Deep Space Extra

Here is a list of news that were published in our Newsletter during the week of August 16, 2026:

Human Space Exploration

• White House releases new space transportation policy;
• Scientists create ‘laundry gun’ for astronauts to clean their clothes by shooting out plasma;
• China honors Shenzhou-21 mission astronauts with medals;
• Astronauts remove failed antenna; run out of time to install a spare;
• Ruby-forming mineral found by Mars rover hints at violent impacts;
• Artemis II pilot thanks NASA for letting him fly Orion by hand: ‘I’m still blown away by that trust’
  Coalition Members in the News – Amentum, Boeing, L3 Harris, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman;;
• Isaacman “extremely confident” Artemis III will launch in 2027;
• NASA Administrator Isaacman imagines the state of space in 110 years;

Space Science

• A 96% partial lunar eclipse is just 1 week away: Here’s what you need to know;
• This high-speed star is whipping around the black hole in the middle of our galaxy;
• Korea, NASA partner to map radiation at Moon’s south pole;
• NASA funds spherical ‘Aerobots’ that could explore the caves of Saturn’s moon Titan;
• A star near the Milky Way’s black hole is losing mass at an astonishing rate;
• Scientists find dead star that predicts our Sun’s future: ‘Broken apart and returned to the galaxy’;
• JAXA unveils Martian moon probe, aiming to be 1st to take home samples;
• Tiny satellite to listen to early universe from “dark side” of Moon;
• NASA’s ‘Dragon Lady’ is uncovering how wildfires create storms;

Other News

• Deal reportedly reached to bring SpaceX to Acadiana;
• Increasing chance of flares;
• Space Force funding could be record high, if Congress agrees;
• Space nuclear programs face near- and long-term challenges;
• China’s Kinastra-1 could launch next year as the country develops a new space shuttle service;
• Wishing for rockets;
• Ship 40 arrives at Christmas Island, plans return to Starbase;
• New images reveal the impact site of SpaceX rocket’s Moon collision;
• Satellite images show damage after a Ukrainian missile strike on a space center supporting Russia’s Starlink rival;
• Russia’s reusable rocket launch debut slips beyond 2030;
• Nuking an asteroid on short notice could save us;
• Ukrainian missiles strike Russian Soyuz rocket factory;
• Plan to deorbit old satellites gains steam with new deals;

Major Space-Related Activities for the Week

• NASA and Katalyst Space are closely monitoring the progress of the LIFT mission as it makes its way to the Neil Gehrens Swift Observatory for a planned reboost of Swift to extend its observation of deep space gamma ray activity.
• On Tuesday, NASA astronaut Anil Menon and European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot are to team up for a 6 1/2-hour spacewalk outside the ISS to replace a high data rate Ku band communications antenna linked to NASA’s Mission Control. With an 8:35 a.m. EDT start, NASA coverage of the spacewalk will stream beginning at 7 a.m. EDT with multiple virtual access options available at nasa.gov/live/.
• Also upcoming is the planned August 30 launch of NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, which is to offer a high resolution, wide view of the cosmos to learn more about extrasolar planets and the role dark matter and dark energy play in the evolution of the universe.
• The three-day, 40th annual Small Satellite Conference begins August 23 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The 2026 Intelligence & National Security Summit is planned for August 26-27 in Bethesda, Maryland.
• China’s Chang’e-7 is to launch a Moon lander, rover and hopper as well as a lunar orbiter during a window that opens on August 24 on a mission to search for lunar south pole water ice.
• The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine is scheduled to meet on August 26 for a session entitled, “Designing Governance and Economic Frameworks for the Emerging Cislunar and Lunar Economy.” The U.S. House and Senate remain in recess except for pro forma sessions.
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