Rescue mission is called off for NASA’s aging Swift space telescope
The mission to save NASA’s sinking Swift Observatory was called off Wednesday, dooming the telescope to a fiery reentry later this year.
Collaboration SPACE
America finds itself in Space Race 2.0 as humanity grows ever more dependent on the advanced technology in orbit and the lines between civil operations and national security are increasingly blurred. Threat Status at The Washington Times delivers in-depth and exclusive coverage as the great power competition for dominance accelerates across the 21st Century Frontier, with China, Russia and others challenging the United States as the world leader in the futuristic domain.
Before-and-after NASA images show crater carved by a SpaceX rocket that slammed into the moon
A NASA spacecraft circling the moon is providing the sharpest views yet of the crater carved by a crashing SpaceX rocket.
U.S. space and missile defense at center stage in Huntsville, Alabama
The future of space-based military operations, the need for quicker replenishment of munitions stockpiles, and President Trump’s Golden Dome missile shield are all in the spotlight as top Pentagon officials and defense contractors descend on a conference that opens here Tuesday.
Inside the U.S. Space and Missile Defense spending surge
Threat Status has partnered with Arlington-based Shield Capital portfolio company Obviant to take a deep dive into the critical line items in the 2027 NDAA during OPERATION Huntsville and the 2026 Space and Missile Defense Symposium.
South Korean satellite captures before and after views of SpaceX rocket’s moon crash
A South Korean satellite has captured the first pictures of the moon’s fresh crash scene caused by a stray SpaceX rocket.
Property rights in space: The debate has begun
On July 31, an important article appeared in the Wall Street Journal: “From Lunar Landing to Lunar Land Rights: Establishing Property in Space Is Crucial to Unlocking Its Economic Potential.”
5 questions about the SpaceX rocket’s collision with the moon
Leftover SpaceX rocket debris likely slammed into the moon this week, the latest sign of a “lunar litter” problem that could worsen as the U.S. and China race back to the moon.
Scientists are certain a wayward SpaceX rocket slammed into the moon as predicted
A SpaceX rocket that launched a pair of lunar landers undoubtedly slammed into the moon as predicted on Wednesday after drifting off course for the past year, scientists reported.
NASA’s newest wind tunnel in 40 years opens in Virginia
NASA opened its newest wind tunnel, the Flight Dynamics Research Facility, giving the agency and its partners a critical new resource for testing the safety and performance of future aircraft, rockets and space exploration vehicles, the agency said in a July 31 press release.
Musk likely to face tough questions during SpaceX’s first earnings call as a public company
Investors in Elon Musk’s space company get a chance to question him Tuesday after SpaceX issues its first quarterly earnings since going public.
Private mission to rescue NASA’s aging telescope runs into its own trouble
The spacecraft rushing to the rescue of an aging and sinking NASA telescope has run into its own problem.
A U.S.-Russian space crew lands safely in Kazakhstan after an 8-month stint on the ISS
A U.S.-Russian space crew landed safely in the steppes of Kazakhstan on Sunday after an eight-month stint on the International Space Station.
Space-based aspect of Trump’s ‘Golden Dome’ shield gets boost with $1.75 billion in new contracts
The Trump administration’s Golden Dome missile defense project is expanding its secretive network of space-based, missile-detecting satellites with a $1.75 billion dual contract for two defense technology companies, despite concerns on Capitol Hill about ballooning costs.
Soyuz crew docks at ISS after three-hour trip
NASA astronaut Anil Menon and Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina reached the International Space Station on Tuesday after launching earlier in the day from Kazakhstan, increasing the station’s population to 10 crew members for roughly the next two weeks, according to the space agency.
NASA chief visits Russia’s space launchpad for U.S.-Russian crew launch
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman was attending a scheduled launch Tuesday of a U.S.-Russian crew to the International Space Station, a sign of the ongoing cooperation in orbit between Moscow and Washington despite tensions over Russia’s military action in Ukraine.
Japan’s space agency conducts first test flight for experimental reusable rocket
Japan’s experimental reusable rocket took off and safely landed in a first test flight Saturday as the country seeks to achieve the technology key to cut launch costs and compete in the global space market dominated by SpaceX.
China takes a page from SpaceX and recaptures the first stage of a rocket to reuse it
China successfully recaptured the first stage of a rocket after a launch on Friday in a breakthrough for the country’s space program, state media said.
Artemis II astronauts reunite with their moonship 3 months after record-breaking flight
The Artemis II astronauts reunited with their capsule Wednesday three months after flying around the moon and traveling deeper into space than anyone in history.
Rescue mission launches to save NASA telescope that’s falling back to Earth
A three-armed spacecraft rocketed into orbit Friday to rescue a NASA telescope that’s in danger of crashing back to Earth.
NASA taps three companies to build first outpost on the Moon
NASA announced Tuesday the selection of three companies to land four new missions on the Moon in late 2028 as part of the agency’s Moon Base Program, according to a NASA press release. Astrobotic, Firefly Aerospace, and Intuitive Machines will deliver NASA science payloads to the lunar surface as the agency builds the first outpost on another celestial world, NASA said.
Space Force adds new mobile satellite jammer
A new electronic warfare system called Meadowlands is now operational and capable of disrupting enemy satellites, the Space Force announced Friday.
