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NASA has successfully completed the main phase of an experimental communications mission that allows spacecraft to connect through multiple satellite networks, a breakthrough that could make future space missions more flexible and reliable. The project, called the Polylingual Experimental Terminal (PExT), is designed to improve communication between different satellite systems by enabling spacecraft to switch between government and commercial networks instead of relying on a single provider. PExT was launched on July 23, 2025, aboard York Space Systems' BARD spacecraft. The mission aimed to demonstrate how advanced communications technology can help spacecraft send and receive data through multiple satellite relay networks. Traditionally, spacecraft have depended on one communications network. However, PExT uses the widely adopted Ka-band spectrum, allowing data to be transmitted across different satellite systems. NASA completed the mission's primary goals in December 2025. During testing, the terminal successfully sent data to Earth through NASA's Tracking and Relay Satellite System as well as commercial networks operated by Viasat and SES Space and Defense. Following the successful tests, NASA launched an extended operations phase in January 2026 to explore additional capabilities and partnerships. As part of the next phase, NASA is testing direct communications between the spacecraft and Earth using SSC Space's global ground station network. The agency expects to complete more than 50 direct connections through a partner ground station in Weilheim, Germany. Officials say these tests will demonstrate how future spacecraft could either send data through relay satellites or communicate directly with ground stations, depending on mission needs. Such flexibility could improve coverage, increase reliability and make operations more efficient. NASA is also working with Aalyria Technologies to test enterprise-level management of space communications using the company's Spacetime software platform. The software is designed to help plan, manage and deliver communications services for multiple missions through a shared system. NASA hopes the technology will simplify operations, improve access to available services and provide more dependable communications support throughout a mission's lifespan. The effort builds on years of cooperation between Aalyria and the Defense Innovation Unit under the Hybrid Space Architecture program, which aims to create a more connected space communications network linking government and commercial satellite systems. The project is funded and managed by NASA's Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) Program in partnership with the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory. NASA said the work will help develop and test commercial communications systems that could support future missions in low Earth orbit and eventually deeper space exploration. Source: Science Daily

NASA has announced early plans for building a long-term base on the Moon, moving ahead with orders for landers, rovers and drones just weeks after its Artemis II lunar mission. The US space agency revealed the first phase of its lunar base programme on Tuesday, awarding hundreds of millions of dollars in contracts to four American companies. Under the plan, Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin will provide a pair of landers to transport equipment to the Moon’s surface near the south pole. The landers will carry lunar buggies developed by companies Astrolab and Lunar Outpost. Meanwhile, Firefly Aerospace will send drones to support operations on the lunar surface. NASA hopes the equipment will reach the Moon before astronauts land there again, with crewed missions expected as early as 2028. The agency’s Artemis programme is already advancing. In April, Artemis II carried four astronauts around the Moon, flying farther into space than any human mission since the Apollo era. The next mission, Artemis III, planned for 2027, will test docking systems in orbit as part of preparations for landing astronauts on the lunar surface. NASA is aiming for a human landing by 2028, followed by gradual expansion of the Moon base in the 2030s. Later phases will include building infrastructure such as a power system and eventually permanent habitats for astronauts. Officials say the long-term goal is to establish a sustained human presence on the Moon. NASA’s Moon base programme executive Carlos Garcia-Galan said the future base could stretch across hundreds of square miles, supported by drones placed at key locations to help monitor the area. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said the system is also designed to respect other countries’ lunar missions and equipment, with expectations of similar cooperation from other space agencies. He added that the Moon base is intended to support scientific research, encourage a lunar economy, and prepare for future missions to Mars. “The journey is just beginning, and we are not slowing down,” Isaacman said.

