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Khabre desk
Recent reporting, analysis and explainers from the Space Technology desk.
technology
NASA astronauts Anil Menon and Joshua Kutryk installed and deployed the International Space Station’s seventh roll-out solar array during a 7-hour, 11-minute spacewalk. NASA says all eight arrays together will increase available power by up to 30% once installation is complete.
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Caltech has named former NASA astronaut and Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman as its associate vice president and deputy director of JPL. He is scheduled to begin the role on Nov. 30, 2026.
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NASA has issued a Request for Information to assess commercial options for servicing Hubble, raising its orbit or safely disposing of it at the end of its mission. The agency says Hubble is likely to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere in 2033 or 2034 and anticipates any mission would need to take place by 2032.
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Google’s Project Suncatcher studies whether solar-powered satellite constellations could support large-scale AI computing. Its early work includes a bench-scale optical-link demonstration and radiation testing of a TPU; a two-satellite learning mission with Planet is planned for early 2027.
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Google says its Project Suncatcher prototype has run the Gemma 4 model on an onboard TPU and returned an AI-generated response to Earth. The company describes it as the first AI response from a data-centre-class TPU in orbit.
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Google says its Project Suncatcher prototype generated an AI response in orbit using a data-center-class TPU and the Gemma 4 model. The next tests will examine TPU performance under thermal stress and radiation exposure.
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NASA says a September power-saving change will let Voyager 1’s remaining science instruments operate longer than previously anticipated. The spacecraft’s signal also returned after a brief communications loss in October.
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NASA has completed integrating and testing the solar arrays on the NEO Surveyor mission’s sunshade. The structure will shield the infrared telescope from sunlight while providing power for the spacecraft.
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The European Space Agency has extended contracts with Thales Alenia Space and Airbus Defence and Space for four additional Galileo Second Generation satellites. The planned G2 fleet now totals 16 satellites, with these four scheduled for delivery in 2031.
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After its Mars gravity assist, NASA’s Psyche spacecraft began using its solar-electric propulsion system nearly continuously. The mission is targeting arrival at asteroid Psyche in summer 2029.
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ESA’s 350th Council meeting advanced preparations for a proposed European exploration path spanning low Earth orbit, the Moon and Mars. A December meeting in Rome will be an interim step before later programme and financial decisions.
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NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory has highlighted a mission pipeline that includes a 2027 solar radio observatory and Mars helicopter and lunar drone missions targeted for 2028. Its portfolio also spans asteroid detection and Earth science.
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NASA says Sierra Lobo will provide the closed Brayton cycle system that converts heat from SR-1 Freedom’s fission reactor into electricity. The spacecraft is planned to carry a three-helicopter science mission to Mars, launching in late 2028.
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A SpaceX Dragon spacecraft docked with the International Space Station carrying more than 6,300 pounds of supplies, the station’s final set of roll-out solar arrays and several research payloads. NASA says the research hardware is intended to support work ranging from artificial retinas to brain organoids.
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NASA reports that prototype solid-state cells for its SPEARS project operated down to −80°C in thermal-vacuum tests and survived exposure to colder conditions. They must be warmed before use after extreme cold, so the results represent an early step towards batteries for lunar operations.
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ESA says Sentinel-3C has returned its first colour images and radar-altimeter measurements, including data on sea-surface height and Greenland’s ice sheet. The satellite remains in commissioning, which is expected to take another five months.
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Voyager Technologies’ Griffin-1 lunar lander has completed vibration, acoustic, electromagnetic and thermal-vacuum testing at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The lander has returned to its manufacturer for final assembly ahead of an expected launch later in 2026.
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NASA’s Perseverance rover has driven 45.22 kilometres on Mars, surpassing the previous off-world distance record held by Opportunity. NASA says autonomous navigation has helped Perseverance cover more than 90% of its total distance.
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NASA’s Perseverance rover reached 45.22 kilometres driven on Mars on 11 October 2026, passing the record held by Opportunity. JPL credits the rover’s autonomous navigation with helping it cover the distance while exploring Jezero Crater.
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NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 returned to Earth on Oct. 8, 2026, after 237 days aboard the International Space Station. The crew completed more than 3,792 Earth orbits and conducted research on health and technologies for future missions.
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ESA has signed its first European Launcher Challenge contracts with Rocket Factory Augsburg, PLD Space and Isar Aerospace. The companies will receive support as milestones are met, while each launcher’s stated payload capacity remains a development target.
