mastodon 4.8.0-nightly.2026-10-06Auto-posting for Cosmic Log items by alanboyle@mastodon.social. Founded 2002.
Blue Origin aces rocket reuse, but satellite goes awry
Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin space venture used a previously flown New Glenn rocket booster to send a satellite into space today, marking a first for the company.
After it aced its second launch, the first-stage booster — nicknamed “Never Tell Me the Odds” — made yet anoth
https://cosmiclog.com/2026/04/19/blue-origin-aces-rocket-reuse-but-satellite-goes-awry/
#GeekWire #ASTSpaceMobile #BlueOrigin #Broadband #NewGlenn #Satellites #Space
New Glenn rocket explodes on launch pad during test
Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket exploded today during a hotfire test on its launch pad in Florida — dealing heavy damage to the pad, and dealing a heavy blow to Jeff Bezos’ space venture.
“All personnel are accounted for and safe,” Bezos said in a post to X. “It’s too early to know the root cause but we’re alrea
https://cosmiclog.com/2026/05/28/new-glenn-rocket-explodes-on-launch-pad-during-test/
#GeekWire #BlueOrigin #NewGlenn #Space
Pluto-like world’s thin atmosphere poses a mystery
Scientists are puzzling over another oddball on the edge of the solar system: This time, it's an icy object less than a quarter of Pluto's size with a thin atmosphere – a layer of gas that's not typically found around objects so small.
A Japanese team of researchers — including an amate
https://cosmiclog.com/2026/05/08/pluto-like-worlds-thin-atmosphere-poses-a-mystery/
#UniverseToday #Astronomy #KuiperBelt #Pluto #SolarSystem #Space
Blue Origin’s rocket blast hits NASA and Amazon Leo
Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin space venture is still assessing the damage from this week’s catastrophic New Glenn rocket explosion on the company’s Florida launch pad, but it’s already clear that it will take months to make repairs and return to flight. So, what does that mean for Blue Origin and its c
https://cosmiclog.com/2026/05/29/blue-origins-rocket-blast-hits-nasa-and-amazon-leo/
#GeekWire #AmazonLeo #BlueOrigin #NASA #NewGlenn #Space
NASA chooses Blue Origin to deliver moon buggies
Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin space venture has won NASA’s nod to deliver crew-carrying rovers to the lunar surface as part of the space agency’s decade-long plan to create a base near the moon’s south pole.
“America is returning to the moon,” NASA Administrator Jared
https://cosmiclog.com/2026/05/26/nasa-chooses-blue-origin-to-deliver-moon-buggies/
#GeekWire #Artemis #Astrolab #BlueOrigin #Drones #FireflyAerospace #LunarOutpost #Moon #Space
TerraByte creates ‘Earth Search Engine’ for satellite data
A stealthy Seattle startup called TerraByte AI is unveiling a software platform that uses artificial intelligence to sift through real-time satellite data for geospatial gems.
TerraByte’s “Earth Search Engine” analyzes streams of satellite imagery, recognizes features
https://cosmiclog.com/2026/05/19/terrabyte-creates-earth-search-engine-for-satellite-data/
#GeekWire #ArtificialIntelligence #Satellites #Space #TerraByteAI
Interlune wins $6.9M from NASA to analyze lunar gases
NASA has awarded a $6.9 million contract to Seattle-based Interlune for the development of a system that can extract gases such as helium-3 and hydrogen from lunar soil and rocks.
The system will be developed and tested on Earth under the terms of an 18-month Small Business Innovation Researc
https://cosmiclog.com/2026/05/04/interlune-wins-6-9m-from-nasa-to-analyze-lunar-gases/
#GeekWire #Helium3 #Interlune #Moon #NASA #SBIR #Space
PowerLight uses a laser beam to keep military drone aloft
Kent, Wash.-based PowerLight Technologies says its laser power beaming system has been used successfully to keep a military-grade, fixed-wing drone in the air for hours during a series of tests for the Department of Defense.
