chinese scientists have raised concerns about the U.S. military’s secretive X-37B space plane, warning it could be weaponized as a "space killer" and potentially used to maintain American space supremacy. The uncrewed, autonomous Boeing-designed craft, now on its eighth mission, has demonstrated advanced capabilities through multiple successful flights, covering over 1.3 billion miles and conducting various technology tests. Researchers from China’s Space Engineering University highlight that the X-37B’s dynamic and intelligent systems, enhanced by technologies like artificial intelligence and nuclear thermal propulsion, could integrate into the U.S. military’s Prompt Global Strike system, escalating space security risks and intensifying international competition. In response, China is advancing its own space capabilities with the reusable robotic Shenlong craft, which recently completed its third orbital test after 268 days in space. The Shenlong is suspected of signaling Earth while flying over North America in 2023, underscoring Beijing’s efforts to extend military reach into space and develop
robotspace-technologyautonomous-systemsmilitary-technologyartificial-intelligencespace-explorationaerospace-materialsUS team develops nuclear propulsion concept to shorten Mars trip
Ohio State University engineers have developed a novel nuclear thermal propulsion concept called the centrifugal nuclear thermal rocket (CNTR), which uses liquid uranium to directly heat rocket propellant. This design aims to double the efficiency of conventional nuclear thermal rockets, achieving a specific impulse of around 1800 seconds—significantly higher than the 450 seconds typical of chemical engines and 900 seconds of older nuclear models. The enhanced efficiency could reduce round-trip Mars missions to approximately 420 days, with the potential for one-way trips in just six months, thereby addressing the critical issue of prolonged astronaut exposure to space hazards. Beyond Mars, the CNTR’s powerful thrust and flexibility in propellant choice—including ammonia, methane, propane, or hydrazine—could enable faster missions to outer planets and Kuiper Belt objects, supporting both crewed and robotic exploration. The ability to utilize in-space resources could also facilitate sustainable space presence. However, the technology faces significant engineering challenges such as ensuring stable engine operation, minimizing uranium fuel loss
energynuclear-propulsionspace-explorationMars-missionrocket-technologyliquid-uraniumthermal-rocketMars rover finds spotted rock with possible ancient life signs
NASA’s Perseverance rover has discovered a rock in Mars’ Jezero Crater, named Sapphire Canyon, that exhibits minerals and features potentially indicative of ancient microbial life. Drilled in July 2024 from the Cheyava Falls rock within the Bright Angel formation, this reddish mudstone contains ring-shaped and dark speckled patterns. Scientists detected minerals such as vivianite (iron and phosphorus) and greigite (iron and sulfur), which on Earth often form through microbial activity. The presence of organic carbon, sulfur, phosphorus, and oxidized iron in the sample further suggests conditions that could have supported microbial metabolisms approximately 3.2 to 3.8 billion years ago when the crater was a lake. Despite the promising findings, researchers emphasize caution, noting that similar mineral formations can arise through non-biological chemical processes. Joel Hurowitz, lead author of the study, described the discovery as a “potential biosignature” but acknowledged that rover data alone cannot definit
robotMars-roverspace-explorationplanetary-scienceNASAPerseverance-roverastrobiologyChina planning mission to strike asteroid, alter its orbit: Report
China is advancing an ambitious planetary defense mission aimed at testing the capability to alter the orbit of a near-Earth asteroid by deliberately colliding a spacecraft with it. The mission, announced by Wu Weiren, chief designer of China’s lunar exploration program, involves launching two spacecraft: an observer to survey and collect detailed data on the asteroid, and an impactor to strike it at high velocity. The expected orbital deflection is modest—about 1.2 to 2 inches—but would demonstrate the feasibility of asteroid redirection. If launched within 2025, China would become the second country after the US to achieve such a milestone in planetary defense. The mission is part of China’s broader vision to establish a comprehensive planetary defense system incorporating early warning, in-orbit response, and preparedness for asteroid threats. Kinetic impact is central to this strategy, supported by other technologies to enhance effectiveness. Wu also expressed openness to international cooperation and data sharing to build a global asteroid defense network. This effort follows growing
