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ESA’s Proba-3 mission launches to create artificial eclipses in orbit

On Dec. 5, Proba-3 lifted off on a PSLV-XL rocket from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in India.

ESA’s Proba-3 satellite pair will create artificial solar eclipses in orbit to study ejections from the Sun.

International Space Station moved twice to dodge orbital debris

Crews have maneuvered International Space Station twice in one week to avoid orbital debris, using thrusters to move the research outpost to a higher orbit.

NASA lays off 5% of JPL staff amid budget tightening

NASA laid off more than 300 employees at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory amid budget tightening and an uncertain federal future.

NASA laid off more than 300 employees at its Jet Propulsion Laboratory amid a shrinking budget and an uncertain federal future.

Europa Clipper begins journey to Jupiter’s moon

NASA’s Europa Clipper mission launched Oct. 14 aboard a Falcon Heavy launch vehicle and began its almost six-year journey to Jupiter’s icy moon Europa.

NASA cheers SpaceX Starship test as lunar deadline looms

NASA leaders cheered SpaceX’s successful fifth Starship test flight on Oct. 13, which demonstrated capabilities the agency plans to use when it returns astronauts to the Moon.

Vulcan Centaur successfully launches despite booster anomaly

United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan Centaur launched from Cape Canaveral on Oct. 4, completing its second test launch for the U.S. Space Force.

Falcon 9 launches Polaris Dawn private astronaut mission

SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn private astronaut mission launched from Kennedy Space Center, sending four private astronauts on a five-day mission in Earth orbit.

Boeing Starliner lands without astronauts

Boeing Starliner undocks from the International Space Station on its return journey without astronauts.

FAA grounds Falcon 9 after failed landing

The Federal Aviation Administration has temporarily grounded Falcon 9 launches following a failed landing on Aug. 28. This is the second time the FAA has halted the rocket this year.

NASA cancels VIPER Moon rover amid budget concerns

The metallic front of the VIPER lunar rover in a NASA lab

After $450 million and six years of work, NASA will not be exploring lunar ice with its new rover. The Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) is already built, and the rocket is still scheduled to launch next year, but the rover will remain on Earth.