The flight demonstrations concluded this m
https://cosmiclog.com/2026/04/20/powerlight-uses-a-laser-beam-to-keep-military-drone-aloft/
#GeekWire #Drones #Laser #LaserMotive #Military #PowerLight #Technology
Muon detectives share the Breakthrough Prize glory
University of Washington physicist David Hertzog can’t wait to find out how hundreds of researchers who worked on a geeky project known as the Muon g-2 Collaboration will react when they hear they’ve each won thousands of dollars for that work.
The money is coming
https://cosmiclog.com/2026/04/18/muon-detectives-share-the-breakthrough-prize-glory/
#GeekWire #BreakthroughPrize #ParticlePhysics #Physics #Science #UniversityOfWashington
Helium problem forces NASA to delay moon mission
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman says the giant rocket set to send four astronauts around the moon for the history-making Artemis 2 mission must be rolled back from its launch pad to troubleshoot a technical problem.
The 10-day mission, previously scheduled for as soon as March, is now postponed until April at t
https://cosmiclog.com/2026/02/21/helium-problem-forces-nasa-to-delay-moon-mission/
#GeekWire #Artemis #Moon #NASA #SLS #Space
Starfish doubles down on Space Force satellite servicing
Tukwila, Wash.-based Starfish Space has been awarded a $54.5 million contract to produce another Otter satellite servicing spacecraft for the U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command.
The deal, announced this week, builds on a $37.5 million Space Systems Command contract tha
https://cosmiclog.com/2026/02/07/starfish-doubles-down-on-space-force-satellite-servicing/
#GeekWire #Military #Satellites #Space #SpaceForce #StarfishSpace
Blue Origin might look beyond Jeff Bezos’ backing
For more than a quarter-century, Jeff Bezos has been funding his Blue Origin space venture primarily with his gains from Amazon, the other big company he founded — but according to a report in the Financial Times, Blue Origin is now weighing a plan to seek outside investment for the first time.
The report says Blu
https://cosmiclog.com/2026/05/13/blue-origin-might-look-beyond-jeff-bezos-backing/
#GeekWire #BlueOrigin #NewGlenn #Space
Elon Musk lays out a new vision as SpaceX acquires xAI
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk says he's making space-based artificial intelligence the "immediate focus" of a newly expanded company that not only builds rockets and satellites, but also controls xAI's generative-AI software and the X social-media platform.
https://cosmiclog.com/2026/02/02/elon-musk-lays-out-a-new-vision-as-spacex-acquires-xai/
#CosmicSpace #ArtificialIntelligence #BigData #ElonMusk #Satellites #Space #SpaceX #Technology #xAI
Interlune brings in more cash to get set for moon mining
Seattle-based Interlune is raising additional investment to support its campaign to identify and extract resources on the moon that can be brought back to Earth, starting with helium-3.
The fundraising effort came to light in a document filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission this week.
https://cosmiclog.com/2026/01/29/interlune-brings-in-more-cash-to-get-set-for-moon-mining/
#GeekWire #Helium3 #Interlune #Moon #Space
Amazon asks FCC for more time to launch Leo satellites
Amazon says it’s been harder than expected to secure rides for its Amazon Leo broadband internet satellites, and now it’s asking the Federal Communications Commission for more time.
The request for an extension, filed today, asks the FCC to give Amazon until July 30, 2028,
https://cosmiclog.com/2026/01/30/amazon-asks-fcc-for-more-time-to-launch-leo-satellites/
#GeekWire #Amazon #AmazonLeo #Broadband #FCC #ProjectKuiper #Satellites
Crypto investor plans to ride Starship around Mars
Chinese-born cryptocurrency investor Chun Wang has become the latest deep-pocketed space enthusiast to set his sights on a trip around Mars. But first, he wants to take a ride around the moon on SpaceX's Starship. And SpaceX is willing to work with him.
https://cosmiclog.com/2026/05/21/crypto-investor-plans-to-ride-starship-around-mars/
#UniverseToday #ChunWang #CommercialSpaceflight #Cryptocurrency #Mars #Moon #Space #SpaceX #Starship
AWS offers cloud computing credits to federal agencies
Amazon Web Services has launched two credit programs worth up to $100 million to help federal agencies use cloud services and AI for applications ranging from battle management to quantum computing.