space-explorationasteroid-deflectionplanetary-defensespacecraft-technologykinetic-impact-missionasteroid-miningspace-engineeringEngineering fantasy into reality - Robohub
Erik Ballesteros, inspired by childhood visits to NASA’s Johnson Space Center near his Texas hometown and a lifelong fascination with human space exploration, has realized his dream of contributing to astronautics through engineering. Now a PhD student in mechanical engineering at MIT, Ballesteros has interned at JSC, working on spacesuit materials, life support systems, and Mars rocket propulsion prototypes, as well as training astronauts on emergency systems. At MIT, he and his advisor Harry Asada are developing SuperLimbs, wearable robotic arms designed to assist astronauts by providing extra strength and mobility during spacewalks, such as lifting a fallen astronaut or enabling movement along spacecraft exteriors. This project is being refined in collaboration with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and is planned for practical testing with astronauts at JSC within the next few years. Ballesteros credits his success to the connections he has built and maintained across academia and industry, emphasizing the collaborative nature of innovation. His early interest in engineering was sparked by
robotroboticswearable-technologyspace-explorationastronaut-assistanceNASAmechanical-engineeringWhen stars die, black holes possibly turn their remains into dark energy
A recent study using data from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) challenges the long-held belief that dark energy—the force driving the accelerated expansion of the universe—is constant. By mapping millions of galaxies over three years, DESI’s observations suggest that dark energy’s influence has changed over cosmic time. The researchers propose the cosmologically coupled black hole (CCBH) hypothesis, which posits that black holes formed from the collapse of massive stars convert some ordinary matter into dark energy. This model predicts that dark energy density should correlate with the star formation rate, a relationship that DESI’s data supports. Beyond explaining the evolving nature of dark energy, the CCBH model also addresses other cosmological puzzles. It provides a physically consistent estimate for neutrino masses, aligning with ground-based experiments, unlike previous interpretations that yielded unphysical results. Additionally, the model helps reconcile discrepancies in measurements of the universe’s expansion rate (the Hubble tension) by suggesting that the conversion of matter into dark energy accelerated
robotdark-energyblack-holesastrophysicscosmologyDESI-telescopespace-explorationDiana-I Solar Sailer makes space travel comfortable, recreational
The Diana-I Solar Sailer, designed by John Lightbody, is a visionary spacecraft concept that prioritizes human comfort and well-being for long-duration space travel. Unlike conventional spacecraft that treat passengers as cargo, the Diana-I is designed as a livable space akin to a recreational vehicle, featuring amenities such as a kitchen, bed, shower, and dining area. Its interior draws inspiration from Zen Buddhism and Nordic spa culture, promoting a calm, mindful atmosphere with clean controls, meditative seating, and relaxing spaces. Panoramic glass domes provide expansive views of space, addressing the psychological needs of occupants during extended isolation, while natural materials like warm woods and soft textures create a homely, sustainable environment. A standout feature of the Diana-I is its propulsion system, which uses a solar sail to harness sunlight for continuous, emission-free acceleration, eliminating the need for traditional fuel. The adjustable sail offers pilots control similar to a boat’s rigging, making it a sustainable option for long-term exploration within the
energysolar-sailspace-travelsustainable-propulsionspacecraft-designrenewable-energyspace-explorationMeet Wukong, the AI Chatbot China Has Installed on Its Space Station
China has introduced Wukong, an AI chatbot named after the legendary Monkey King from Chinese mythology, aboard its Tiangong space station. Developed from a domestic open-source AI model, Wukong is tailored specifically for manned space missions, with a knowledge base focused on aerospace flight data. Connected to Tiangong on July 15 and operational a month later, Wukong supports astronauts by providing rapid information for complex operations, fault handling, psychological support, and coordination between space and ground teams. It played a key role during a six-and-a-half-hour spacewalk mission involving debris protection installation and routine station inspection. Wukong AI operates through two interconnected modules: one onboard the station handling immediate challenges, and another on Earth performing in-depth analysis. This dual-module setup allows it to adapt dynamically to mission needs, making it a sophisticated assistant focused on space navigation. While not the first AI in space—preceded by systems like NASA’s Astrobee and CIMON—Wukong
