Orbit

The US Air Force secretary has publicly acknowledged that the United States possesses weapons in space, a rare official confirmation for a domain long shrouded in secrecy. The statement is drawing attention to the militarization of orbit and to growing rivalry among major powers over space-based military capabilities.

NASA has issued a call for bids from companies to develop space stations that would operate after the International Space Station is retired. The move is part of the agency's plan to transition low Earth orbit operations to commercial providers before the ISS is decommissioned at the end of the decade. Industry watchers are weighing which aerospace firms are positioned to win contracts and what the shift means for the future of human presence in orbit.

New research reported by Phys.org suggests the Sun's death could disrupt the solar system earlier than previously estimated. As the Sun exhausts its fuel and swells into a red giant, shifting gravitational forces could destabilise planetary orbits, scattering or ejecting bodies. The findings update timelines for how the solar system's architecture will unravel billions of years from now, prompting wide discussion of Earth's long-term fate.

Donald Trump is weighing whether to dismiss Kimberly Guilfoyle from her role as US ambassador to Greece, which she took up in 2025 after serving as a Republican fundraiser and the former fiancee of Donald Trump Jr. The potential move has drawn attention given Guilfoyle's long personal and political ties to the Trump family, with observers speculating about the reasons behind the deliberation.

NASA has issued a call for US companies to submit proposals for commercially operated space stations, part of its effort to develop successor destinations as the International Space Station nears the end of its operational life. The agency plans to become a customer of privately run facilities rather than owning its own, with industry partners expected to fund, build and operate the new stations.

The Hoover Institution's 'Nerds of the Roundtable' discussion examines what it calls the distributed space age, focusing on how a wider range of actors, from commercial companies to allied governments, now shapes activity in orbit and beyond. The episode is drawing significant attention, with viewers debating whether decentralised space efforts mark a genuine shift from government-led programmes to a broader, multi-player space economy.

The Hoover Institution has released a roundtable discussion, 'Nerds of the Roundtable on the Distributed Space Age', examining how space exploration is shifting from government-led programs to a broader ecosystem of commercial companies, international actors and private innovation. The conversation explores what this distributed model means for policy, security and the future of human activity in orbit and beyond.

The Hoover Institution has released a discussion titled 'The Distributed Space Age', examining how space activity is shifting from a few government programs to a broader ecosystem of commercial companies, multiple national agencies, and private actors. The piece frames the current era as one defined by distributed capabilities rather than centralized state-led exploration, touching on policy questions about regulation, security, and competition in orbit. It is drawing significant attention from audiences following space policy debates.

European space startups are trying to build a private launch industry that could compete with SpaceX, which currently dominates the global rocket market. The discussion centres on whether Europe can forge an independent path to orbit without relying on American launch providers. Observers are weighing Europe's technical capabilities, funding and regulatory support against SpaceX's scale and cost advantages.

SpaceX launched 21 data-relay satellites for the US Space Development Agency, expanding a proliferated military constellation in low Earth orbit designed to provide resilient communications and missile-tracking capability. The mission, covered by Spaceflight Now, adds to a growing network the Pentagon is building out in batches, and space watchers are following each launch as the agency scales up its orbital layer.

Honda is developing a robotic lab assistant intended to support scientific research aboard future commercial space stations. The announcement points to the automaker's expansion into robotics and space technology as NASA shifts from the International Space Station toward commercially operated orbital platforms. Observers see it as part of a broader push by private companies to supply hardware and services for the next generation of space laboratories.

NASA has issued a call for bids from private companies to develop successor stations to the International Space Station as it plans for the ISS's eventual retirement. The agency wants commercial operators to take over low-Earth orbit operations so it can focus resources on lunar and deep-space exploration. The announcement is drawing attention across the space industry as companies compete for contracts.

NASA has opened bidding for private space stations intended to replace the International Space Station. The move invites commercial companies to compete to build orbital outposts that would take over from the ISS, which is due to be retired around 2030. The development is drawing attention across the space and technology sectors as it marks a major shift toward commercial operation of low-Earth orbit.

SpaceX is scheduled to launch roughly 6,300 pounds of supplies and equipment to the International Space Station on October 13. The mission is being covered live, and space watchers are being invited to follow the launch and docking in real time. The flight is part of the company's regular cargo resupply service to the orbiting laboratory for NASA.

Honda is developing a robotic lab assistant intended to help scientists conduct experiments aboard future commercial space stations. The robot would take on routine laboratory support tasks in orbit, freeing astronauts and researchers for more complex work. It marks an expansion of Honda's robotics work beyond cars into space research applications.

