Space Exploration Technologies
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Two Private Lunar Landers Launch Aboard SpaceX Falcon 9 for Moon Missions
Marking a milestone in space exploration, two private lunar landers, Blue Ghost by Firefly Aerospace and Resilience by ispace, were launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on January 15. Blue Ghost, under NASA's CLPS program, will study lunar regolith and environmental elements, landing in Mare Crisium. Resilienc...
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China Conducts Five Rocket Engine Tests in a Day, Advancing Space Projects
On January 2, China tested five rocket engines in Beijing and Hebei Province. These tests included hydrogen-oxygen and methane-based engines for various applications, such as lunar missions and deep-space exploration. The trials mark a significant step in China’s efforts to enhance its space programmes. CASC’s engineers have highlighted the suc...
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Flexible, Radiation-Resistant Organic Solar Cells Ideal for Space Exploration, New Study Finds
Organic solar cells are gaining attention for their potential in space missions, offering lightweight and flexible alternatives to traditional silicon and gallium arsenide cells. A study published in Joule found that small molecule-based cells resisted radiation for up to three years, though polymer-based cells experienced efficiency drops, potenti...
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NASA's LEXI Mission Will Explore Earth’s Magnetic Shield from the Moon
NASA is preparing for the launch of the Lunar Environment Heliospheric X-ray Imager (LEXI) aboard Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost lander, scheduled for January 15. The mission will observe Earth’s magnetosphere, capturing X-ray images that reveal how the planet's magnetic shield reacts to solar wind. This project could improve predictions of geoma...
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SpaceX Launches 24 Starlink Satellites to Expand Global Internet Coverage
SpaceX successfully launched its first Starlink mission of 2025 on January 6, sending 24 satellites into orbit to expand its global internet network. The Falcon 9 rocket’s first stage returned to Earth, landing on the droneship "Just Read the Instructions," marking the 17th successful landing for this particular booster. The Starlink constellatio...
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Blue Origin’s New Glenn Rocket Set for First Launch in January
Blue Origin is preparing to launch its New Glenn rocket for the first time between January 6-12 from Cape Canaveral. The test flight will feature the Blue Ring Pathfinder, a simulator designed to test the rocket’s payload systems and in-orbit communications. The launch will also test the rocket’s reusable first stage, which will attempt to land...
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Blue Origin's New Glenn Rocket Approved for First Launch Under FAA License
Blue Origin has received FAA approval to conduct orbital launches with its New Glenn rocket from Florida. The five-year license enables the company to carry out missions required for U.S. Space Force certification. The debut launch will focus on deploying technology for the Blue Ring program, a defense-related initiative. Initially slated for a NAS...
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NASA Confirms Successful Flyby of Parker Solar Probe, Completes Closest Sun Approach
NASA's Parker Solar Probe has set an unprecedented milestone, coming 3.8 million miles from the Sun at a speed of 430,000 mph. Launched in 2018, the spacecraft has utilised Venus flybys to perfect its orbit, enabling this historic feat. With advanced technology, it endures extreme temperatures, gathering critical data about solar wind and particle ...
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Space Missions of 2025: Lunar Landings, Asteroid Sampling, and More
Space exploration in 2025 will see remarkable missions from global agencies like NASA, ESA, China, and Japan. Key initiatives include lunar landings through NASA’s CLPS and Japan’s M2/Resilience, which will test new technologies and study lunar resources. China’s Tianwen-2 mission aims to collect asteroid samples and explore a comet, advancin...
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SpaceX and Firefly Team Up to Launch Firefly Blue Ghost with 10 NASA Payloads
Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lunar lander will launch on SpaceX Falcon 9 in mid-January with 10 NASA payloads designed to test cutting-edge technologies. The mission includes tools like a radiation-resistant computer system, a GPS-like navigation system for lunar use, and dust-repelling technology for equipment maintenance. These payloads aim t...