robotAIspace-stationaerospacelarge-language-modelspace-explorationintelligent-assistantUS' secret, unmanned military space plane to embark on new mission
The U.S. Space Force's secretive X-37B orbital test vehicle, an uncrewed and autonomous military space plane developed by Boeing, is set to launch its eighth mission on August 21, 2025, from Kennedy Space Center, Florida. The X-37B, resembling a smaller space shuttle, requires a rocket boost to reach orbit and will be carried aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket for this mission. Known for its modular design, the space plane supports a wide range of experiments and missions in both high and low Earth orbits, although many of its specific functions remain classified. Its autonomous re-entry capability allows for safe returns and rapid refurbishment, enabling multiple re-flights and contributing to ongoing space exploration and technological advancements. The X-37B recently completed its seventh mission in March 2025, successfully landing at Vandenberg Space Force Base after conducting various tests, including space domain awareness technology experiments. These experiments aim to enhance the U.S. Space Force’s
robotautonomous-spacecraftmilitary-technologyspace-explorationaerospace-engineeringunmanned-vehiclespace-domain-awarenessChina tests Long March-10 rocket with 990-ton thrust for moon mission
China has successfully conducted a critical ground test of the Long March-10 rocket’s first stage, marking a significant milestone toward its goal of a manned lunar mission by 2030. The test, performed at Hainan Island’s coastal spaceport, involved firing seven YF-100K engines simultaneously for 30 seconds, producing approximately 900 tonnes of thrust. This demonstrated the engines’ ability to operate in sync under both normal and high-power conditions, providing valuable data for future rocket development. The Long March-10, standing 92 meters tall and equipped with 21 engines in total, is about three times more powerful than China’s current Long March-5 rocket and can send roughly 27 tonnes toward the moon. The Long March-10 rocket is central to China’s lunar ambitions, which include a two-launch mission involving a crew vehicle (Mengzhou) and a lander (Lanyue) that will dock in lunar orbit before astronauts descend to the surface. Beyond the initial landing,
energyrocket-propulsionspace-explorationlunar-missionliquid-rocket-enginesthrust-testingaerospace-engineeringNASA has sparked a race to develop the data pipeline to Mars
NASA is transitioning from operating its own Mars data relay orbiters to purchasing connectivity as a service, similar to how it contracts launch and astronaut transport. This shift aims to replace the current patchwork relay network—primarily relying on aging spacecraft like Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and MAVEN—with a mixed infrastructure combining NASA assets and commercial providers. NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) program has issued a request for proposals (RFP) seeking capability studies to develop an interoperable marketplace for lunar and Mars communications, focusing on end-to-end data transfer from surface assets through orbiters to Earth. The challenge involves overcoming vast distances, latency, solar interference, and fault tolerance requirements. Several major companies have entered the race to provide these next-generation relay services. Blue Origin proposes a Mars Telecommunications Orbiter based on its Blue Ring platform, aiming for deployment as early as 2028. Rocket Lab has presented its own Mars telecom orbiter concept, integral to its Mars Sample Return mission architecture. NASA
space-communicationMars-missionsNASAsatellite-relaydeep-space-networktelecommunicationsspace-explorationOrbital refueling is hard. But it's the future of space travel
The article discusses the critical and complex challenge of orbital refueling, which is increasingly seen as essential for advancing human space exploration beyond Earth. SpaceX, NASA, and China are investing heavily in developing orbital gas stations to support missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. Orbital refueling enables spacecraft to carry less fuel at launch and extend their operational range, making ambitious missions like NASA’s Artemis program and future crewed Mars expeditions feasible. For example, SpaceX’s Starship system plans to use multiple tanker launches in orbit to refuel a lunar lander, allowing it to complete its journey to the Moon and back. Beyond exploration, orbital refueling is gaining strategic importance for military space operations. The US Space Force advocates for orbital propellant depots to maintain space superiority and enable satellite longevity and maneuverability. China has demonstrated in-orbit refueling with its Shijian satellites, highlighting the growing militarization of space and the need for sustained fuel supplies in orbit. However, the technical
