January 12-18, 2026 / Hawai`i Island, USA

Vol 45, Week 2: Lunar Broadcast Precursor — Terrestrial Edition

AIAA Opens New Year 2026 with 6,000+ at SciTech Forum in Orlando

American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics hosts AIAA SciTech Forum 2026 on January 12–16 at Hyatt Regency Orlando, Florida, with theme Breaking Barriers Together: Boundless Discovery. Forum expects more than 6,000 attendees from 48 countries advancing aerospace research, development and technologies across civil, commercial and national security sectors. Program includes nearly 3,000 technical presentations spanning 65+ topics — aerodynamic measurement technology, applied aerodynamics, fluid dynamics, guidance, navigation, control, hypersonics, intelligent systems, spaceflight mechanics, propellants, combustion and more — plus plenary sessions, Forum 360 panels, and 100+ exhibitors showcasing innovations. Plenary speakers include Astronaut Peggy Whitson of Axiom Space, delivering opening remarks; Jonathan Arenberg, Fellow Chief Mission Architect Science Robotic Exploration, Northrop Grumman, sharing NASA James Webb Space Telescope insights; Arbi Karapetian, Director Innovation Technology, Formula 1, exploring cross-industry performance fuels. New Career Accelerator Program on January 12 equips university students with leadership tools, career strategies from experts including Hillary Coe, Vast; Amy Medina Jorge, Blue Origin commercial Astronaut; and others. Rising Leaders programming, speed mentoring, and Expo Hall HUB talks target young professionals building networks for 2030 lunar outposts, 2040 cislunar economy growth. Forum sets 2026 innovation pace toward sustained Moon presence, nuclear propulsion, quantum computing and autonomy. (Image Credits: AIAA)

Will Lunar Rover Selection Catalyze 2026 Moon Endeavors?

As 2026 dawns, lunar specialists await the NASA decision for primary provider of US$4.6B Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV) Services contract. LTV Project Manager Steve Munday, Extravehicular Activity / Human Surface Mobility Program Manager Lara Kearney, Chief Exploration Scientist Jacob Bleacher and NASA Johnson Director Vanessa Wyche may all weigh in, with possible input from Lunar Exploration Analysis Group. The LTV program marks a shift toward service-based mobility – renting – beginning with Artemis V mission NET 2029. Industry leaders—Intuitive Machines (IM), Lunar Outpost (LO), and Venturi Astrolab (Astrolab)—have spent a year refining prototypes with initial US$30M awards. Astrolab FLEX rover has Swiss-developed hyper-deformable wheels, lunar-night-surviving batteries, and will benefit from its Mona Luna European rover development and precursor FLIP rover launching NET July 2026. LO Eagle rover leverages automotive expertise from GM and Goodyear. IM Moon RACER, developed with input from Apollo veterans, demonstrates breakthrough power-beaming capabilities with Star Catcher Industries, transferring 2.78 kWh via laser. It is expected the chosen LTV will serve as cornerstone for sustained South Pole operations through 2039, able to transport Astronauts safely, carry ~1,000 kg of tools and samples. The new era of crewed mobility reflects legacy of Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV) and Apollo “Moon Buggy.” (Image Credits: NASA)

Humans in Space

⭐ International Space Station, ~415-km LEO: 3 members of Expedition 74 seven-member crew will handle all ISS operations for a time as the 4 members of Crew-11 return early in 1st-ever ISS medical evacuation; Kud-Sverchkov, Mikayev and Williams will remain; Cardman, Fincke, Yui and Platonov prepare their Dragon pressure suits, pack personal belongings; departure date and possible updated Crew-12 launch date not yet set.

⭐ Tiangong Space Station, ~390-km LEO: Shenzhou-21 three-member crew [Zhang Lu, Wu Fei, Zhang Hongzhang] advances key ongoing project: in-situ electrochemical and optical study of lithium-ion batteries, led by payload expert Zhang Hongzhang, conducting precise optical adjustments for real-time observation of lithium dendrite growth in microgravity to improve battery safety and performance; performing routine station maintenance, daily ~2-hour exercise, and regular health monitoring (bone density, ECG, blood pressure, pulmonary function).