NASA is preparing to launch its powerful Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope earlier than planned, with liftoff now targeted for as soon as September 2026. The revised schedule moves the mission ahead of NASA’s previous target of launching no later than May 2027. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said the accelerated timeline shows what can be achieved when government investment, scientific expertise and private companies work together. Speaking at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Isaacman described the mission as an important step toward discoveries that could reshape our understanding of the universe. The Roman Space Telescope is designed to capture extremely wide and detailed infrared images of space. This will allow scientists to study vast regions of the universe with unprecedented precision. Its main goals include investigating dark energy and dark matter, as well as searching for planets outside our solar system. Researchers believe the telescope will also help uncover many unexpected cosmic phenomena. During its planned five-year primary mission, Roman is expected to gather about 20,000 terabytes of data. Scientists will use this information to study nearly 100,000 exoplanets, hundreds of millions of galaxies, billions of stars and rare events in deep space, including objects that may never have been observed before. NASA plans to launch the observatory aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center. SpaceX will provide the launch vehicle, while NASA said the exact launch date will be announced later as preparations continue. The mission is managed by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, with support from Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Space Telescope Science Institute and scientists from several research institutions. Source: Science Daily

Four astronauts have completed a historic mission, travelling farther into space than any humans before during a 10-day journey to the Moon and back. The NASA-led Artemis II mission followed every stage of the journey, from launch to a tense return to Earth, capturing global attention. Before liftoff, astronauts said they usually remain calm on launch day. But for many watching, the moment was overwhelming. As the rocket blasted off from Kennedy Space Center, the intense brightness, deafening sound and powerful force created an unforgettable scene. At the top of the 98-metre rocket were four astronauts heading toward the Moon. The crew — Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen — soon shared their first view of Earth from space. “Earth, you look beautiful,” Glover said, as the spacecraft began its roughly 250,000-mile journey. He told me he'd spoken to his wife and three children about the possibility that he might not come back. Reid Wiseman also said he'd had very honest conversations with his two daughters about the dangers involved with this endeavour. He'd brought them up as a single dad after his wife died six years ago. As the crew neared their destination, with the Moon growing ever larger in their spacecraft's window, new features became visible on the lunar surface. They named a crater a bright spot visible from Earth after Reid's late wife Carroll. The crew, all in tears, came together to hug their commander and friend. And back in Houston, there wasn't a dry eye at mission control and that includes the BBC team. As they adjusted to microgravity, live video showed how limited their space was. The astronauts lived, worked, ate and slept inside a capsule about the size of a minibus, with no privacy as millions followed their mission in real time. Even basic facilities drew attention. Their specially designed toilet system, which cost millions of dollars, faced some technical issues, forcing the crew to use backup methods for certain needs. At Johnson Space Center, engineers and flight controllers closely monitored the spacecraft’s systems, including navigation and life support. The mission was a test flight, marking the first time humans travelled on this rocket and spacecraft, making safety a top concern. Ahead of launch, astronauts spoke openly with their families about the risks. Hansen discussed the possibility he might not return, while Wiseman had similar honest conversations with his children. The mission went on to break the distance record set by the Apollo 13 mission, eventually reaching about 252,756 miles from Earth. Along the way, the astronauts captured thousands of images and described the Moon’s surface as it passed beneath them. The mission also highlighted NASA’s future plans, including a return to the Moon with a landing expected later this decade and long-term goals of sending humans to Mars. Officials say the aim is to build on past achievements rather than repeat them. The most dangerous part of the mission came during re-entry. As the capsule returned to Earth, it faced extreme heat and lost communication for several minutes, creating tense moments in mission control. Relief came when contact was restored and the spacecraft was seen descending under parachutes before safely splashing down in the Pacific Ocean. Cheers erupted at mission control as the astronauts were confirmed safe, marking the successful end of a high-risk test flight. The crew described the journey as life-changing and said the bond they formed would last a lifetime. What began as a mission by four astronauts ended with them returning as widely recognised figures, having taken millions of people along on a remarkable journey beyond Earth.

