orbit

A new report asks whether Europe's emerging private launch companies can compete with SpaceX's dominance in the global rocket market. It highlights Europe's efforts to build independent access to orbit through its own startup ecosystem rather than relying on established providers, amid growing concern over launch capacity and strategic autonomy in space.

NASA and the US Department of Energy have signed a memorandum of understanding on space nuclear technology, as reported by the American Nuclear Society's Nuclear Newswire. The agreement is expected to coordinate work on nuclear power and propulsion systems for space missions, strengthening the two agencies' collaboration on advanced reactors and radioisotope systems for exploration beyond Earth orbit.

New Zealand photographer Brendan Larsen captured a night sky image over Taranaki showing dozens of satellite trails, and the picture has spread widely online. The image highlights the growing number of Starlink and other satellites crowding low Earth orbit, and has reignited debate among stargazers and astronomers about light pollution and the impact of mega-constellations on the night sky.

NASA's Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, a space telescope that studied gamma-ray bursts for two decades, has reentered Earth's atmosphere after a failed attempt to raise its decaying orbit. Reports say controllers could not rescue the spacecraft, which burned up on reentry. The fall marks the end of one of NASA's most productive astrophysics missions.

DARPA is developing a robotic spacecraft designed to service and repair satellites in geosynchronous orbit, some 36,000 kilometers above Earth. IEEE Spectrum takes a close look at the mission, which would allow aging or malfunctioning satellites to be fixed or refurbished in place rather than decommissioned, potentially extending the life of critical communications and defense spacecraft.

Cowboy Space has revealed Big Iron, a rocket designed to serve the data center market. The announcement ties launch capability directly to orbital infrastructure demand, reflecting a broader push by space companies to position rockets as enablers of data center deployment. Details on the vehicle's specifications, timeline and customers were not provided in the initial coverage.

Italian media are reporting the discovery of a primordial Earth-like planet that defies expectations: it orbits its star in the opposite direction to the star's own rotation. Outlets including ANSA, Virgilio and Passione Astronomia say the unusual 'rebel' planet challenges current models of planetary formation and the laws of physics as understood, prompting wide discussion among astronomy enthusiasts.

China has outlined its approach for a crewed lunar landing, using a two-launch architecture with lunar orbit rendezvous. One launch would carry the crewed spacecraft and another the lunar lander, which would dock together in orbit around the Moon before taikonauts descend to the surface. The plan marks a key step in China's effort to become the second country to land humans on the Moon, competing with NASA's Artemis programme timeline.

Satellite connectivity is in the news across Russia. AT&T has for the first time combined its terrestrial and satellite networks, Belarus received the first devices of the Russian 'Rassvet' satellite system, and Zelensky's adviser called Rassvet the number one challenge for Ukraine. Russia also plans to orbit around 300 internet satellites by 2028 to compete with Starlink, while airlines consider fitting planes with satellite internet at speeds of 900 km/h.

Astronomy enthusiasts are discussing the idea that a black hole could exist within our own solar system. The topic, picked up in popular science content, explores how such an object might go undetected and what effects it could have on planetary orbits. No confirmed discovery has been announced, but the provocative possibility is drawing wide attention and debate among space fans.

Artemis II, NASA's upcoming crewed mission to fly around the Moon, is drawing fresh attention following annotated crew photos highlighting the four astronauts and their mission roles. The mission will be the first to carry humans beyond low Earth orbit since Apollo 17 in 1972. Interest is rising in Australia and Brazil as anticipation builds for the launch.

A New Zealand man, Brendan Larsen, is facing accusations that his viral night-sky photograph was created with artificial intelligence because it looks too incredible to be real. The image reportedly shows the sky filled with around 1,400 satellite trails, highlighting how crowded low-Earth orbit has become with Starlink and other constellations. The debate has drawn attention both to the photo's authenticity and to the growing problem of satellite light pollution.

Drivers on London's M25 are facing severe disruption, with multiple incidents reported across the motorway. A van fire blocked the road and caused huge queues, while crashes in Essex led to 60-90 minute delays with emergency crews at the scene. In Hertfordshire, lanes flooded amid heavy traffic, and multiple lanes were closed due to a reported defect, leaving parts of the orbital route gridlocked.

