Here are today’s top space news stories, highlighting significant developments and events in space exploration and technology.
1. Virgin Galactic’s Final Suborbital Spaceflight with VSS Unity
Virgin Galactic has successfully completed its seventh commercial spaceflight, Galactic 07, using the VSS Unity spaceplane. This mission, launched from Spaceport America in New Mexico, is significant as it marks the final mission for VSS Unity before transitioning to the next-generation spacecraft, VSS Imagine. The flight carried four passengers, including three private astronauts and an Axiom Space-affiliated researcher who conducted scientific experiments in microgravity.
During the flight, passengers experienced several minutes of weightlessness and breathtaking views of Earth from suborbital space. This mission underscores Virgin Galactic’s commitment to commercial space tourism, demonstrating the viability and public interest in private space travel. As the company prepares for future missions with its new spacecraft, it continues to pave the way for broader access to space for civilians.
2. SpaceX Completes 14th Falcon 9 Launch of the Month
SpaceX has achieved a new industry record with its 14th Falcon 9 launch in a single month. The latest mission, Starlink 6–64, successfully deployed 22 Starlink satellites into orbit from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The Falcon 9 first stage booster, tail number B1076, made a successful landing on the droneship “A Shortfall of Gravitas,” marking its 14th flight.
This milestone reflects SpaceX’s advanced capabilities in rapid, reusable launch operations. The continuous deployment of Starlink satellites is part of SpaceX’s ambitious plan to provide global internet coverage. Each successful launch and booster recovery highlight the efficiency and technological prowess of SpaceX in maintaining a high launch cadence and reducing the cost of space access.
3. NASA Prepares for Artemis II Rollout
NASA is gearing up for a significant milestone in the Artemis II mission with the rollout of the fully assembled core stage of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, scheduled for mid-July. This event is a critical step toward the first crewed Artemis mission, which will send astronauts around the Moon. Artemis II, set for launch in late 2024, aims to test the integrated systems of the SLS rocket and the Orion spacecraft.
The mission will carry four astronauts: Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen. They will perform a lunar flyby, providing crucial data on spacecraft performance, crew health, and mission support systems. The successful execution of Artemis II will pave the way for Artemis III, which aims to land astronauts on the lunar surface, advancing NASA’s goal of sustainable lunar exploration and future Mars missions.
4. NASA Awards Contract for Space Debris Cleanup Technology
NASA has awarded a contract to space logistics startup TransAstra for developing an innovative “capture bag” technology designed to clean up space debris. This $850,000 early-stage contract involves testing inflatable capture bags on the ground, which could one day be used to snatch pieces of orbital debris. The technology is part of ongoing efforts to address the growing problem of space debris, which poses a significant risk to satellites and spacecraft.
TransAstra’s approach leverages their previous work on asteroid capture, recognizing the similarities in handling space debris and asteroid fragments. The capture bag, when deployed in low Earth orbit, could potentially snag multiple pieces of debris, contributing to safer and more sustainable space operations.
5. Solar Flare Activity and Geomagnetic Storm Warning
Significant solar flare activity has been detected from sunspot region AR3697, leading to a coronal mass ejection (CME) expected to reach Earth within the next few days. Scientists are closely monitoring the situation as the charged particles from the CME could cause geomagnetic storms, impacting satellite operations, GPS navigation, and power grids.
These solar events are also likely to produce spectacular auroras in higher latitudes, particularly visible in regions like Canada, Alaska, and Scandinavia. Observing these natural phenomena provides valuable scientific insights into the interactions between solar wind and Earth’s magnetic field, and underscores the importance of space weather monitoring to protect technological infrastructure on Earth.
