How to spot the Perseid meteor shower, a summer light show that promises to dazzle
The Perseid summer light show is back—and viewing conditions are especially promising for the Northern Hemisphere.
Weekly digests · 3 Aug – 9 Aug 2026
Week 32, 2026
79 stories that week, most of them about launch & flight, crewed spaceflight, satellites & orbit.
The week's biggest
Cosmic filaments help set first limits on dark matter's decay into gravitons
Composing some 85% of the universe's total mass, dark matter betrays its presence only through gravity, unlike ordinary matter.
What’s Happening in Space Policy August 9-22, 2026
Here is SpacePolicyOnline.com’s list of space policy events for the two weeks August 9-22, 2026 and any insight we can offer about…
NASA's MAVEN Illuminates New Understanding of Auroras at Mars
NASA MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution) mission scientists have uncovered a key puzzle piece in understanding certain types of auroras on…
Preview to Totality: A Resource Guide to August 12th Total Solar Eclipse
It’s almost show time. We’re just a few days away now, from the only total solar eclipse of 2026.
Ariane 6 Lightweight Upper Stage, Future Upgrades Cancelled
Evidence indicates that Ariane 6 upgrades have been cancelled following the 2025 ESA Ministerial Council.
Frames from that week
The Paradox of Lençóis Maranhenses National Park
NASA Earth Observatory ·
Smoke Streams Across Eastern Washington
NASA Earth Observatory ·
NASA’s Perseverance Captures Phobos and Earth
NASA Earth Observatory ·
Everything else
21:03 UTC
Senate installs new chiefs for U.S. military space acquisition, spy satellites
Erich Hernandez-Baquero will take over military space acquisition; Roger Mason will lead the National Reconnaissance Office
SpaceNews
Orbit
Orbit
21:43 UTC
SpaceX Junk Hits the Moon. Not a Good Sign
The spent upper stage from a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket has struck the Moon, illustrating the hazard posed…
Universe Today
Launch
Launch
11:35 UTC
Highest-resolution images of the sun’s surface here!
The Inouye Solar Telescope has captured the highest-resolution images of the sun's surface yet.
EarthSky
The Sun
The Sun
11:30 UTC
The first self-driving vehicle on Mars has proven to be a smashing success
About 90 percent of the distance driven by Perseverance has been autonomous.
Arstechnica
Solar System
Solar System
17:45 UTC
Northrop Grumman, Canadian Space Agency repurpose their Gateway projects
Northrop Grumman and the Canadian Space Agency will adapt what they had been working on for NASA’s lunar…
SpaceNews
Crewed
Crewed
11:56 UTC
Op-ed: Aging Weather Satellites Are Raising Risks for America. It’s Time for a Hybrid Solution.
When we lose our visibility, we lose our edge. The military needs more, higher-quality weather data, not less.
Payload
Orbit
Orbit
18:57 UTC
2026 IGARSS Hyperwall Schedule
IGARSS 2026 Join NASA in the Exhibit Hall (Booth #100) for Hyperwall Storytelling by NASA experts.
NASA
12:31 UTC
Endeavor Optical Networks Emerges from Stealth
Endeavor Optical Networks emerged from stealth to build a constellation of optical communications satellites.
Payload
Orbit
Orbit
11:32 UTC
Rocket Lab Wins $397M Contract to Build and Launch Threat-Tracking ‘Flatellites’
Rocket Lab’s ($RKLB) strategy to own every aspect of the space value chain—from satellite manufacturing to launch—seems to…
Payload
Launch
Launch
20:08 UTC
Thursday Spacewalk Preps Continue, Crew Installs Advanced Earth Imaging Gear
The Expedition 75 crew continued preparing for a spacewalk scheduled for Thursday to augment the International Space Station’s…
NASA Space Station
Crewed
Crewed
20:04 UTC
Spacewalk Preps, Health Research on Station as NASA Introduces SpaceX Crew-13
Spacewalk preparations and health research awaited the Expedition 75 crew aboard the International Space Station at the beginning…
NASA Space Station
Crewed
Crewed
21:13 UTC
Blue Origin working engine resolutions and dual pad future
Blue Origin is nearing the end of its investigation into the catastrophic explosion of a… The post Blue…
NASASpaceflight
Launch
Launch
21:04 UTC
Relativity Space engine integration milestone for Terran-R first stage
Relativity Space has marked another significant step forward in the development of its reusable Terran… The post Relativity…
NASASpaceflight
Launch
Launch
06:06 UTC
Scaleup Europe Fund Makes its First Space Bet
Europe’s capital drought may be coming to an end.
Payload
Orbit
Orbit
12:11 UTC
Redwire Books Starfall’s First Dedicated Mission
Redwire subsidiary SpaceMD announced a contract to fly up to 32 mini-labs on a future SpaceX Starfall mission.
Payload
Launch
Launch
14:17 UTC
This Week's Sky at a Glance, August 7 – 16
In twilight, watch bold Venus and tiny Spica approach each other to meet September 1st.
Sky & Telescope
The Sun
The Sun
22:35 UTC
Blue Origin identifies engine issue behind New Glenn explosion
The Aug. 5 update from Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp offered the first explanation for what caused the…
Spaceflight Now
Launch
Launch
06:55 UTC
SpaceX launches 3 AST SpaceMobile BlueBird satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral
The BlueBird 11-13 mission was the third time SpaceX flew satellites to orbit supporting AST SpaceMobile’s direct-to-device constellation.
Spaceflight Now
Launch
Launch
22:29 UTC
Space Station Crew Wraps Busy Week, Plans New Date for US Spacewalk 97
On Aug. 6, NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Anil Menon concluded a 6-hour, 27-minute spacewalk outside the International…
NASA Space Station
Crewed
Crewed
17:58 UTC
NASA Astronauts Ready for Thursday Spacewalk
NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Anil Menon have been given the go by mission managers for Thursday’s spacewalk…
NASA Space Station
Crewed
Crewed
12:39 UTC
Spacewalk Begins for Solar Array Modifications
NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Anil Menon began a spacewalk at 8:33 a.m.
NASA Space Station
Crewed
Crewed
11:05 UTC
Spacewalkers Prepare to Exit Station for Solar Array Mod Work
NASA is streaming live coverage as two NASA astronauts prepare for a spacewalk outside the International Space Station.
NASA Space Station
Crewed
Crewed
14:08 UTC
SpaceX West Coast launch surge continues with Starlink mission
Liftoff of the Starlink 17-38 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California happened at 9:35 a.m.
Spaceflight Now
Launch
Launch
14:44 UTC
Artemis progress building lunar return roadmap
NASA has released a series of updates on the Artemis program, spanning commercial robotic lunar… The post Artemis…
NASASpaceflight
Crewed
Crewed