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ESA and Vast signed a memorandum of understanding to study possible cooperation in low Earth orbit after the International Space Station’s service ends. The initial three-year framework begins with a joint feasibility study, not binding mission agreements.
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Google Research has published a preprint outlining Project Suncatcher, a proposed network of solar-powered satellites carrying TPUs for machine-learning computing in orbit. Its early work includes a bench-scale optical-link demonstration, satellite-formation modelling and radiation testing of a TPU.
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AMD is sampling the Versal AI Core XQRVC1902 in an enhanced space-grade package with early-access customers. Class Y qualification testing is underway, and flight-qualified units are expected in the second half of 2027.
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NASA’s attempt to raise the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory’s orbit ended after the LINK spacecraft developed communications and orientation-control problems. NASA and Katalyst Space scaled back the mission, while Swift’s team used observation planning to slow its descent for several months.
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NASA and Boeing plan an uncrewed Starliner-1 flight to evaluate propulsion-system changes before a crewed return mission currently planned for 2028. NASA also intends to add two Starliner station flights and certify Vulcan for crew transport.
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NASA says four astronauts are scheduled to launch to the International Space Station on SpaceX Crew-13 no earlier than Oct. 1, 2026. The mission will conduct research into disease models, crop production and crew health.
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NASA-JPL says NISAR radar images captured the spread of lava from Russia’s Krasheninnikov volcano between December 2025 and August 2026. A 17-frame sequence shows the flow filling a crater and spreading across the surrounding landscape.
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Google says a Project Suncatcher prototype will carry Tensor Processing Units on a SpaceX Transporter-18 rideshare to collect data on how they handle spaceflight. The test is an early step towards the company’s proposed satellite clusters for AI computing.
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ESA and Mistral signed a Letter of Intent to explore AI applications in Earth observation, engineering and other space activities. The framework also includes examining ways to deploy relevant capabilities on European infrastructure.
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ESA, Airbus and European partners will test the six-wheeled Charlie rover prototype in Spain on 1 October 2026. The campaign will assess remote operations, autonomous navigation and simulated scientific activities relevant to ESA’s Rosalind Franklin Mars mission.
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ESA will host a media event in Lanzarote on 26 September 2026 after the final stage of astronaut Pablo Álvarez’s PANGAEA training. The programme teaches astronauts to conduct geological fieldwork for future Moon and Mars exploration missions.
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Europe is expanding investment in rockets, satellite communications and spacecraft to reduce its reliance on US space infrastructure. New launch companies and the planned 348-satellite IRIS2 network are central to the effort.
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NASA has awarded SpaceX three additional crew-rotation missions to the International Space Station under a $946 million contract modification. The missions, Crew-15 through Crew-17, are expected to have readiness dates in 2027 and 2028.
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ESA has awarded ICEYE and Leonardo contracts to lead parallel architecture studies for the European Union’s future Earth Observation Governmental Service. The Commission-funded work will examine the full system, from satellites and sensors to data processing, distribution and governance.
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The U.S. Air Force says the Space Force has on-orbit space-control weapons capable of defending joint forces against hostile action. The disclosure came alongside plans for autonomous aircraft, distributed satellite constellations and faster military acquisition.
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NASA’s NIAC programme has awarded $3.2 million across 18 Phase I investigations into early-stage space technology concepts. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory is leading three of the projects, covering solar radiation, Venus exploration and planetary-ring science.
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NASA has completed Deep Space Station 23, a 34-metre radio antenna at its Goldstone complex in California. The antenna began operational tracking in August and is designed to increase the Deep Space Network’s flexibility and capacity for deep-space missions.
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NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory has tested a lightweight, fabric-based Vivaldi antenna for the SkyFall Mars helicopters’ ground-penetrating radar. The prototype survived simulated temperature swings and 200 Mars landings without losing signal performance, but it still needs further testing before flight qualification.
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ESA has awarded The Exploration Company a Phase 2 service contract worth up to €760 million to complete and demonstrate its Nyx cargo capsule, including an autonomous docking mission to the ISS.
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The Exploration Company says its $450 million Series C will fund a planned Nyx mission to the ISS and accelerate development of the reusable Storm rocket engine.
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SpaceX says Starship Ship 40 was loaded onto a semi-submersible ship after engineers inspected it and collected heatshield samples off Christmas Island.