Russian officials have threatened to target Elon Musk's Starlink satellite network, escalating talk of a potential conflict in orbit. Analysts are debating whether Moscow could realistically knock out the constellation and what such a clash would mean for global satellite dependence. Commentators in India are also drawing lessons on why the country should accelerate its own military space and satellite capabilities.

Concerns are being raised about the secrecy surrounding space weapons programs worldwide. Governments are developing anti-satellite and other orbital military capabilities, but there is little public disclosure about what systems are being pursued, leaving analysts and policymakers with limited visibility into an emerging arms race in orbit.

Bolivia is developing Waskiri-Sat, its first domestically built satellite, alongside a framework law to govern space activities. The project would mark a step toward national technological independence in orbit, following the country's earlier experience with the Tupac Katari satellite. Officials frame the initiative as both a capability-building effort and a legal foundation for future space policy.

Astronomers are highlighting TOI-1710 b, a Neptune-like giant planet located 265 light-years from Earth. Discovered in 2022 by NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), the planet has a radius about 5.34 times that of Earth and a mass of roughly 28 Earths, orbiting its star once every 24.28 days. Details of its size, mass, and orbit are being circulated among space enthusiasts discussing recent exoplanet finds.

NASA has released its final request for proposals for the procurement of commercially operated space stations, a key step in its plan to replace the International Space Station with private orbital platforms after its retirement around 2030. Companies are expected to compete for contracts to develop and operate the next generation of stations.

SpaceX is preparing a Falcon 9 rocket launch from California that will carry 27 Starlink satellites into orbit, adding to the company's rapidly growing broadband constellation. The mission continues SpaceX's high launch cadence from the West Coast as it expands global internet coverage and reuses boosters to keep costs down.

SpaceX is preparing to launch a Dragon resupply mission to the International Space Station from Florida. The cargo flight will deliver supplies, equipment and scientific experiments to the crew aboard the orbiting laboratory. Coverage of the upcoming launch is circulating widely as space watchers await the liftoff from the Florida coast.

A new analysis argues that Europe must adopt a consistent approach and prioritize de-escalation at the intersection of space and nuclear policy. The piece suggests that growing activity in orbit, including satellites with potential nuclear dimensions, is straining existing arms control frameworks, and that fragmented European positions could heighten risks of escalation among major spacefaring powers.

NASA has published video of the Artemis II mission's landing as seen from inside the spacecraft, showing the crew's view during reentry and splashdown. The Artemis II flight is carrying astronauts around the Moon for the first time in over fifty years as part of NASA's plan to return humans to lunar orbit ahead of future landings. Russian-language science outlets are sharing the footage widely.

NASA's Space Shuttle reached speeds of roughly Mach 25 during re-entry, around eight times faster than the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, the fastest air-breathing crewed aircraft. The comparison is drawing renewed attention as spaceflight speeds are recirculated in 2026 coverage, highlighting how orbital vehicles operate in a class far beyond even record-setting planes.

Russia's Luch/Olymp inspector satellites spent roughly a decade maneuvering close to Western commercial and military communications satellites in geostationary orbit. Space analysts say the satellites parked near European and US spacecraft for extended periods, raising long-standing concerns about inspection and potential anti-satellite capabilities. The behavior highlights growing worries over close-approach operations and the lack of norms governing proximity in orbit.

NASA has moved forward with its post-ISS strategy by issuing a request for proposals for commercial space stations. The move signals the agency's intent to transition low Earth orbit operations to private operators as the International Space Station approaches the end of its service life. Observers see it as a key step in securing a continued US presence in orbit through commercial partnerships.

SpaceX is preparing to launch a Dragon cargo spacecraft from Florida's Space Coast, delivering supplies to the International Space Station. The mission, lifting off from the Cape Canaveral area, is being covered by local outlets including WFTV. Interest centres on the launch schedule and what cargo the Dragon capsule will carry to the orbiting laboratory.

SpaceX is preparing another launch attempt to carry 21 data-relay satellites for the US Space Development Agency into orbit. The mission, part of the Pentagon's proliferated low-Earth-orbit constellation effort, follows a previously scrubbed attempt. The launch is drawing attention because it supports expanding US military space communications infrastructure and reflects the growing cadence of national security launches on SpaceX rockets.

SpaceX is preparing another attempt to launch 21 data satellites for the US Space Development Agency from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The mission follows an earlier attempt that did not go ahead, and attention is on whether the Falcon 9 can deliver the constellation satellites to orbit for the military's space network.

A new report suggests the Solar System may be destabilised and destroyed at a rate up to 100 times faster than previous scientific estimates indicated. The claim concerns the long-term orbital stability of the planets, a topic scientists have modelled for decades. The finding is drawing attention for dramatically revising how quickly cosmic processes could unravel our planetary system.