Scientists say the Moon, Earth’s closest neighbour, is shrinking faster than previously thought, a discovery that could affect future lunar exploration. Research by the National Air and Space Museum’s Center for Earth and Planetary Studies shows that as the Moon’s interior cools, its surface contracts, creating tectonic features such as lobate scarps and small mare ridges (SMRs). The SMRs, which are relatively young and widespread, suggest that the Moon is still geologically active. These features may also indicate new sources of moonquakes, which could influence where astronauts and equipment are placed on future missions. “This work gives us a complete view of recent lunar tectonism, helping understand its interior, thermal history, and potential for moonquakes,” said Cole Nypaver, lead author of the study. The shrinking Moon poses real risks for human exploration. NASA warns that moonquakes caused by surface contraction can originate 20–30 km deep, reach up to magnitude 5.5, and last more than 10 minutes. Such seismic activity will need to be considered when selecting landing sites and designing infrastructure for programs like Artemis, which aims to return humans to the Moon by 2028. Tom Watters, senior scientist emeritus, said the discovery of young ridges in the lunar maria completes a global picture of a dynamic, contracting Moon. Understanding these tectonic changes is critical for the safety of astronauts and the success of future scientific missions. Scientists continue to study the Moon’s internal dynamics to better understand its history and evolution, while providing crucial data for the next wave of lunar exploration. With inputs from BBC.

NASA announced Friday a major overhaul of its Artemis moon exploration program, aiming to make it more like the fast-paced Apollo missions of the 1960s. The agency plans to add an extra practice flight before attempting a crewed lunar landing in 2028. The change comes just two days after NASA’s new moon rocket returned to its hangar for repairs, and a safety advisory panel warned the agency to temper its ambitious plans for the first lunar landing since 1972. Artemis II, originally a lunar fly-around with four astronauts, is now delayed until at least April due to rocket issues. Moon is more geologically active than previously thought Artemis III, which had targeted a landing near the moon’s south pole in about three years, will now focus on sending a lunar lander into Earth orbit in 2027 for docking practice with astronauts in the Orion capsule. This adjustment comes amid concerns over the readiness of lunar landers and spacewalking suits. NASA plans one or possibly two moon landings in 2028. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said long gaps between missions are unacceptable, citing hydrogen fuel leaks and helium flow problems that have affected the Space Launch System rocket since its first test flight in 2022. Isaacman, a tech billionaire and former private astronaut, took charge of NASA in December. He stressed that the pace of Apollo missions — with successive flights before the first landing — should guide Artemis. To accelerate the schedule and reduce risk, NASA will standardize its Space Launch System rockets. Meanwhile, SpaceX and Blue Origin are working to fast-track the development of lunar landers. Next year, astronauts in Orion will rendezvous in Earth orbit with SpaceX’s Starship, Blue Origin’s Blue Moon, or both, mirroring the methodical Apollo approach. Isaacman said the revised Artemis plan addresses safety panel concerns, enjoys industry support, and aligns with administration goals. “We’re returning to basics and doing what we know works,” he said.

SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, carrying four astronauts for NASA’s Crew-12 mission, autonomously docked with the International Space Station on Saturday. The spacecraft launched at 5:15 a.m. Eastern Time on Friday aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and reached the space-facing port of the station’s Harmony module at around 3:15 p.m. Eastern Time on Saturday.  The four-member team comprises Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway from NASA, Sophie Adenot of the European Space Agency, and cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev from Roscosmos. SpaceX sends new team to ISS after medical emergency Over the nearly eight-month mission, Crew-12 will carry out a range of scientific experiments to support future human missions beyond low Earth orbit and deliver benefits for life on Earth, NASA said.  The crew will investigate pneumonia-causing bacteria to support better cardiovascular therapies and evaluate technologies for producing intravenous fluids on demand for future space missions. They will also assess how different physical traits influence blood circulation during spaceflight. According to NASA, other studies will focus on automated monitoring of plant health and exploring interactions between plants and nitrogen-fixing microbes to boost food production in space. Elon Musk’s SpaceX to build self-sustaining Moon city

