Space news and analysis

Spaceflight news with a technology angle: Mars and Moon science missions, the data agencies such as NASA and JAXA publish, and startups building factories in orbit. Each story gives the dates, figures and what comes next.

An H3 rocket climbing on a bright exhaust plume above the hills of Tanegashima, Japan, during an earlier launch in February 2025.

JAXA MMX launches on H3 to bring back Phobos samples

Japan's MMX probe separated from its H3 rocket 71 minutes after liftoff and heads for Mars, aiming to bring at least 10 grams of Phobos home in 2031.

Oct 20, 2026

The Moon's cratered surface along the line between day and night, photographed by the Artemis II crew during the lunar flyby.

NASA releases over 800GB of Artemis II Moon data

NASA put more than 800GB of Artemis II lunar science data online on October 7: over 11,000 images and videos, 8.5 hours of crew audio and their notes.

Oct 12, 2026

Varda's photo of one of its returned capsules resting on a dry lakebed, shown in the company's orange and blue color treatment.

Startup Watch

Varda raises $251M to make medicines in orbit

Varda raised $251M at a $1.6B valuation to process drugs in orbit. It has flown six reentry missions since 2023 and plans more than a dozen through 2028.

Oct 3, 2026

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