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SpaceX Starship Flight 7 Test Gets FAA Launch Licence, Preparing for 2025
SpaceX has received the FAA’s launch licence for Starship Flight 7, marking another milestone in their quest for a fully reusable rocket system. After extensive engine tests, SpaceX is preparing for the test in early 2025. The flight will aim to improve key systems such as booster recovery and ocean splashdown. Designed for lunar and Martian miss...
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NASA's Astronaut Sunita Williams Poses with Tentacle-Armed Astrobee Robot on ISS: Report
NASA’s Astrobee robot tested its REACCH system aboard the ISS, demonstrating advanced robotic arms inspired by gecko adhesion for satellite servicing and space debris management. Astronaut Sunita Williams, Expedition 72 Commander, participated in the demonstration inside the Kibo module, mimicking the robot’s flexible arms. The technology aims ...
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World’s First Nuclear-Powered Diamond Battery Can Power Devices for Millennia
The world’s first nuclear-powered battery has been developed by researchers at the University of Bristol, offering an incredible lifespan of thousands of years. Using carbon-14, a radioactive isotope with a half-life of 5,730 years, embedded within a diamond structure, the battery generates energy without requiring motion or maintenance. Short-ra...
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China's Tianwen-3 Mars Sample Return Mission Targets 2031 Ahead of NASA, ESA
China's Tianwen-3 mission aims to return Martian rock samples to Earth by 2031, setting a benchmark in space exploration. Scheduled for launch in 2028, the mission will employ cutting-edge technologies, including a lander, ascent vehicle, rover, and helicopter, to gather samples from regions like Utopia Planitia and Chryse Planitia. These areas wer...
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NASA Eyes Innovative Strategies for Mars Exploration Success by 2044
NASA has detailed a 20-year strategy for Mars exploration in a report calling for innovative approaches, cost-efficient missions, and global partnerships. The plan addresses core scientific questions, including Mars’ habitability and signs of life, and focuses on developing advanced technology to access challenging terrains. Public engagement and...
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Two Private Lunar Landers Launch Aboard SpaceX Falcon 9 for Moon Missions
Marking a milestone in space exploration, two private lunar landers, Blue Ghost by Firefly Aerospace and Resilience by ispace, were launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on January 15. Blue Ghost, under NASA's CLPS program, will study lunar regolith and environmental elements, landing in Mare Crisium. Resilienc...
-
China Conducts Five Rocket Engine Tests in a Day, Advancing Space Projects
On January 2, China tested five rocket engines in Beijing and Hebei Province. These tests included hydrogen-oxygen and methane-based engines for various applications, such as lunar missions and deep-space exploration. The trials mark a significant step in China’s efforts to enhance its space programmes. CASC’s engineers have highlighted the suc...
-
Flexible, Radiation-Resistant Organic Solar Cells Ideal for Space Exploration, New Study Finds
Organic solar cells are gaining attention for their potential in space missions, offering lightweight and flexible alternatives to traditional silicon and gallium arsenide cells. A study published in Joule found that small molecule-based cells resisted radiation for up to three years, though polymer-based cells experienced efficiency drops, potenti...
-
NASA's LEXI Mission Will Explore Earth’s Magnetic Shield from the Moon
NASA is preparing for the launch of the Lunar Environment Heliospheric X-ray Imager (LEXI) aboard Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost lander, scheduled for January 15. The mission will observe Earth’s magnetosphere, capturing X-ray images that reveal how the planet's magnetic shield reacts to solar wind. This project could improve predictions of geoma...
-
SpaceX Launches 24 Starlink Satellites to Expand Global Internet Coverage
SpaceX successfully launched its first Starlink mission of 2025 on January 6, sending 24 satellites into orbit to expand its global internet network. The Falcon 9 rocket’s first stage returned to Earth, landing on the droneship "Just Read the Instructions," marking the 17th successful landing for this particular booster. The Starlink constellatio...
