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- 1Google's Project Suncatcher to put AI infrastructure in space●Google’s Project Suncatcher to put ML infrastructure in space
Google has announced Project Suncatcher, an initiative to place machine learning infrastructure in space, with details published on the company's research blog. The announcement is drawing attention among technologists debating the feasibility and costs of running data centers off Earth, powered by solar energy in orbit. Discussions center on how satellite-based compute could scale and whether the idea is realistic.
- 2SpaceX Starship reaches orbit for the first time●‘Starship is in orbit’: cheers go up as huge SpaceX rocket circles Earth for first time
SpaceX's Starship, the largest rocket ever built, has circled Earth in orbit for the first time, prompting cheers at the company as the milestone was confirmed. The achievement marks a major step for Elon Musk's reusable launch system, which is central to plans for Moon and Mars missions and future heavy-lift spaceflight.
- 3SpaceX Starship reaches orbit and survives water landing●SpaceX Starship reaches orbit, returns to Earth in water landing
SpaceX's Starship, the largest rocket ever built, completed a full flight to orbit and returned to Earth with a water landing, a milestone for the company's reusable spacecraft program. The successful test marks significant progress toward deep-space missions, and observers are following what it means for future lunar and Mars plans.
- 4SpaceX Starship test reaches orbit, deploys Starlink satellites●SpaceX Starship test reaches Earth orbit, 26 Starlink satellites deployed
SpaceX's Starship completed a test flight reaching Earth orbit and deploying 26 Starlink satellites, a milestone for the heavy-lift rocket program. The deployment demonstrates Starship's potential to launch large batches of satellites, and observers are weighing what the success means for future missions and SpaceX's satellite plans.
- 5New Satellite Engine Could Run on Air Itself●New Satellite Engine Could Use Earth's Atmosphere to Stay in Orbit Indefinitely
Researchers have developed an engine concept that would let satellites collect air molecules from the upper atmosphere and use them as propellant, potentially keeping them in very low orbit indefinitely without carrying limited fuel. Readers are debating the engineering feasibility of ingesting and ionizing thin air at orbital speeds, and what indefinite station-keeping could mean for Earth observation, communications and space debris.
- 6Cold War-era American spy satellite explodes in orbit●An American Cold War-era spy satellite just exploded above Earth — and nobody knows why
An American spy satellite dating from the Cold War era has broken apart or exploded in orbit above Earth, and the cause remains unknown. The incident raises questions about growing amounts of space debris and the reliability of aging military hardware still circling the planet decades after launch. Experts are watching for possible collision risks to other satellites.
- 7Space Laser Energy Transmission Faces Its First Real-World Test●Space Lasers Are About to Get Their First Real Test Generating Energy https:// fed.brid.gy/r/https://www.wire d.com/stor
A space-based power experiment is set to test whether lasers can beam energy collected in orbit back to Earth for the first time, Wired reports. The idea, long a staple of science fiction and speculative engineering, would allow solar power gathered in space, where sunlight is constant, to be transmitted to the ground. Supporters see it as a potential clean-energy breakthrough; skeptics point to huge technical and cost hurdles.
- 8Astronomer turns sinking Starlink satellites into planetary barometer●Astronomer watches Starlink satellites sinking to build a 'planetary barometer'
An astronomer is tracking the gradual orbital decay of Starlink satellites and using that data as a 'planetary barometer', since how quickly the satellites sink depends on the density of the upper atmosphere, which shifts with solar activity. The approach could offer a novel, large-scale way to monitor conditions in Earth's thermosphere using the thousands of spacecraft already in orbit.
- 9China's space diplomacy sends Pakistani astronaut toward orbit●China's space diplomacy lifts Pakistani astronaut toward orbit
China is preparing to send a Pakistani astronaut into space, a move widely reported by Reuters and picked up by financial and global news outlets. The mission is being framed as part of Beijing's broader space diplomacy, extending its cooperation with Pakistan beyond Earth-based projects and showcasing China's growing role as a partner in human spaceflight for friendly nations.
- 10SpaceX launches Starship on 10-hour test flight●SpaceX launches Starship on 10-hour test flight, aiming to orbit Earth 6 times
SpaceX launched its Starship rocket on a roughly 10-hour test flight, with the spacecraft aiming to orbit Earth six times before returning. The mission is part of SpaceX's ongoing campaign to prove out the vehicle for future deep-space missions, and the extended duration marks a step up in ambition from earlier, shorter tests.
- 11SpaceX Starship lifts off on first orbit of Earth●WATCH: Elon Musk’s SpaceX Starship lifts off in first orbit of Earth
Elon Musk's SpaceX launched its Starship rocket on a flight reaching orbit around Earth, a milestone for the company's next-generation spacecraft. The launch drew wide attention online, with clips of the liftoff circulating globally and space enthusiasts discussing what the flight means for future missions to the Moon and Mars.
- 12SpaceX Starship ends flight early after first orbit of Earth●Watch: Elon Musk’s SpaceX Starship ends flight early after first-ever orbit of Earth
Elon Musk's SpaceX Starship completed its first-ever orbit of Earth but ended its flight earlier than planned. Footage of the test flight circulated widely, with observers noting both the milestone of a full orbital loop and the premature ending. The mission is part of SpaceX's ongoing development of the reusable vehicle intended for missions to the Moon and Mars.
- 13SpaceX Starship reaches orbit for the first time●‘Starship is in orbit’: cheers go up as huge SpaceX rocket circles Earth for first time https://www. theguardian.com/sci
SpaceX's giant Starship rocket has circled Earth in orbit for the first time, launching from Texas, with cheers erupting at mission control and celebrations spreading among space fans worldwide. The milestone is seen as a major step for the vehicle intended for Moon and Mars missions, after years of test flights that ended in explosions or early failures.
- 14DARPA Plans Repair Robot for Geosynchronous Orbit●Inside DARPA’s Mission to Send a Repair Robot to Geosynchronous Orbit
DARPA is developing a robotic spacecraft designed to service and repair satellites in geosynchronous orbit, some 35,000 kilometers above Earth. The effort, covered by IEEE Spectrum, would allow maintenance of aging communications and military satellites that are otherwise unreachable after launch. It marks a step toward routine robotic servicing in the most valuable and crowded orbital region.