energyspace-technologyorbital-refuelingNASASpaceXspace-explorationfuel-technology36-mile-long starship planned for humanity's first interstellar journey
The Chrysalis Project proposes a 36-mile-long, cigar-shaped multigenerational starship designed to carry up to 2,400 people on humanity’s first interstellar journey to Alpha Centauri, specifically aiming to reach and settle on the potentially habitable exoplanet Proxima Centauri b. The one-way trip would take approximately 400 years, requiring multiple generations to live and die aboard the ship without returning to Earth. The project won the top prize in the Project Hyperion Design Competition, which focuses on conceptual designs for deep-space multigenerational vessels. The spacecraft would be built at the Earth-Moon L1 Lagrangian point to leverage nearby resources and minimize structural stresses. Its design resembles a Russian nesting doll, featuring multiple self-contained layers that form a complete ecosystem. These layers include farms, biomes for biodiversity preservation, residential areas, and community facilities such as schools and hospitals, all powered by nuclear fusion reactors. Artificial gravity would be generated through constant rotation. Population control
energynuclear-fusionspace-explorationinterstellar-travelspacecraft-designartificial-gravitysustainable-habitatsWhy the US Is Racing to Build a Nuclear Reactor on the Moon
NASA aims to build a 100-kilowatt nuclear reactor on the Moon by 2030, an ambitious goal that could revolutionize space exploration by providing a substantial and reliable power source for lunar bases and future missions across the solar system. This initiative revives decades-old ambitions to scale up nuclear power in space and is partly driven by geopolitical competition, as China and Russia have announced plans to deploy a lunar reactor by the mid-2030s. Securing the first operational reactor on the Moon could allow a country to establish exclusive zones, potentially limiting other nations' activities, including NASA’s Artemis program intended to establish a permanent presence at the lunar South Pole. Experts believe the 2030 timeline is challenging but feasible given current technology. The main obstacles have historically been political will and mission demand rather than technical capability. Recent policy shifts, including NASA’s selection of nuclear power as the primary energy source for crewed Mars missions, combined with growing private sector interest from companies like Boeing and Lockheed Martin,
energynuclear-reactorspace-explorationlunar-powerNASAextraterrestrial-energyspace-technologyBlack-hole mission could become reality with paperclip-sized nanocraft
Astrophysicist Cosimo Bambi from Fudan University has proposed a century-long mission to send a paperclip-sized, gram-scale nanocraft to a black hole located roughly 20 to 25 light-years from Earth. The probe would be propelled by powerful ground-based lasers pushing a light sail to about one-third the speed of light, enabling it to reach the target black hole in approximately 70 years, with an additional 20 years planned for data transmission back to Earth. The mission aims to test fundamental physics and general relativity by directly studying an isolated black hole, which would provide cleaner experimental conditions than Earth-based observations that rely on complex theoretical models. The mission faces significant challenges, including the difficulty of locating a sufficiently close black hole, as black holes emit no light and must be detected via their gravitational effects. If the nearest black hole is beyond 50 light-years, the mission becomes technologically unfeasible. Additionally, current technology does not yet support the creation of such a nan
nanocraftlaser-propulsionspace-explorationnanotechnologyinterstellar-missionmicrochip-technologylight-sailFirefly wins $177M NASA deal for lunar south pole rover mission