NASA selects DAPHNE mission to study space weather, atmospheric interaction
NASA said in a news release it has selected a new mission concept aimed at improving scientists’ understanding of how Earth’s atmosphere interacts with space weather, a step the agency says could lead to better forecasts for disruptions affecting GPS systems, satellites in low Earth orbit and astronauts in space.
NASA, Relativity Space partner to study Mars atmosphere ahead of human missions
NASA has announced a public-private partnership to advance Mars atmospheric science, pairing the agency’s scientific expertise with commercial capabilities from Relativity Space, the agency said Wednesday.
Musk’s money makes us all richer
Sens. Bernard Sanders and the rest of the tax-the-rich crowd are on the warpath because SpaceX owner Elon Musk is apparently the world’s first trillionaire.
SpaceX buys AI coding startup Cursor for $60 billion in race for an edge over Anthropic and OpenAI
SpaceX will move forward with its $60 billion acquisition of artificial intelligence startup Cursor as Elon Musk’s space exploration and AI company seeks a competitive edge against rivals Anthropic and OpenAI after its Wall Street debut last week.
Iran might aim to hit Musk’s SpaceX, Starlink facilities
Iran is considering Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Starlink facilities across the Middle East as possible military targets as it aims to retaliate against President Trump’s newest threats, state-aligned Fars News Agency reported Thursday.
Elon Musk’s SpaceX is about to make its debut on Wall Street. What to know
Elon Musk’s rocket company SpaceX will make its debut on Wall Street Friday and both institutional and retail investors are expected to gobble up the 555.6 million shares going up for sale at $135 apiece. Musk, already the world’s richest man, could become its first trillionaire.
Lawsuit challenges Trump administration’s land swap with SpaceX in Texas
Environmental groups on Wednesday sued attempting to stop the Trump administration from giving SpaceX more than 700 acres (280 hectares) of wildlife refuge in Texas, claiming it would worsen ecological risks to a Gulf Coast region already transformed by billionaire Elon Musk’s rocket operations.
NASA names Artemis III crew for 2027 Earth orbit test flight
NASA has announced the four-person crew for Artemis III, a test flight mission scheduled for 2027 that will conduct critical rendezvous and docking operations in Earth orbit ahead of Artemis IV, the first planned crewed mission to the lunar South Pole in 2028.
NASA unveils Artemis III astronauts to test technology for a future moon landing
NASA on Tuesday revealed the crew for its Artemis III mission, the next step in the space agency’s plan to eventually land astronauts on the moon.
Astronauts briefly take shelter during repair to fix leak on the International Space Station
NASA on Friday temporarily ordered astronauts to take shelter during repairs to fix a fresh leak aboard the International Space Station.
NASA declares its Mars Maven spacecraft dead after six months of silence
After six months of radio silence, NASA’s Maven spacecraft at Mars has been declared dead.
Apparent hack targets Space Force official’s Instagram account, posts pro-Iran content
An apparent hack targeted a key U.S. Space Force official’s Instagram account recently and reportedly posted pro-Iran and anti-American content.
Blue Origin rocket explodes during an engine-firing test
A rocket belonging to Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin exploded during a test at the launch pad Thursday night, shaking nearby homes and briefly painting the sky orange.
Boots on the moon: Report urges Space Force deployment to counter China
The Space Force must plan to deploy troops on orbiting space stations and at bases on the moon to prevent China from winning the new space race and controlling outer space, according to a report by an aerospace think tank.
SpaceX’s Starship rockets are grounded pending investigation after test flight
SpaceX Starship launches are on hold pending an investigation into last week’s test flight.
NASA targets fall 2026 for first Moon Base mission near lunar South Pole
NASA unveiled new Moon Base infrastructure plans Tuesday, announcing rover contracts, cargo lander missions and a fleet of survey drones as the agency works to establish a sustained lunar presence near the Moon’s South Pole ahead of future crewed Artemis landings.
China launches Shenzhou 23 spacecraft with 1 of 3 astronauts set for yearlong stay
China launched the Shenzhou 23 spacecraft Sunday night with three astronauts heading to its space station, including one set to stay in space for a year.
SpaceX launches its biggest, most beefed-up Starship yet on a test flight
SpaceX launched its biggest, most powerful Starship yet on a test flight Friday, an upgraded version that NASA is counting on to land astronauts on the moon.
Spaceports, space access: Leadership in space begins on the ground
As China and other adversaries rapidly expand their space capabilities, the United States cannot afford to fall behind.
Anduril awarded $100 million increase to Pentagon contract to enhance space-tracking technology
Defense technology company Anduril Industries has received a $100.3 million boost to an existing government contract to improve the system the U.S. military uses to monitor objects in space.
U.S. lacks enough space launch facilities to meet expanding civilian and national security needs
The United States set a record for space launches in 2025, and with the Trump administration saying 2026 will be even bigger, concerns are swirling in U.S. national security circles over the extent to which the country’s launch facilities are overstretched.
Golden Dome weapons to attack enemy missiles with new high-tech interceptors, lasers, cyberattacks
The Golden Dome will employ advanced ground-based interceptors, space-based missiles, laser guns and cyberattacks to defend against threats to the U.S., according to officials.
Elon Musk gets an apology from California regulators as a SpaceX lawsuit is settled
California regulators apologized to SpaceX CEO Elon Musk this week as they settled a lawsuit that claimed a state agency showed political bias against the rocket company and its chief executive.