Space & Astronomy

In less than a year, the Artemis III mission will test two landers to return humans to the lunar surface for the first time in more than 50 years. NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS), the same vehicle type that launched astronauts around the Moon earlier this year, is being prepped to send astronauts back into… The post Artemis III On Track for Triple-Launch in 2027 appeared first on Space Foundation.

LONGMONT, CO — Oct. 22, 2026 — Space Foundation and Arcfield will partner to host Space in the Community (SITC), a weeklong STEM experience for students and educators at St. Vrain Valley Schools in Longmont, Colorado, Oct. 26–30, 2026. From Monday through Thursday, Space Foundation educators and former NASA astronaut Duane “Digger” Carey will visit middle and… The post Space Foundation and Arcfield Bring Former NASA Astronaut to St. Vrain Valley Schools appeared first on Space Foundation.

Congressional gridlock ahead of the midterm election paused plans to nearly double national security space spending to as much as $126 billion. Now Pentagon programs remain in limbo as a Dec. 11 federal shutdown looms.1 The cloudy horizon comes after a sunny year for military and intelligence satellite programs. The House and Senate made steady… The post Fiscal Cliff Looms for Federal Space Spending Amid Budget Delay appeared first on Space Foundation.

What You Need to Know:  SpaceX looks to increase its Starship launch cadence by nearly 20 times. JAXA launches a sample-return mission to the Martian moon Phobos. Blue Origin is building two new launchpads at Cape Canaveral. United States Space Policy Updates FAA regulators are reviewing a proposal to greatly increase the number of Starship launches… The post Washington Updates – Boosting Starship Cadence appeared first on Space Foundation.

FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va — Oct. 19, 2026 — Space Foundation and Arcfield are proud to partner once again for Space in the Community (SITC), bringing a week of space exploration and STEM fun to Fairfax County Public Schools in Fairfax County, Virginia, from Oct. 19-23, 2026.  Space Foundation’s SITC program builds lasting partnerships with communities to help PreK-12 students become lifelong… The post Space Foundation, Arcfield to Bring Weeklong STEM Experience to  Fairfax County, Virginia  appeared fi

NASA is playing a key role in a JAXA mission that could return a sample from the Mars system for the first time in history. The Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission launched October 20 from Japan. It is scheduled to arrive near the Martian moons Phobos and Deimos in August 2027. The spacecraft will collect… The post Martian Sample-Return Mission Launches appeared first on Space Foundation.

National Space Sustainability Competition invites students in grades 6–8 to develop solutions for sustainable living in Earth’s orbit COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Oct. 15, 2026 — Space Foundation is challenging middle school students across the country to tackle one of the biggest questions facing future space exploration: How will humans generate, store and use energy… The post Space Foundation Challenges Middle School Students Nationwide to Solve Energy Challenges in Space appeared first on Space

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — October 13, 2026 — Space Foundation has named Michelle Olson as Senior Vice President of Strategic Communications and Marketing. Olson brings more than 35 years of experience in public relations, corporate communications and integrated marketing, most recently as Partner and U.S. Chief Client Officer at LLYC, where she built and led… The post Space Foundation Names Michelle Olson as Senior Vice President of Strategic Communications and Marketing appeared first on Space

What You Need to Know:  The Army welcomes its first class of enlisted space warfighters. The Artemis Accords reach more than 75 signatories. The SpaceX Crew-13 mission breaks the record for the fastest an American spacecraft has docked with the ISS after launch. United States Space Policy Updates The Army welcomes its first class of… The post Washington Updates: Space Soldiers appeared first on Space Foundation.

South Korea achieved its first orbital launch of the year when a Nuri rocket took off from the nation’s Naro Space Center on Tuesday, Oct. 6. The mission carried 15 satellites into orbit, successfully deploying 14. This is the fifth launch of the nation’s Nuri rocket family since 2021. “Nuri successfully completed its fifth mission… The post South Korea deploys 14 satellites in first launch of 2026 appeared first on Space Foundation.