Firefly Aerospace has been awarded a $176.7 million NASA contract under the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program to deliver five payloads to the Moon’s south pole in 2029. The mission will utilize Firefly’s Elytra orbital vehicle to carry the Blue Ghost lunar lander into lunar orbit. Blue Ghost will then deploy two rovers—including the Canadian Space Agency’s MoonRanger—and three scientific instruments designed to analyze lunar surface composition, assess environmental hazards, and study lander engine interactions with the regolith. The lander is expected to operate on the surface for over 12 days, while Elytra will remain in orbit for more than five years, providing data relay and imaging services via Firefly’s Ocula lunar imaging platform. This mission, known as Blue Ghost Mission 4, builds on Firefly’s prior success with Blue Ghost Mission 1, which completed all its scientific objectives. Firefly plans to expand its lunar presence by deploying two additional Elytra Dark vehicles
robotlunar-roverspace-explorationNASA-missionlunar-resourcesrobotic-missionlunar-imagingNASA needs your help reinventing wheels for Moon rovers
NASA, in collaboration with HeroX, has launched the “Rock and Roll with NASA Challenge,” inviting innovators worldwide to design and test new wheel and tire concepts for the MicroChariot Rover. This initiative aims to develop flexible, lightweight, and durable wheels capable of withstanding the Moon’s harsh environment while supporting sustainable surface operations and carrying payloads across rugged terrain. The challenge will unfold in three phases: ideation and design starting this fall, prototyping from winter to spring 2026, and a demonstration phase in summer 2026, with up to $150,000 in prizes available. NASA seeks wheel designs that improve upon rigid wheels by offering higher-speed mobility through better shock absorption, low mass, and extended service life. Participants must demonstrate how their designs can be scaled without re-tooling and explain the underlying science. Finalist prototypes will be tested on NASA’s 100-pound MicroChariot Ground Test Unit, capable of speeds up to 15 MPH. The challenge leverages crowdsourcing to
robotlunar-roverNASAwheel-designmaterials-engineeringspace-explorationmobility-technologyNASA tests new nuclear fuel that could outlast plutonium in space
NASA is exploring americium-241 as a promising alternative to plutonium-238 for powering long-duration space missions, particularly those venturing far from the Sun where solar energy is insufficient. Traditionally, NASA has relied on plutonium-238 in radioisotope power systems (RPS) for over six decades, but americium-241 offers advantages including a longer half-life (432 years) and potentially easier, more cost-effective production. In collaboration with the University of Leicester, NASA’s Glenn Research Center tested a Stirling generator powered by simulators mimicking americium-241 decay heat. This Stirling convertor features floating pistons without crankshafts or rotating bearings, enabling continuous operation for decades with minimal wear. Notably, the system maintained power output even after one convertor failed, demonstrating robustness crucial for deep-space missions. The successful prototype met performance and efficiency goals, prompting NASA to develop a next-generation testbed with reduced mass, improved fidelity, and readiness for environmental testing
energynuclear-fuelamericium-241NASAradioisotope-power-systemStirling-generatorspace-explorationA Top NASA Official Is Among Thousands of Staff Leaving the Agency
NASA is experiencing a significant exodus of staff amid the Trump administration’s proposal to cut the agency’s budget by 25 percent. Among those leaving is Makenzie Lystrup, director of the Goddard Space Flight Center since April 2023. Goddard, NASA’s largest scientific research center with over 8,000 employees and a $4.7 billion budget, manages major projects including the James Webb and Hubble telescopes and is assembling the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. Lystrup, who previously worked at Ball Aerospace and holds a doctorate in astrophysics, will step down on August 1, with deputy director Cynthia Simmons named acting chief. The announcement coincided with the release of “The Voyager Declaration,” an open letter signed by hundreds of current and former NASA employees expressing formal dissent against recent policy changes and budget cuts. The letter criticizes rapid programmatic shifts that risk wasting public resources, compromising safety, and undermining NASA’s core mission. It urges the administration to
robotspace-explorationNASArobotic-space-missionsaerospace-engineeringscientific-researchspace-telescopesElectromagnetic waves help catch Mercury’s hidden lithium fingerprint