Get the news brief on GeekWire
https://cosmiclog.com/2026/02/17/aws-offers-cloud-computing-credits-to-federal-agencies/
#GeekWire #Amazon #Cloud #Government #Technology
Blue Origin pledges to return to flight by year’s end
Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin space venture aims to repair the damage done last week by a launch-pad rocket explosion and return to flight before the end of the year, the company’s CEO says.
In a post to X, CEO Dave Limp laid out a schedule that was more optimistic than what was expected immediately after the fi
https://cosmiclog.com/2026/06/02/blue-origin-pledges-to-return-to-flight-by-years-end/
#GeekWire #BlueOrigin #NewGlenn #Space
Amazon Leo revs up work on satellite broadband network
REDMOND, Wash. — Chris Weber isn’t ready to say yet exactly when Amazon Leo will start letting individual customers sign up for satellite broadband service, but when it happens, he’ll have the right wardrobe for the debut.
During a recent interview at Amazon Leo’s Mission Opera
https://cosmiclog.com/2026/05/14/amazon-leo-revs-up-work-on-satellite-broadband-network/
#GeekWire #Amazon #AmazonLeo #Broadband #ProjectKuiper #Satellites
Interlune digs into opportunities for lunar construction
Interlune is leveraging a $150,000 NASA contract to develop develop lunar trenching and excavation technology — and although the primary goal is to extract valuable helium-3 from moon dirt, the project also signals the company’s broader play for lunar infrastructure.
Interlune’s work
https://cosmiclog.com/2026/02/04/interlune-digs-into-opportunities-for-lunar-construction/
#GeekWire #Artemis #Interlune #Mining #Moon #NASA #Space
NASA overhauls moon plan — and Blue Origin may benefit
NASA is reworking its Artemis moon program to add a test mission for commercial lunar landers in low Earth orbit next year, with a crewed lunar landing to follow in 2028 at the earliest. The revised plan raises the profile of the Blue Moon lander that’s being built by Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin space
https://cosmiclog.com/2026/02/27/nasa-overhauls-moon-plan-and-blue-origin-may-benefit/
#GeekWire #Artemis #BlueOrigin #Moon #NASA #Space
SETI experts update their protocols for ‘Disclosure Day’
An international committee of experts says it has updated its rules for evaluating and revealing the detection of extraterrestrial intelligence.
The revisions in the decades-old Declaration of Principles, created and maintained by the International Academy of Astronautics' SETI Commi
https://cosmiclog.com/2026/06/05/seti-experts-update-their-protocols-for-disclosure-day/
#UniverseToday #Aliens #Astrobiology #IAA #SETI #Space
Amazon wins OK to add 4,500 satellites to Leo network
Amazon has won the Federal Communications Commission’s approval to go ahead with its plan to launch thousands of second-generation Amazon Leo satellites for its broadband internet network, even though the first-generation constellation is far from complete.
The approval would add
https://cosmiclog.com/2026/02/10/amazon-wins-ok-to-add-4500-satellites-to-leo-network/
#GeekWire #Amazon #AmazonLeo #Broadband #ProjectKuiper #Satellites
Pentagon releases UFO files from moon trips and more
The Department of Defense has released a fresh batch of images and transcripts relating to reports of unidentified anomalous phenomena, formerly known as UFOs, including pictures and descriptions from NASA's Apollo missions to the moon.