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (Oct. 5, 2026) –  Mayors and economic development leaders from Huntsville, Ala., and Colorado Springs, Colo., offered public assurances in a joint press conference Monday that the two communities are working together for a smooth transition as U.S. Space Command headquarters moves from Colorado to Alabama. The mission of ensuring national security and… The post Colorado Springs, Huntsville Leaders Unite Behind Space Command Move appeared first on Space Foundation.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Oct. 04, 2026 — Space Foundation today named Kevin “Morty” Mortensen, a retired Air Force space commander and BAE Systems leader, as executive vice president and chief mission officer, and Meredith McKay, a two-decade NASA veteran, as senior vice president of international and government affairs. The appointments bring deep national security,… The post Space Foundation names retired Air Force space commander Kevin “Morty” Mortensen Chief Mission Officer and NASA veteran

The cutting-edge of science is in orbit above the Earth. The fields of biotechnology, materials science, propulsion and energy systems are advancing as the United States, China, Europe, and private industry increasingly bet on low Earth orbit (LEO) as the next great laboratory. Four astronauts launched on board a SpaceX Falcon 9 to the International… The post Low Earth Orbit Strengthens Role as a Research Destination appeared first on Space Foundation.

Athena Education Award recognizes years of sustained investment in space-focused education programs that have benefitted 10,000 in the state COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Oct. 1, 2026 — Space Foundation presented its Athena Education Award to The Petit Family Foundation on Wednesday, Sept. 30, recognizing the organization’s longstanding investment in educational programs that expand access to… The post Space Foundation Honors The Petit Family Foundation for Advancing STEM Education throughout Connec

The largest space launch vehicle ever constructed surpassed its biggest hurdle Monday as SpaceX’s Starship lifted off from Texas and reached orbit on its 14th test flight. Starship, a 40-story launch vehicle capable of lifting 50 full-sized Ford pickups to space, is critical to NASA’s Artemis lunar plans. The space industry has eagerly awaited Starship… The post SpaceX’s Starship Finds Success in 1st Orbital Flight, Earns NASA Praise appeared first on Space Foundation.

What You Need to Know:  States are vying to host the proposed U.S. Space Academy. The U.K. Royal Air Force launches its first space squadron. SpaceX is preparing for its first Starship orbital launch. United States Space Policy Updates Multiple states, including Texas, Florida, and Alabama, are competing to host the planned U.S. Space Academy.… The post Washington Updates: Competing For The Academy appeared first on Space Foundation.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Sept. 24, 2026 — Space Foundation, through its strategic initiative Space Workforce for Tomorrow (SWFT), is now accepting registrations for the National Space Intern (NSI) program, giving college students pursuing STEM fields an opportunity to gain experience and build connections within the space industry. NSI connects students with leading space companies… The post Space Workforce for Tomorrow Opens National Space Intern Program Registration, Hosts Virtual Career Fair

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Sept. 23, 2026 — Space Foundation today announced the election of General (Ret.) David D. “DT” Thompson and Bridgit Mendler to its board of directors, effective Nov. 11, 2026. The organization also named Nathan Davis general counsel, a role he assumed this spring.  “These leaders represent the very best of the… The post Space Foundation Announces New Board Members, General Counsel appeared first on Space Foundation.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Dozens of embassy officials, industry experts and political advisers joined Space Foundation and leaders from the Secretary of the Air Force International Affairs (SAF/IA) office Tuesday to enhance international space cooperation among Arctic countries. Deanna Ryals, assistant deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force, International Affairs for Space, moderated discussion for the… The post Space Foundation Hosts Arctic Security Forum appeared first on Space Foundation.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Sept. 17, 2026 — Space Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded in 1983 to advance the global space ecosystem, is now accepting nominations for its most prestigious honor, the General James E. Hill Lifetime Space Achievement Award. Named in memory of Gen. James E. Hill, USAF (Ret.), a longtime chair of Space… The post Space Foundation Opens Nominations for General James E. Hill Lifetime Space Achievement Award appeared first on Space Foundation.