These in-space manufacturing modules might provide an alternative to large-scale commercial space stations.

The company aims to launch the first module on a SpaceX rideshare trip in 2026.

The SpaceX Raptor engines are becoming far more powerful and should reach over 330 tons of force while not needing a heat shield. Removing the need for a heat shield will lower the overall mass and increase the thrust to weight ratio.

Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket hasn’t flown space tourists for over 18 months, following an explosive incident in 2022.

NASA is embarking on an ambitious plan to return humans to the Moon and establish a sustained presence on the lunar surface. The Artemis program, named after the twin sister of Apollo in Greek mythology, aims to land the first woman and the next man on the Moon by 2026. This mission will mark the beginning of a new era of lunar exploration, paving the way for long-term scientific research, resource utilization, and technological advancements that will ultimately enable human missions to Mars and beyond.

The Artemis program is not just about returning to the Moon; it is about staying there. NASA envisions a future where humans live and work on the lunar surface for extended periods, conducting scientific experiments, extracting resources, and testing technologies that will be critical for deep space exploration. The establishment of a sustained lunar presence will require the development of robust infrastructure, including habitats, power systems, and communication networks.

One of the key elements of NASA’s plan is the Artemis Base Camp, a permanent outpost near the Moon’s South Pole. This location was chosen because it offers access to water ice in permanently shadowed craters, which can be used for life support and rocket propellant production. The base camp will consist of a foundation surface habitat for short-term crew stays, a habitable mobility platform for long-duration missions, and a lunar terrain vehicle for transportation.

NASA is debating whether to work with commercial partners to get to Mars.

And while SpaceX is the “elephant in the room,” as Ars Technica put it, NASA is keeping its options wide open.

It’s a notable change, as the first time the space agency has openly raised the possibility of working with private space companies to reach Mars.

A gantlet of tests prepared the spacecraft for its challenging trip to the Jupiter system, where it will explore the icy moon Europa and its subsurface ocean.

In less than six months, NASA is set to launch Europa Clipper on a 1.6-billion-mile (2.6-billion-kilometer) voyage to Jupiter’s ocean moon Europa. From the wild vibrations of the rocket ride to the intense heat and cold of space to the punishing radiation of Jupiter, it will be a journey of extremes. The spacecraft was recently put through a series of hard-core tests at the agency’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California to ensure it’s up to the challenge.

Called environmental testing, the battery of trials simulates the environment that the spacecraft will face, subjecting it to shaking, chilling, airlessness, electromagnetic fields, and more.