The Latest Update on the Biggest Space Mission of 2026...

Richard T. Par

Happy belated New Year, everyone! Since yesterday was a holiday, there were no major space-related news to be shared on this blog...until this afternoon.

NASA tweeted the update below that announced the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket for Artemis 2 will be rolled from the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) to Launch Complex (LC)-39B at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida less than two weeks from now! It also maintained that the first day of the Artemis 2 launch window is still set for Friday, February 6.

We can obviously expect another update next week which will reveal the exact date that SLS and the Orion Integrity capsule will make their 4.2-mile (6.8-kilometer) journey from the VAB to LC-39B. When that happens, the reality that humanity is very close to returning to the Moon for the first time since 1972's Apollo 17 will become more tangible. It's when NASA conducts its agency-wide Flight Readiness Review and officially confirms a launch date that the spaceflight community, and the general public in particular, can start expressing even more excitement in the historic moment that's about to transpire early next month!

Stay tuned.

🚨Mission Update: Rollout for Artemis II is less than two weeks away.

This milestone begins final, system-wide testing as NASA prepares to send astronauts around the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years, with a launch window opening as soon as February 6. pic.twitter.com/gKRqUXIfMg

— Bethany Stevens (@NASASpox) January 2, 2026

Photos of the Night: The U.S. Capital Looks Ahead to Artemis 2 and America's 250th Birthday...

NASA / Bill Ingalls

Washington Monument Lighting and New Year’s Eve Show (Photo Release)

Images depicting NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket are projected onto the Washington Monument as part of an event to kick off the nation's 250th birthday year - on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, in Washington.

Source: NASA HQ PHOTO on Flickr

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Austin DeSisto

A Christmas Update on Humanity's First Orbital Moon Outpost...

Redwire Corporation

Redwire Successfully Deploys the Most Powerful Roll-Out Solar Arrays Ever Built, Prepares for Major Delivery in Fourth Quarter (News Release)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Redwire Corporation (NYSE: RDW), a global leader in aerospace and defense technology solutions, today announced that it has successfully completed the first deployment test for one of its Roll-Out Solar Arrays (ROSA) for the lunar Gateway’s Power and Propulsion Element (PPE). Powered by PPE and Redwire’s trailblazing ROSAs, the Gateway will represent the pinnacle of solar electric propulsion technology, a key capability not just for future exploration missions to the Moon and Mars, but for national security platforms as well. The Gateway ROSAs will generate an unprecedented 60 kW – making these the most powerful ROSAs ever built.

With this robust supply of power, Gateway will offer extensive capabilities for sustained exploration and research in deep space, potentially enabling ambitious activities such as resource extraction and utilization, while also providing peaceful space domain awareness and enhancing astronaut safety.

Redwire was contracted by Maxar, the prime contractor for PPE, to develop two ROSA wings. The pair of PPE ROSAs will undergo additional testing in the coming months as Redwire prepares to deliver the ROSA wings to Maxar in the fourth quarter of 2025.

“Redwire is proud to be contributing critical infrastructure for PPE and the Gateway mission, and we are grateful for the trust of our customer Maxar and the dedicated teams that are delivering this important hardware. These ROSAs represent a significant technology achievement that will propel human spaceflight into a bold future,” said Adam Biskner, Redwire President of Space Systems.

Redwire hosted a number of Gateway’s industry and international partners to witness the unveiling of the most powerful ROSAs. Leaders from Maxar, Northrop Grumman, the European Space Agency, the Consulate General of Canada, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, and the United Arab Emirates’ Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), participated in the event and voiced uniform and unwavering support for the importance of the Gateway to deep space exploration of the Moon and Mars. To watch a replay of the remarks, visit https://youtu.be/MHp5ei1gYSo

“The unprecedented global coalition supporting Gateway is providing more than 60% of its funding, creating a massive savings for the American taxpayer. Moreover, gaining experience with a large spacecraft supporting surface operations will create invaluable experience to ensure that a future mission to Mars is safe and successful. Gateway will ensure that we do not cede the benefits of our international partnerships on Earth, or exploration leadership on the Moon and Mars to China,” added Mike Gold, Redwire President of Civil and International Space.