-
Blue Origin’s New Glenn Rocket Set for First Launch in January
Blue Origin is preparing to launch its New Glenn rocket for the first time between January 6-12 from Cape Canaveral. The test flight will feature the Blue Ring Pathfinder, a simulator designed to test the rocket’s payload systems and in-orbit communications. The launch will also test the rocket’s reusable first stage, which will attempt to land...
-
Blue Origin's New Glenn Rocket Approved for First Launch Under FAA License
Blue Origin has received FAA approval to conduct orbital launches with its New Glenn rocket from Florida. The five-year license enables the company to carry out missions required for U.S. Space Force certification. The debut launch will focus on deploying technology for the Blue Ring program, a defense-related initiative. Initially slated for a NAS...
-
NASA Confirms Successful Flyby of Parker Solar Probe, Completes Closest Sun Approach
NASA's Parker Solar Probe has set an unprecedented milestone, coming 3.8 million miles from the Sun at a speed of 430,000 mph. Launched in 2018, the spacecraft has utilised Venus flybys to perfect its orbit, enabling this historic feat. With advanced technology, it endures extreme temperatures, gathering critical data about solar wind and particle ...
-
Space Missions of 2025: Lunar Landings, Asteroid Sampling, and More
Space exploration in 2025 will see remarkable missions from global agencies like NASA, ESA, China, and Japan. Key initiatives include lunar landings through NASA’s CLPS and Japan’s M2/Resilience, which will test new technologies and study lunar resources. China’s Tianwen-2 mission aims to collect asteroid samples and explore a comet, advancin...
-
SpaceX and Firefly Team Up to Launch Firefly Blue Ghost with 10 NASA Payloads
Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lunar lander will launch on SpaceX Falcon 9 in mid-January with 10 NASA payloads designed to test cutting-edge technologies. The mission includes tools like a radiation-resistant computer system, a GPS-like navigation system for lunar use, and dust-repelling technology for equipment maintenance. These payloads aim t...
-
SpaceX Starship Flight 7 Test Gets FAA Launch Licence, Preparing for 2025
SpaceX has received the FAA’s launch licence for Starship Flight 7, marking another milestone in their quest for a fully reusable rocket system. After extensive engine tests, SpaceX is preparing for the test in early 2025. The flight will aim to improve key systems such as booster recovery and ocean splashdown. Designed for lunar and Martian miss...
-
NASA's Astronaut Sunita Williams Poses with Tentacle-Armed Astrobee Robot on ISS: Report
NASA’s Astrobee robot tested its REACCH system aboard the ISS, demonstrating advanced robotic arms inspired by gecko adhesion for satellite servicing and space debris management. Astronaut Sunita Williams, Expedition 72 Commander, participated in the demonstration inside the Kibo module, mimicking the robot’s flexible arms. The technology aims ...
-
World’s First Nuclear-Powered Diamond Battery Can Power Devices for Millennia
The world’s first nuclear-powered battery has been developed by researchers at the University of Bristol, offering an incredible lifespan of thousands of years. Using carbon-14, a radioactive isotope with a half-life of 5,730 years, embedded within a diamond structure, the battery generates energy without requiring motion or maintenance. Short-ra...
-
China's Tianwen-3 Mars Sample Return Mission Targets 2031 Ahead of NASA, ESA
China's Tianwen-3 mission aims to return Martian rock samples to Earth by 2031, setting a benchmark in space exploration. Scheduled for launch in 2028, the mission will employ cutting-edge technologies, including a lander, ascent vehicle, rover, and helicopter, to gather samples from regions like Utopia Planitia and Chryse Planitia. These areas wer...
-
NASA Eyes Innovative Strategies for Mars Exploration Success by 2044
NASA has detailed a 20-year strategy for Mars exploration in a report calling for innovative approaches, cost-efficient missions, and global partnerships. The plan addresses core scientific questions, including Mars’ habitability and signs of life, and focuses on developing advanced technology to access challenging terrains. Public engagement and...