GitLab has introduced Orbit, a new capability that helps security teams determine the blast radius of a vulnerability — in other words, which applications, services and code paths are actually affected when a flaw is disclosed. The tool aims to cut through the uncertainty after advisories like Log4Shell, letting engineers prioritise remediation based on real exposure rather than guessing. Early discussion among developers has focused on how well it maps dependencies in practice.

NASA has confirmed that its Swift Observatory, a gamma-ray burst telescope that operated in orbit for more than two decades, has re-entered Earth's atmosphere. The spacecraft, launched in 2004 to study cosmic explosions, ended its long-running mission. The news is drawing attention in Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom as space watchers reflect on the observatory's legacy in astronomy.

A claim circulating online alleges that SpaceX blocked a NATO satellite in order to assist a Russian intercept operation. No official statement from SpaceX, NATO, or any government has been reported confirming the allegation, and no supporting details have been made public. If verified, such an act would carry serious implications for alliance operations in orbit and for SpaceX's government contracts.

The topic of diplomacy in space is drawing attention, examining how nations cooperate, negotiate and manage disputes beyond Earth. Discussion covers how international relations frameworks may apply to satellites, space stations and future exploration, and what rules could govern activity in orbit as more countries and companies expand their presence in outer space.

New Zealand photographer Brendan Larsen has captured images showing hundreds of satellites crossing the night sky. His photographs highlight how crowded low Earth orbit has become, with constellations like Starlink rapidly increasing the number of visible objects overhead. The images are drawing attention to concerns among astronomers and stargazers about light pollution and the impact of mega-constellations on observations of the cosmos.

Elon Musk is reportedly exploring the idea of putting data centers in space, a topic gaining attention following a political setback involving the Texas governor. Commenters are debating whether orbital data centers are technically feasible and whether the proposal is a serious business plan or a distraction after the political fallout. Details about timelines or costs have not been confirmed.

A remark circulating online asks what the first message of an account tied to The Verge was, quoting it as joking about heat-generating chips placed in space getting dangerously hot. The quip is drawing small engagement, mostly from tech circles interested in semiconductors and orbital hardware.

The Federal Communications Commission has appointed Courtney Reinhard as the new chief of its Space Bureau. The bureau oversees licensing and regulation of satellite and space communications, a sector seeing rapid growth in commercial launches and satellite constellations. The appointment comes as the agency faces rising demand for spectrum and orbital approvals from the expanding space industry.

SpaceX has carried out a series of static fire tests of its Starship rocket at Starbase, Texas, fuelling speculation among space enthusiasts that the next orbital flight test is imminent. Observers following the programme note the rapid pace of testing and are debating how close SpaceX is to receiving launch clearance and flying Starship again.

Actor Timothy Simons is trending in US searches, though the collected coverage centers on his orbit rather than him directly. Related headlines include Amanda Seyfried deflecting Oscar buzz for a film and 'Nobody Wants This' creator Erin Foster saying she has 'more story to tell' with a potential fourth season. No specific new action by Simons is confirmed in the coverage.

NASA has put out an open call for proposals on how to rescue the Hubble Space Telescope, which has been slowly losing altitude since the final space shuttle servicing mission in 2009. The agency is soliciting concepts from companies and the public, including possible private missions to boost the observatory into a higher orbit or extend its working life. The move revives long-running debate over whether a commercial spacecraft could service the aging telescope.

India's space agency ISRO is preparing to launch a new satellite to strengthen NavIC, the country's homegrown satellite navigation system built as an alternative to the American GPS. The system, already used for civilian and military positioning across India and nearby regions, is expected to gain improved accuracy and coverage once the new satellite is in orbit.

The US Space Force has described the far side of the Moon and cislunar space as a potential warfighting domain, and is weighing the launch of five military lunar satellites. The move signals growing American interest in securing positions beyond Earth orbit, and is drawing criticism from those who see it as militarising a region long treated as a scientific and cooperative frontier.

NASA's Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, a gamma-ray-burst telescope launched in 2004, is predicted to reenter Earth's atmosphere within hours, with most of the spacecraft expected to burn up on descent. The uncontrolled reentry has drawn widespread attention, with news outlets tracking the timing and possible debris risks as the aging observatory completes its two-decade mission from orbit.

REN TV, a Russian television channel known for its mix of news and sensational programming, is drawing search attention in Russia this week. Coverage linked to the channel's orbit includes political activity ratings of Russia's parliamentary parties during the autumn session of the State Duma, as tracked by the KPRF, and international incident stories such as the death of an Ecuadorian priest struck by a cross.