🌔 Lunar Enterprise News: 2026 Proposed Moon Missions to Advance Science, Prepare for Human Landings │ Artemis Human Landings Anticipated with Preparatory FLIP, then FLEX Rovers

☄ Near-Earth Objects Close Approaches – Mon Jan 12: Apollo Asteroid 2025 YR7 (0.023 AU); Wed Jan 14: Apollo Asteroid 2022 OB5 (0.004 AU); Wed Jan 14: Apollo Asteroid 2025 XN1 (0.023 AU); Sat Jan 17: Apollo Asteroid 2025 BL (0.017 AU)

The First Woman FLYS to the Moon …

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First Women LAND on the Moon …

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Events

Today

  • Launch Falcon 9 / Starlink Group 6-97

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

    12:42-16:42 EST launch window for 29 satellites of Internet system. 1st stage B1078 to land on ASDS JRTI after this 25th flight.

  • AIAA SciTech Forum

    AIAA SciTech Forum—the premier aerospace R&D event of the year exploring the science, technologies, and capabilities that are transforming aerospace.

  • Space Policy Town Hall

    Online

    Finishing out the Original Trilogy is a 3rd Space Policy Town Hall at 9 pm EST / 8 pm CST / 7 pm MST / 6 pm PST / 4 pm Hawaii Time. After this Town Hall, feedback will be analyzed to see if there will be a sequel, reboot, or […]

  • NASA Small Bodies Assessment Group Meeting

    Baltimore MD, USA

    At the Johns Hopkins University Mt. Washington campus in Baltimore MD and online. Early-career researchers and students are encouraged to apply for both early-career opportunities and travel support. Invited Early-Career Speakers: We will select approximately two early-career researchers who will each give a presentation (approximately 15 minutes, including Q&A). Lightning […]

  • Space Exploration Symposium

    Tokyo, Japan

    From 1300-1600 JST at Miraikan Hall; led by the Artemis program, which is being carried out through international cooperation, humanity is returning to the Moon and even further afield, toward Mars. Human space exploration is now entering a new phase. The launch of "Artemis II", a lunar orbit mission by […]

  • All Space Considered (Broadcast)

    Los Angeles CA, USA

    Griffith Observatory broadcasts this public program live 19:00-20:30 PST from the Leonard Nimoy Event Horizon Theater. Join the Observatory's curatorial staff as they examine and explain the most-talked-about subjects in astronomy and space science. It is free to attend in-person or stream on YouTube.

  • Webinar: In search of our origins: from the birth of stars to the emergence of life

    Saint-Étienne, France

    18:00 CEST; Grégoire Danger, Professor at Aix-Marseille University (PIIM Laboratory – Physics of Ionic and Molecular Interactions) presents. What environmental conditions could have allowed the emergence of living systems on Earth 4.1 billion years ago? To try and find answers to this question, we will begin in the star-forming regions […]

  • GW:UK@Nottingham

    Nottingham, UK

    1st meeting of the GW:UK initiative to bring researchers to celebrate 10 years of gravitational wave discoveries and engage in community-building activities; at University of Nottingham.

  • Launch Falcon 9 / NROL-105

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

    20:18 - 20:53 PST launch window . Satellites built by Northrop Grumman / SpaceX for constellation of NRO.

  • IAF Awards 2026 Call for Nominations

    Online

    International Astronautical Federation recognizes achievements in the space community via many awards, such as World Space, International Cooperation, Hall of Fame, Diversity, Excellence in Industry, more. Submit to award@iafastro.org.

  • Nichelle Nichols Space Camp

    Huntsville AL, USA

    Occurring until Jan 19; Offering space, aviation and robotics program for girls ages 14-18, inspiring young women to aim for the stars.

  • SPIE Photonics West Conference

    San Francisco CA, USA

    Occurring until Jan 22; SPIE Photonics West and subconference on Optical Power Delivery, key to development of Space Solar Power.

  • Pacific Telecom Conference (PTC 26)

    Honolulu HI, USA

    Occurring until Jan 18-21; Topics, include but are not limited to: Satellite, Sustainability, Networking Technologies, Applications and Their Implications, Developing Regions and Emerging Markets, Governance and Ethics, Policies and Regulations, Subsea Networks, Business Opportunities, Emerging Technologies.

VIEW DOWNRANGE – WEEKS AHEAD