Today's release on the War.gov website was the first in a series plan
https://cosmiclog.com/2026/05/08/pentagon-releases-ufo-files-from-moon-trips-and-more/
#UniverseToday #Military #Moon #NASA #UFOs
Next-gen Starship passes its first flight test despite snags
SpaceX's next-generation Starship V3 rocket got off to a glorious start for its first test flight, and although not all of its engines fired fully according to plan, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said the mission "scored a goal for humanity."
This was the 12th Starship launch, but the first one since
https://cosmiclog.com/2026/05/22/next-gen-starship-passes-its-first-flight-test-despite-snags/
#UniverseToday #Space #SpaceX #Starship
Moon rocket goes back to the garage for troubleshooting
NASA rolled the giant rocket that's slated to launch four astronauts on a round-the-moon trip back to its garage today to troubleshoot a problem with its helium pressurization system.
The Space Launch System rocket, topped by an Orion crew capsule, returned to the 52-story Vehicle Assembly Buildi
https://cosmiclog.com/2026/02/25/moon-rocket-goes-back-to-the-garage-for-troubleshooting/
#CosmicSpace #Artemis #Moon #NASA #SLS #Space
Space Northwest revs up a space business accelerator
Space Northwest, a nonprofit association serving the Pacific Northwest’s space industry ecosystem, says it’s partnering with the Commercial Space Federation to launch a regional space business accelerator.
The initiative will begin with an executive roundtable scheduled this summer, followed
https://cosmiclog.com/2026/06/02/space-northwest-revs-up-a-space-business-accelerator/
#GeekWire #CommercialSpaceflight #Space #SpaceNorthwest
Blue Origin gets ready to launch Amazon Leo satellites
Five weeks after experiencing its first launch failure, Kent, Wash.-based Blue Origin is getting ready to put its heavy-lift New Glenn rocket back in service to launch 48 satellites into low Earth orbit for the growing Amazon Leo constellation.
The
https://cosmiclog.com/2026/05/27/blue-origin-gets-ready-to-launch-amazon-leo-satellites/
#GeekWire #Amazon #AmazonLeo #BlueOrigin #Broadband #NewGlenn #ProjectKuiper #Satellites #Space
Insiders share tales about Amazon Leo satellite network
Amazon Leo is still months away from the commercial launch of its satellite broadband network, but there’s already at least one satisfied user: Rajeev Badyal, who heads up the Amazon Leo team.
“I was in a remote location last week,” Badyal said today at the Technology Alliance’s annual State of Technology Luncheon in downtown Seat
https://cosmiclog.com/2026/05/19/insiders-share-tales-about-amazon-leo-satellite-network/
#GeekWire
Occupy Mars? Or the moon? It’s time for a reality check
It's an age-old debate in space circles: Should humanity's first city on another world be built on the moon, or on Mars?
As recently as last year, SpaceX founder Elon Musk saw missions to the moon as a "distraction." In a post to his X social-media platform, he declared that "we're going straight to Mars."
But last wee
https://cosmiclog.com/2026/02/16/occupy-mars-or-the-moon-its-time-for-a-reality-check/
#FictionScienceClub
Stoke Space raises $350M to get set for rocket debut
Kent, Wash.-based Stoke Space Technologies says it has added another $350 million to its previously announced Series D financing round, bringing the amount raised in the round to $860 million.
The fresh funding will go toward completing activation of the company’s Florida launch complex and expanding production capacity
https://cosmiclog.com/2026/02/10/stoke-space-raises-350m-to-get-set-for-rocket-debut/
#GeekWire #Space #StokeSpace
NASA blames itself and Boeing for Starliner screw-ups
In a report released nearly two years after Boeing's botched Starliner mission to the International Space Station, NASA put the mishap in the same category as the Challenger and Columbia space shuttle disasters — and said the spacecraft wouldn't carry another crew until dozens of corrective a
https://cosmiclog.com/2026/02/19/nasa-blames-itself-and-boeing-for-starliner-screw-ups/
#CosmicSpace #InternationalSpaceStation #NASA #Starliner
Starfish sets sights on new target for satellite docking
Eleven months after launch, Starfish Space’s Otter Pup 2 satellite is finally kicking its test mission into high gear, closing in for a rendezvous with a newly designated target.
