June 22-28, 2026 | Vol 45, Week 25 | Hawai`i Island, USA

LUNAR NEWS

Chang’e-6 lead isotope data shows that a massive impact, rather than just the early Lunar Magma Ocean, heavily modified the lunar crust in the South Pole–Aitken region. | Astrobotic Griffin-1 lander is to be sent to JPL later this month for environmental testing, in preparation for its launch late 2026. | Lunar Outpost, recently awarded US$220 million, has discussed details about its Pegasus rover. | Lunar Resources plans to open HELIX-1 factory in Utah, which will employ over 400 people. | Reportedly NASA is lobbying for billions of dollars to support Moon mission orders and timelines put forth by U.S. Administration. | Chang’e-7, carrying ILO-C payload, is planned to be the next mission to launch to the Moon. | The Green Bank Telescope image of Artemis II is a contender for the longest-distance picture of humans ever taken from Earth. | A paper published in Nature discusses using small (<1.5 km) lunar craters as landing pads to naturally inhibit plume surface interactions (PSIs). | 45 years and 2.5 million “lunar deeds” later, Lunar Embassy founder Dennis Hope is still keeping the conversation around private space property rights alive. | Open Lunar Foundation kicks off its summer webinar series.

Rescuing Swift: Time-Critical Mission to Boost NASA's Space Telescope

Due to increased solar activity, the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory’s orbit has prematurely decayed, threatening to end the mission by the end of this year. Launched in 2004, the multiwavelength telescope utilizes three co-aligned instruments to detect and observe gamma-ray bursts in gamma-ray, X-ray, and UV/optical light. Now circling Earth at about 370 km, the spacecraft could operate for at least five more years if returned to its optimal near-circular 600-km Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at an inclination of 20.6° relative to the equator as its science instruments, solar arrays, batteries, and other components are all operating nominally. In order to return it to the desired 600-km altitude, NASA, Katalyst Space Technologies and Northrop Grumman have created an ambitious plan: On June 27, a Northrop Grumman Stargazer aircraft will deploy a Pegasus XL rocket from which the Katalyst’s LINK spacecraft will separate and autonomously rendezvous with and capture Swift using three robotic arms to push the craft to a higher orbit using ion thrusters. Stargazer will take off from the Kwajalein Atoll, part of the Republic of the Marshall Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. Incredibly, Katalyst designed, built, and fully tested the LINK satellite in under eight months. This mission also marks the final launch of the Pegasus XL rocket, which had its first flight in 1994. (Image Credits: NASA, Katalyst, NG)

 HUMANS IN SPACE

☆ International Space Station, ~415-km LEO: The seven-member Expedition 74 crew is investigating how bacteria that cause pneumonia can lead to long-term heart damage, as well as testing IVGEN hardware, which filters drinking water to produce medical-grade IV fluid. Augmented and virtual reality technologies are also being tested to advance astronaut care. Options to resolve the ongoing air leak in the Zvezda service module’s transfer tunnel include further sealant applications, repairs, or possibly decommissioning the section. Soyuz MS-29, with a crew of three, is now planned to launch to the ISS in mid-July.

☆ Tiangong Space Station, ~390-km LEO: Shenzhou-23 crew is tasked with a rice cultivation experiment to study its genetic stability and regenerative capacity in support of future deep space missions. China has confirmed it is moving forward with plans to double the current size of the station (currently consisting of three modules) by using its repurposed Tianhe backup module, eventually expanding it to a six-module station.

☄ Near-Earth Objects Close Approaches – Mon June 22: Amor Asteroid 2026 MQ (0.019 AU) |Thu June 25: Apollo Asteroid 2026 LJ3 (0.037 AU) | Fri June 26: Apollo Asteroid 2014 NV63 (0.055 AU) | Sat June 27: Aten Asteroid 152637 / 1997 NC1 (0.026 AU)