Researchers have, for the first time, confirmed the presence of lithium on Mercury by detecting its unique electromagnetic signature rather than spotting lithium atoms directly. Using magnetic wave data from NASA’s MESSENGER mission, the team identified ion cyclotron waves (ICWs) specifically tuned to lithium ions, which are created when meteoroid impacts vaporize Mercury’s surface material. These impacts release neutral lithium atoms that quickly ionize under solar ultraviolet radiation, and as the solar wind interacts with these lithium ions, it generates detectable ICWs. The study found 12 distinct events over four years where these lithium-specific waves appeared, each lasting only minutes and linked to sudden meteoroid bombardments rather than slow processes like solar heating. This discovery provides crucial evidence that Mercury’s surface remains chemically active and is continuously reshaped by meteoroid impacts. The impacts, involving meteoroids up to 21 centimeters in radius traveling at speeds up to 110 km/s, create mini-explosions that vaporize large
materialselectromagnetic-waveslithium-detectionplanetary-scienceion-cyclotron-wavesspace-explorationMESSENGER-missionChina's 'magic' moon tech converts lunar soil into fuel and oxygen
Chinese scientists from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, have developed an innovative technology that extracts water from lunar soil and uses it to convert carbon dioxide (CO2) into oxygen and fuel chemicals. This breakthrough employs a novel photothermal strategy that harnesses sunlight to generate heat, enabling a one-step process that integrates water extraction and CO2 catalysis. Tested on lunar soil samples from China’s Chang’e-5 mission and simulated lunar materials, the technology uses ilmenite, a mineral in lunar soil, to drive the reaction. This advancement could significantly reduce the need to transport water and fuel from Earth, supporting sustainable human presence on the moon and future deep space exploration. Despite its promise, the technology faces challenges due to the harsh lunar environment, including extreme temperature fluctuations, intense radiation, and low gravity. Additionally, the natural variability in lunar soil composition and the limited amount of CO2 exhaled by astronauts may restrict the system’s ability to fully meet life-support needs. The current catalytic performance
energylunar-technologyphotothermal-catalysisspace-explorationfuel-productionoxygen-generationlunar-soil-materialsMars Sample Return under threat as Trump budget slashes NASA science
The Mars Sample Return (MSR) mission, a flagship NASA project designed to retrieve soil samples collected by the Perseverance rover on Mars and return them to Earth, faces cancellation under the Trump administration’s proposed FY26 budget. The mission, originally budgeted at over $7 billion and criticized by NASA’s Office of Inspector General for financial mismanagement and delays, has ballooned in cost estimates to potentially $11 billion. MSR is one of NASA’s most technically complex endeavors, involving landing a spacecraft near Perseverance’s sample caches, deploying a fetch rover, launching samples into Martian orbit, and transferring them to an orbiter for the journey back to Earth. In response to the budget threat, Lockheed Martin has proposed a significantly leaner, fixed-price alternative priced at $3 billion. This plan involves replacing existing spacecraft designs with lighter, proven models from previous planetary missions, aiming to reduce weight and thus fuel and overall costs. Lockheed Martin would absorb any cost overruns under this
robotspace-explorationNASAMars-roverplanetary-scienceaerospace-engineeringrobotic-missionsNASA's new toys for Artemis mission to map lunar subsurface, minerals
NASA has selected three new scientific instruments to study the moon’s south polar region as part of the Artemis mission. Two instruments—the Artemis Infrared Reflectance and Emission Spectrometer (AIRES) and the Lunar Microwave Active-Passive Spectrometer (L-MAPS)—will be mounted on the Artemis Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV), a rover designed to carry astronauts and operate remotely. AIRES will analyze sunlight reflection to detect minerals and volatiles on the surface, creating detailed compositional maps, while L-MAPS will use ground-penetrating radar and temperature sensors to scan up to 40 meters underground, locating buried ice and studying the subsurface structure. The third instrument, the Ultra-Compact Imaging Spectrometer for the Moon (UCIS-Moon), will be placed on a future moon-orbiting satellite to capture high-resolution images of surface water, minerals, and human impact, aiding resource mapping and astronaut navigation. These instruments collectively aim to enhance understanding of the moon’s composition and environment
robotlunar-roverArtemis-missionspace-explorationlunar-subsurface-mappingmineral-detectionNASA-technologyNuclear propulsion, solar sails could help reach Sedna in 7 years
