Carina Nebula — star formation region photographed by JWST

Articles

In-depth analysis, guides, and opinion on space exploration

Ad 728x90

An H-IIA rocket launches from Japan's Tanegashima Space Center

analysisApril 16, 2026

Japan's Quiet Space Mastery: From Pencil Rockets to Hayabusa and the H3 Era (Part 1)

Japan launched its first satellite in 1970, pioneered asteroid sample return with Hayabusa, nailed a 55-meter precision Moon landing, and built H3 for the commercial era.

Japan space programJAXAHayabusa

JAXA astronaut Kimiya Yui training for spacewalks — representing Japan's growing human spaceflight ambitions

newsApril 16, 2026

Japan's NewSpace Boom: ispace, Astroscale, and Asia's Next Commercial Space Hub (Part 2)

Japan's private space boom: ispace's Moon landers, Astroscale's debris cleanup tech, Synspective's SAR sats, and the startups making Japan Asia's commercial space hub.

Japan NewSpaceispaceAstroscale

A replica of Sputnik 1, humanity's first artificial satellite, launched by the Soviet Union on October 4, 1957

analysisApril 16, 2026

From Sputnik to Mir: The Rise of the Soviet-Russian Space Dominance (Part 1)

The Soviet Union launched Sputnik, put the first human in orbit, did the first spacewalk, built the first space stations, and dominated space for 30 years. The full story.

Russia space programRoscosmosSoviet space

A Soyuz rocket on its launch pad at Baikonur Cosmodrome — still Russia's primary crewed launch site, leased from Kazakhstan

analysisApril 16, 2026

Russia's Space Decline: From ISS Partner to Luna-25 Failure and What Comes Next (Part 2)

Russia once led the space race. Today it launches fewer rockets than SpaceX alone. Inside Roscosmos's post-Soviet decline, Luna-25's crash, GLONASS, and the Amur reusable rocket gamble.

RoscosmosRussia spaceISS

The Milky Way galaxy arching across the night sky

newsApril 14, 2026

Amazon Buys Globalstar for $11.6B: The Direct-to-Device Race Heats Up

Amazon's $11.57B Globalstar acquisition reshapes the direct-to-cell satellite market. Inside the deal, the Apple bonus, and how Amazon Leo stacks up against Starlink and AST SpaceMobile.

Amazon LeoGlobalstardirect-to-device

NASA's SLS rocket lifts off on the Artemis II mission from Kennedy Space Center

analysisApril 14, 2026

Artemis II Mission Success: The Complete 10-Day Lunar Journey Recap

At 8:07 p.m. EDT on Friday, April 10, 2026, a charred but intact Orion capsule named Integrity splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego. In…

Artemis IINASAMoon

A Long March 3B rocket lifts off, part of the workhorse family that made China the world's second-most-active launch nation

analysisApril 14, 2026

From Mao to the Moon: The Complete History of China's Space Program (Part 1)

Inside China's rise as a space superpower: Qian Xuesen's US deportation, the 1970 Dongfanghong-1 satellite, Shenzhou taikonauts, Chang'e far-side landing, and Tianwen-1 Mars.

China space programCNSAQian Xuesen

The Mengzhou next-generation crewed spacecraft during its max-Q abort test in June 2025

opinionApril 14, 2026

China's 2045 Space Endgame: Moon Bases, Megaconstellations and the New Orbital Cold War (Part 2)

China's road to 2045: ILRS lunar base with Russia, 2030 crewed Moon landing, Guowang and Qianfan megaconstellations, Tianwen-3 Mars sample return, and the new orbital cold war.

China spaceILRSMoon base

ESA's Ariane 6 rocket launching from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou

newsApril 14, 2026

ESA vs NASA: Budget, Missions, and Two Very Different Approaches to Space

NASA spends $25B, ESA pools 23 nations for ~$8B — yet both lead in science, Earth observation, and deep space. An honest side-by-side of how they differ.

ESANASAspace agency comparison

newsApril 9, 2026

Ariane 6 vs Falcon 9: Europe's Flagship vs SpaceX's Workhorse — A Complete Comparison

Ariane 6 vs Falcon 9 compared: specs, cost, reusability, and why Europe builds its own rocket even though SpaceX launches for half the price.

Ariane 6Falcon 9SpaceX

An Atlas V rocket launches the first Project Kuiper mission from Cape Canaveral

newsApril 7, 2026

Amazon Leo: The $10 Billion Bet to Build a Starlink Rival From Scratch

Amazon's $10B Project Kuiper rebrands as Amazon Leo: 241 satellites in orbit, 3,200 committed, an FCC deadline, and a head-on race with Elon Musk's Starlink.

Amazon LeoProject Kuipersatellite internet

newsApril 2, 2026

The Netherlands: ESA's Technical Heart and Europe's Hidden Space Powerhouse

How the Netherlands hosts ESA's largest facility, builds Europe's solar arrays, and quietly anchors the continent's space ambitions from Noordwijk to orbit.

Netherlands space programESTECNSO

Page 1 of 18 — 206 articles