If all goes according to plan, Otter Pup 2 will dock with Australia-based Gilmour Space’s ElaraSat satellite so
https://cosmiclog.com/2026/05/20/starfish-sets-sights-on-new-target-for-satellite-docking/
#GeekWire #GilmourSpace #Satellites #StarfishSpace
Rubin Observatory revs up its astronomical alert system
An astronomical alert system developed at the University of Washington started off with a bang this week, sending out 800,000 notifications about moving asteroids, exploding stars and other celestial changes detected by the Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile
https://cosmiclog.com/2026/02/25/rubin-observatory-revs-up-its-astronomical-alert-system/
#GeekWire #Astronomy #BigData #DIRACInstitute #RubinObservatory #UniversityOfWashington
NASA completes rehearsal for Artemis moon launch
NASA counted down to T-minus 29 seconds tonight during a rehearsal for a historic launch that could send astronauts around the moon for the first time in more than half a century.
The run-through at Launch Complex 39B, at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, was known as a wet dress rehearsal because it involved fill
https://cosmiclog.com/2026/02/19/nasa-completes-rehearsal-for-artemis-moon-launch/
#GeekWire #Artemis #Moon #NASA #Orion #SLS
Phew! NASA rules out asteroid smashup on the moon
Here's one less thing to worry about — or to look forward to: NASA has ruled out any chance that an asteroid called 2024 YR4 will hit the moon in 2032. Last year, the uncertainty surrounding the space rock's orbital path held out a slight chance of impact, but fresh observations from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope confirm that it'll be a
https://cosmiclog.com/2026/03/05/phew-nasa-rules-out-asteroid-smashup-on-the-moon/
#UniverseToday
SpaceX wants to launch a million data center satellites
SpaceX founder Elon Musk wasn’t kidding about his plans to go big with orbital data centers: The company is asking the Federal Communications Commission to approve a plan to put up to a million satellites in orbit to process data for artificial intelligence applications.
“Launc
https://cosmiclog.com/2026/01/31/spacex-wants-to-launch-a-million-data-center-satellites/
#GeekWire #BigData #Broadband #FCC #Satellites #SpaceX #Starlink
Sophia Space raises $10M for orbital computing systems
Sophia Space says it has closed a $10 million seed financing round to accelerate the development of orbital computing systems that could serve as the foundation for space-based data processing.
The startup’s tabletop-sized satellite modules, known as tiles, take advantage of a proprietary system that
https://cosmiclog.com/2026/02/24/sophia-space-raises-10m-for-orbital-computing-systems/
#GeekWire #BigData #Satellites #SophiaSpace
A quick guide to the total lunar eclipse — and the weather
Tonight’s full moon will turn into a red moon during the last total lunar eclipse we’ll be able to see for the next two years — but whether we’ll truly be able to see it with our own eyes depends on the weather. And that’s an iffy proposition for Pacific Northwest skywatchers.
The good news
https://cosmiclog.com/2026/03/02/a-quick-guide-to-the-total-lunar-eclipse-and-the-weather/
#GeekWire #Eclipses #Moon #Skywatching #Space
Business is looking up for space station designers
How do you design a living space where there’s no up or down? That’s one of the challenges facing Teague, a Seattle-based design and innovation firm that advises space companies such as Blue Origin, Axiom Space and Voyager Technologies on how to lay out their orbital outposts.
Mike
https://cosmiclog.com/2026/02/09/business-is-looking-up-for-space-station-designers/
#GeekWire #Design #OrbitalReef #Space #SpaceStations #Starlab #Teague