Scientists from Italy have proposed two experimental spacecraft propulsion concepts—a nuclear fusion rocket and a solar sail—to reach the distant dwarf planet Sedna in as little as seven years. Sedna, discovered in 2003 and named after an Inuit goddess, orbits the Sun once every 10,000 years and will be at its closest approach (perihelion) of about 7 billion miles in 2076. This rare opportunity could enable a mission to study Sedna, which remains largely mysterious and holds clues about the early solar system. The proposed propulsion methods could reduce travel time by over 50% compared to traditional spacecraft, potentially enabling a mission duration between seven and ten years. The first concept, the Direct Fusion Drive (DFD) rocket engine under development at Princeton University, would generate thrust and electrical power from controlled nuclear fusion, offering continuous acceleration and a high thrust-to-weight ratio. However, challenges such as plasma stability and heat dissipation remain. The second concept involves a solar sail that harness
nuclear-propulsionsolar-sailsspace-explorationfusion-rocketspacecraft-technologydeep-space-traveladvanced-propulsion-systemsCongress just greenlit a NASA moon plan opposed by Musk and Isaacman
The U.S. Senate has approved a $10 billion increase in funding for NASA’s Artemis program as part of President Trump’s budget reconciliation bill, supporting legacy aerospace contractors and the continuation of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the lunar Gateway station. This decision counters critics like SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and entrepreneur Jared Isaacman, who have questioned the sustainability and cost-effectiveness of the SLS, a fully expendable rocket with production costs estimated around $2.5 billion per launch. Musk has criticized the SLS for its one-time-use design, contrasting it with SpaceX’s reusable rockets, while Isaacman acknowledged the SLS’s role in upcoming Artemis missions but doubted its viability for frequent lunar and Mars travel. Despite President Trump’s earlier proposal to phase out the SLS and Orion spacecraft after Artemis III, the new funding allocates approximately $4.1 billion for additional SLS rockets for Artemis missions 4 and 5, and $2.6 billion to complete the
energyaerospaceNASAspace-explorationSpace-Launch-SystemArtemis-programspace-technologyTrump’s 'Big Beautiful Bill' passed, cuts solar, funds Mars missions
The U.S. Senate has passed President Donald Trump’s expansive $3.3 trillion tax-and-spending bill, dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” by a narrow 51-50 vote with Vice President JD Vance casting the tie-breaking vote. The legislation extends Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, introduces new tax breaks on tipped and overtime income, significantly boosts military and immigration enforcement funding, and enacts deep cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and food assistance programs like SNAP. The bill now moves to the House of Representatives, where some Republican opposition could complicate its final passage. A major focus of the bill is on defense and space exploration, with military spending increased by $153 billion, including funds for a new missile defense system, shipbuilding, and nuclear deterrence. Space programs receive $10 billion for Mars missions and funding to de-orbit the International Space Station. However, the bill imposes stringent work requirements on Medicaid and SNAP recipients and
energysolar-energyMars-missionsspace-explorationmissile-defensenuclear-deterrencemilitary-spendingStarship mishap: Elon Musk’s woes continue with huge explosion before flight 10
SpaceX experienced a significant setback when the upper stage of its Starship Ship 36 exploded on the launch pad during a static fire test on June 18, 2025, delaying the planned tenth flight of the Starship rocket. The explosion occurred about 30 minutes after the propellant loading began at the company’s Starbase facility in southern Texas. Despite the dramatic event, SpaceX confirmed that no personnel were injured and no nearby property was damaged. The incident adds to a series of explosive failures that have challenged the Starship program, which is designed to enable human missions to the Moon and Mars. This latest mishap raises concerns about the Starship program’s ability to meet its ambitious schedule, especially given its critical role in NASA’s Artemis missions. The Artemis 3 mission, currently slated for 2027, depends on a modified Starship Human Landing System to return humans to the Moon for the first time since 1972. Elon Musk had previously indicated plans for a robot-crewed Star
robotspace-explorationrocket-technologyaerospace-engineeringSpaceXMars-missionlunar-landerCelebrating 200 podcast episodes; robotics evolve in space exploration