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Events

Today

  • ShuttleFest V: NASA at Star City

    Cocoa Beach FL, USA

    Main ShuttleFest is 09:00-17:00 June 20-21 (Sat-Sun) for a 2-day fellowship among space workers, space lovers and space fliers, including Astronauts Mike Baker, "Hoot" Gibson, Steven Hawley, Susan Kilrain, Mike Mullane, Nicole Stott, Norm Thagard. Saturday panel discussions theme: “Americans in Russian Spaceships” featuring Norm Thagard, Mike Baker and Hoot […]

    US$75 – US$400

  • 23rd International Planetary Probe Short Course and Workshop

    Washington DC, USA

    Short course “Low-Cost EDL Missions and Technologies” occurs June 20-21, with Workshop on June 22-26; at JHU Bloomberg Center. About the Workshop The International Planetary Probe Workshop is an annual congregation of scientists, engineers, and technologists from around the world working in disciplines supporting planetary probes for exploration. The first […]

  • European Lunar Symposium (ELS)

    Nancy, France

    Annual international conference that brings together around 200 researchers, engineers, and professionals working on lunar science and exploration. Hosted each year in a different European city, ELS provides a key forum for presenting cutting-edge research, fostering collaborations, and discussing Europe's role in the future of lunar exploration. We are excited […]

  • NASA Astronaut Anil Menon Pre-Launch Interview

    Online

    From the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, NASA astronaut Anil Menon to participate in media event; Menon is set to fly to ISS July 14 aboard Soyuz MS-29.

  • World Astronomy, Astrophysics and Space Science Summit

    Rome, Italy

    Meeting is dedicated entirely to the latest developments in all Astronomy, Astrophysics and Space Science related themes. The conference will highlight particular areas of promising technological development, and support the unifying themes of all Astronomy, Astrophysics and Space Science. Don't miss the unique workshop, "Shaping Future Eco-Friendly Habitats for Mars […]

  • Launch Falcon 9 / Project Starfall Demonstration Mission

    SLC-40 (~28°N), Cape Canaveral SFS FL, USA

    Demonstration mission for SpaceX’s Project Starfall, which aims to mass-produce reentry capsules designed to autonomously transport valuable customer experiments and other payloads safely back from space to Earth, including for in-orbit manufacturing. The disk-shaped vehicle acts as an autonomous commercial platform for producing pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and advanced crystals in microgravity. […]

  • NASA SmallSat LEARN Forum

    Online

    “Learning from Experiences, Achievements, and Resolution Navigation” — Representatives from multiple NASA centers and outside organizations meet to advance NASA goals via networking, information exchange, and collaborative learning. By invitation to those affiliated with a NASA-funded SmallSat mission.

  • Ground Control #5 at Mesh Youngstorget

    Oslo, Norway

    Oslo Spaceport Norway offers monthly a knowledgeable speaker and opportunity for networking, 17:00-20:00 local time; free entry but registration required. Ground Control is for everyone who's curious about what's happening in space and why it matters. Whether you work in the sector or have never thought about it before — […]

  • 4th India Space Congress 2025

    New Delhi, India

    Theme is Pioneering Innovations in Space Technology: India’s Journey towards Global Partnerships; key topics include entrepreneurship, legal aspects, lunar exploration. 850+ participants expected from 36+ countries, for 215+ speakers in 44+ sessions. At Le Meridien.

    $100 – $275

  • Launch Pegasus XL / Swift Rescue Mission

    Omelek Island (~9 ° N), Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands

    The mission aims for the LINK spacecraft to rendezvous with the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory craft and boost its orbit, under a Small Business Innovation Research Phase 3 contract between NASA and Katalyst Space Technologies. Air launch-to-orbit is how the Pegasus XL operates. It can carry up to 443 kg […]

  • Planetary Defense and Asteroid Exploration Conference 2026

    Los Angeles CA, USA

    Featuring technical discussions, mission updates, and topics such as asteroid characterization, deflection strategies and upcoming close encounters. The conference was last held in-person and online on Saturday, June 28, 2025, with in-person activities at the Culver City Julian Dixon Library in California, designed to bring together professionals, leaders and the […]

  • Launch Falcon 9 / Starlink Group 17-40

    SLC-4E (~35°N), Vandenberg SFB CA, USA

    Another batch of 24 Starlink satellites to launch to LEO for SpaceX's space-based Internet communication system.

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