Source: Redwire Corporation

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NASA / Maxar Space Systems

Power on for Gateway’s powerhouse.

The Power and Propulsion Element for Gateway powered on for the first time. Gateway will support missions between lunar orbit and the Moon’s surface.

Learn more about Gateway: https://t.co/JnhPO4nIwR pic.twitter.com/H2yNuQ7Zqz

— NASA Artemis (@NASAArtemis) December 19, 2025

More Snapshots from the Launch Day Dress Rehearsal for the Second SLS Flight...

NASA / Joel Kowsky

Artemis II Countdown Demonstration Test (Photo Release - December 20)

NASA’s Space Launch System rocket is seen inside High Bay 3 of the Vehicle Assembly Building as teams await the arrival of Artemis II crew members [NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, commander; Victor Glover, pilot; Christina Koch, mission specialist; and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, mission specialist] to board their Orion spacecraft atop the rocket - as part of the Artemis II countdown demonstration test on Saturday, December 20, 2025, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

For this operation, the Artemis II crew and launch teams are simulating the launch day timeline including suit-up, walkout, and spacecraft ingress and egress.

Through the Artemis campaign, NASA will send astronauts to explore the Moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits and to build the foundation for the first crewed missions to Mars, for the benefit of all.

Source: NASA.Gov

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NASA / Aubrey Gemignani


NASA / Joel Kowsky


NASA / Joel Kowsky


NASA / Joel Kowsky


NASA / Joel Kowsky

Blue Origin Continues to Make Space More Accessible to the Public with its Latest Suborbital Flight...

Blue Origin

New Shepard Completes 37th Mission (News Release - December 20)

Blue Origin successfully launched the 37th flight of the New Shepard program. The crew included: Michaela (Michi) Benthaus, Joey Hyde, Hans Koenigsmann, Neal Milch, Adonis Pouroulis and Jason Stansell. This mission marked the first time a wheelchair user has flown above the Kármán Line, the internationally-recognized boundary of space. Including the latest crew, New Shepard has now flown 92 people (86 individuals) into space.

“NS-37 marks our ninth flight of the year and sets the stage for an increase in New Shepard flight rate in 2026 and beyond,” said Phil Joyce, Senior Vice President of New Shepard. “This crew exemplifies the breadth and diversity of people who can now experience spaceflight, from engineers and scientists to entrepreneurs, teachers and investors from all over the world. Each brings their unique perspective and passion for exploration. Michi's flight is particularly meaningful, demonstrating that space is for everyone, and we are proud to help her achieve this dream.”

New Shepard was designed with accessibility in mind. The vehicle is autonomous and features elevator access on the launch tower, making spaceflight accessible to a wider range of people. Including the latest flight, New Shepard has flown astronauts who are wheelchair users, hard of hearing, have limited mobility or limb differences, have low vision, or are legally blind.

Key mission statistics:

Official Launch Time: 8:15:00 AM CST / 14:15:00 UTC

Booster Apogee: 346,386 ft AGL / 350,033 ft MSL (106 km AGL / 107 km MSL)

Crew Capsule Apogee: 346,775 ft AGL / 350,422 ft MSL (106 km AGL / 107 km MSL)

Crew Capsule Landing Time: 8:25:26 AM CDT / 14:25:26 UTC

Mission Elapsed Time: 10 minutes, 26 seconds

Source: Blue Origin

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Space is for everyone. pic.twitter.com/OUs4V2LURA

— Blue Origin (@blueorigin) December 20, 2025

Orion's First Astronauts Conduct Their Countdown Demonstration Test for Next Year's Moon Mission...

NASA / Jim Ross

Artemis II Crew Rehearse Launch Day Demonstration (News Release)

The four astronauts set to fly around the Moon during NASA’s Artemis II test flight depart the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, during a dress rehearsal for launch day on December 20, 2025. From left are CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, NASA astronauts Victor Glover, Reid Wiseman and Christina Koch.