The Robot Report Podcast celebrated its 200th episode featuring Dr. Robert Ambrose, a leading expert in robotics and AI with over 20 years of experience spanning NASA, academia, and startups. Ambrose discussed the significant evolution of robotics in space exploration, highlighting pioneering projects he led at NASA’s Johnson Space Center such as Robonaut, Valkyrie, Centaur, and various lunar rovers including the LTV and VIPER. He emphasized the transition of space robotics technologies to commercial applications and the critical need for the U.S. to reclaim leadership in robotics innovation amid global competition, particularly from China. Ambrose also stressed the importance of education in developing future engineers and advocated for proactive adoption of automation across industries. Ambrose’s career includes key roles shaping national robotics strategy at NASA headquarters and directing advanced research programs at Texas A&M, focusing on robotic manipulation, surface mobility, and human augmentation. The podcast episode also commemorated milestones of The Robot Report Podcast itself, which launched in June 2020
roboticsspace-explorationNASAhumanoid-robotsrobotic-roversautonomous-systemswearable-roboticsNASA's nuclear rocket program canceled as Trump budget slashes space science
The Trump administration’s proposed NASA budget for fiscal year 2026 includes drastic cuts to space science funding, slashing it from $7.5 billion in 2025 to $3.9 billion. Among the programs targeted for elimination is DRACO, a nuclear thermal propulsion demonstrator developed by NASA and DARPA. DRACO was designed to use a nuclear reactor to heat liquid hydrogen fuel to extremely high temperatures, potentially doubling the efficiency of traditional chemical rockets and significantly reducing travel times for deep space missions, such as trips to Mars. The cancellation comes despite DRACO nearing its estimated launch date and reflects a broader pattern of prioritizing projects with quicker political or financial returns over long-term, generational technologies. The budget proposal has faced strong criticism from scientists, lawmakers, and space policy experts who warn that such cuts could lead to a decline in U.S. leadership in space exploration. NASA’s acting administrator, Janet Petro, justified ending nuclear propulsion projects by stating that near-term human exploration and science goals do
energynuclear-propulsionNASAspace-technologyDRACOspacecraftspace-explorationThis Chinese Spacecraft Is Traveling to One of Earth’s Quasi-Moons
The China National Space Administration (CNSA) has released the first image from its Tianwen-2 probe, currently over 3 million kilometers from Earth and en route to Kamo’oalewa, a near-Earth quasi-moon asteroid. Launched on May 29, 2023, Tianwen-2 aims to study Kamo’oalewa from a distance before landing on its surface in July 2026 to collect samples. After returning these samples to Earth, the spacecraft plans to use Earth’s gravity to slingshot toward another asteroid, 311P/PanSTARRS. The mission faces challenges such as landing on the asteroid’s low-gravity surface and will provide valuable data on the composition of rocky celestial bodies. Kamo’oalewa is one of seven known quasi-moons of Earth—asteroids that orbit the sun in a path similar to Earth’s but are not gravitationally bound to our planet. Discovered in 2016 near Hawaii, it is about
energyspace-explorationsolar-panelsspacecraftasteroid-samplingTianwen-2quasi-moonSolar Orbiter captures first-ever images of sun’s south pole
The Solar Orbiter spacecraft, a joint mission by the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA, has captured humanity’s first-ever images of the sun’s south pole by maneuvering 15 degrees below the solar equator. These unprecedented ultraviolet images reveal the sun’s chaotic magnetic south pole, providing critical insights into the sun’s 11-year magnetic polarity flip cycle. Unlike Earth’s stable magnetic poles, the sun’s magnetic field reverses approximately every 11 years, a process linked to solar maximum periods marked by intense sunspots and solar flares. The Solar Orbiter’s observations confirm a long-predicted but previously unseen fragmented magnetic mosaic of mixed north and south polarities at the sun’s base, crucial for understanding and forecasting solar activity. The sun’s uneven rotational speed—faster at the equator than at the poles—twists its magnetic field until it snaps and reverses polarity, driving the solar cycle’s dynamic behavior. As the sun approaches its next solar minimum in about five years
energysolar-energyspace-explorationmagnetic-fieldsolar-cycleSolar-Orbitersun's-south-poleRobot to explore Jupiter's icy moon in search for extraterrestrial life
robotextraterrestrial-lifeEuropa-ClipperNASAspace-explorationautonomous-technologyicy-moonTàu đổ bộ tư nhân Nhật Bản tiến vào quỹ đạo Mặt Trăng
robotspace-explorationlunar-landingenergy-efficiencyresource-extractionispaceTenaciousNASA’s Perseverance Rover Finds Strange Rocks on Mars
MarsNASAPerseverance-Rovergeologyspace-explorationastrobiologyscientific-research