New findings from NASA’s Juno mission suggest that Jupiter, the largest planet in the solar system, is slightly smaller and more flattened than scientists previously believed. According to NASA, researchers analysed radio occultation data collected during 13 close flybys of the gas giant, while also factoring in the impact of Jupiter’s powerful zonal winds. The study, published in the journal Nature Astronomy, found that Jupiter is around 8 kilometres narrower at the equator and about 24 kilometres flatter at the poles than earlier measurements indicated. NASA explained that radio occultation allows scientists to peer through Jupiter’s thick and opaque cloud layers to gain insights into its internal structure. During these experiments, Juno sends radio signals to Earth-based receivers in NASA’s Deep Space Network. As the signals travel through Jupiter’s ionosphere, atmospheric gases bend and slow them. NASA postpones crewed moon mission to March after hydrogen leaks By analysing subtle changes in the frequency of these signals, scientists can calculate key atmospheric properties, including temperature, pressure and electron density at various depths within the planet’s atmosphere. The agency said that determining Jupiter’s precise size and shape is crucial because the planet serves as an important reference point for studying giant exoplanets beyond the solar system. A more accurate model of Jupiter will help astronomers better interpret observations of distant planets as they transit their host stars.

NASA has delayed its much-anticipated crewed mission around the moon until at least March after hydrogen fuel leaks disrupted a key fueling test of its new mega rocket. The problem surfaced during a full dress rehearsal at Kennedy Space Center, forcing officials to stop the countdown. Similar hydrogen leaks had also delayed the debut of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket three years ago. Hydrogen, while efficient, is highly flammable and difficult to manage. “This issue caught us by surprise,” said John Honeycutt, NASA’s SLS program manager, speaking hours after Monday’s test was halted. Before the leaks, NASA had hoped to launch as early as this weekend, marking humanity’s first return to the moon since 1972. According to NASA, the delay of about a month will give engineers time to run another fueling test before committing the four-member crew three Americans and one Canadian to the lunar flyby mission. It remains unclear when the next rehearsal will take place. Officials said any damaged seals or parts can likely be fixed at the launch pad. Moving the rocket back to the Vehicle Assembly Building would cause a much longer delay. The leaks appeared early during the loading of super-cold liquid hydrogen and reappeared later, eventually stopping the countdown at five minutes. Controllers aimed to reach the final 30 seconds, but hydrogen levels rose above safety limits. NASA teams tried several fixes, including pausing the fuel flow to warm the area and adjusting hydrogen flow rates methods that helped during the uncrewed SLS launch in 2022. This time, however, the leaks persisted. NASA research plane makes emergency landing in Texas after gear failure With the launch now pushed to at least March 6, mission commander Reid Wiseman and his crewmates have been cleared to exit quarantine in Houston. They will reenter quarantine two weeks before the next launch attempt. Wiseman said he was proud of the launch team’s work despite the challenges. NASA officials said cold weather did not cause the leaks. Heaters kept the Orion capsule warm, while protective systems safeguarded the rocket. Amit Kshatriya, NASA’s associate administrator, reminded reporters that the SLS is still an experimental vehicle and that long gaps between tests add to the challenge. The nearly 10-day mission will send astronauts around the moon to test life-support and other critical systems. They will not land or enter lunar orbit. The Artemis program ultimately aims to return astronauts to the lunar surface this time near the moon’s south pole—and support longer stays in the years ahead.

NASA scientists have discovered ammonia-bearing compounds on the surface of Jupiter’s icy moon Europa, shedding new light on the moon’s subsurface ocean, according to a recent analysis of decades-old space data. The breakthrough comes from a re-examination of information collected by NASA’s Galileo spacecraft, which orbited Jupiter from 1989 until 2003. Researchers created a composite image of a 400-kilometre-wide area on Europa using the spacecraft’s solid-state imaging camera, revealing dark, crossing bands on the moon’s surface that indicate cracks in the ice. Data from Galileo’s Near-Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (NIMS) was overlaid on the image. Red pixels mark areas where ammonia compounds were detected, while purple pixels show regions without such compounds. The NIMS data was collected during Galileo’s 11th orbit of Jupiter in 1997. Scientists suggest that the ammonia-rich compounds near these fractures could have been transported by cryovolcanic activity, potentially bringing liquid water from Europa’s subsurface ocean to the surface. The discovery provides fresh insights into the moon’s geological activity and its potential to host conditions favourable for life beneath the ice, NASA reported.   With inputs from NDTV