The launch day rehearsal, called a countdown demonstration test, simulated the launch day timeline, including the crew suiting up in their spacesuits and climbing in and out of their Orion spacecraft. Because the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket upon which they will launch is not yet at the launch pad, the crew boarded Orion inside Kennedy’s Vehicle Assembly Building, where engineers are conducting final preparations on the spacecraft, rocket and ground systems.

Through Artemis, NASA will send astronauts to explore the Moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits, and build the foundation for the first crewed missions to Mars.

Source: NASA.Gov

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NASA / Glenn Benson


NASA / Glenn Benson

The Crew Access Arm is being lifted onto NASA's Mobile Launcher 2 for SLS Block 1B! Also Artemis II Countdown Demonstration Test is today in the VAB @NASASpaceflight https://t.co/MuLjv5pXk0 pic.twitter.com/rPRX8DYnPE

— Rough Riders Show (@RoughRidersShow) December 20, 2025

The U.S. Space Program Has a New Leader...

NASA / Bill Ingalls

Jared Isaacman Sworn In as NASA Administrator (Photo Release - December 18)

U.S District Judge Timothy Kelly, left, swears in Jared Isaacman, right, as the 15th administrator of NASA - as Isaacman’s parents, Donald and Sandra Marie, join on Thursday, December 18, 2025, at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington.

Source: NASA.Gov

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SpaceX


SpaceX

Photos of the Day: The Exterior of Space Shuttle Endeavour's New Home is Complete!

Earlier today, I drove down to the California Science Center near downtown Los Angeles to check up on the current status of space shuttle Endeavour's permanent home, the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center. As you can see from these images, the exterior of the new building is complete!

While the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center now looks like the gorgeous renderings that were released when construction on the exhibit commenced three years ago, it will still take at least a year to fill the Center with the scores of flight artifacts that will accompany Endeavour's Space Shuttle Stack inside the $425-million structure. The orbiter's new home, as currently scheduled, is set to open either in late 2026 or 2027.

Stay tuned!


Richard T. Par


Richard T. Par


Richard T. Par


Richard T. Par


Richard T. Par


Richard T. Par


Richard T. Par

NASA's First Korean-American Astronaut (Who's Also a Former Navy SEAL and Harvard Medical Doctor) Is Back on Earth...

NASA / Bill Ingalls

Soyuz Crew Lands Ending Eight-Month Space Research Journey (News Release)

At 12:03 a.m. EST (10:03 a.m. local time), the Soyuz MS-27 spacecraft made a parachute-assisted landing on the steppe of Kazakhstan, southeast of the town of Dzhezkazgan.

NASA astronaut Jonny Kim and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky orbited Earth 3,920 times and traveled nearly 104 million miles over the course of their 245-day mission. The Soyuz MS-27 spacecraft launched and docked with the space station on April 8.

This was Kim’s first spaceflight, where he served as flight engineer for Expedition 72 and 73. This was also Zubritsky's first trip to the space station. Ryzhikov has now logged a total of 603 days in space during three trips to the orbital complex, ranking him 13th of all time.

The three crew members will fly by helicopter to Karaganda, Kazakhstan, where recovery teams are based. Kim will board a NASA aircraft and return to Houston, while Ryzhikov and Zubritsky will depart for their training base in Star City, Russia.

Source: NASA.Gov

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NASA / Bill Ingalls

NASA Preps KSC Ground Systems for the Second Launch of SLS...

NASA / Frank Michaux

Artemis II CAA Artemis Logo Painting (Photo Release - December 4)

From left, Sean McCrary and Katie Mortensen, mechanical engineering technicians, paint NASA’s Artemis logo on the White Room connected to the crew access arm and Mobile Launcher inside the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida - on Thursday, December 4, 2025.

The White Room is the area where Artemis II crew members Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen will enter the Orion spacecraft ahead of launch from Launch Complex 39B at NASA Kennedy in early 2026.

Source: NASA.Gov

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NASA / Frank Michaux