Space Race
§Signals
§ 02 Recent
Latest arrivals
NASA's Roman Telescope Nears Launch, Promising a Panoramic Map of the Dark Universe
The Architectural Ambition of the Golden Dome
The Moon as a Waystation
The Terrestrial Limits of Computation
The Pentagon Abandons a 16-Year GPS Modernization Effort
Latvia Joins the Artemis Accords Amidst a Shifting Lunar Strategy
The Uncertain Flight of the Rosalind Franklin
The Lunar Threshold
Seraphim Space and the New Geopolitics of Orbit
§ 03 Editor's picks
- 01Space Race · Ars Technica Space
The High-Stakes Prospecting of Shackleton Crater
Blue Origin and China are preparing to launch the most ambitious robotic missions in history to the Moon's south pole, seeking the ice that could fuel the next century of spaceflight.
- 02Space Race · Ars Technica Space
The Engineering Realities of Artemis II
As the Artemis II crew returns to Houston, NASA begins the long process of refining the hardware that will eventually return humans to the lunar surface.
- 03Space Race · Ars Technica Space
Vulcan’s Reliability Gap and the Pentagon’s Space Dilemma
Repeated booster failures on United Launch Alliance’s new rocket are forcing the Space Force to rethink its dependence on a two-player launch market.
- 04Space Race · Ars Technica Space
Blue Origin’s Attempt to Rebuild Internal Equity
Jeff Bezos’s space venture introduces a new stock plan in a bid to restore trust after years of employee disillusionment.
- 05Space Race · Payload Space
Trading the Orbital Economy
Global X’s new space-focused ETF arrives as the industry transitions from speculative venture to a diversified public market asset.
§ 05 By topic
In focus on this desk
Dressing for the Moon: The Quiet Race to Build a Better Spacesuit
Following the success of Artemis II, NASA’s return to the lunar surface hinges on two pieces of complex hardware: the landers that descend and the suits that protect.
The Logistics of the Lunar Wardrobe
Payload SpaceNew Glenn: The Bittersweet Outcome of Blue Origin's First Reuse
Ars Technica SpaceICON Prime: Scaling 3D-Printed Infrastructure for the Pentagon and NASA
Payload Space
Dressing for the Moon: The Quiet Race to Build a Better Spacesuit
Following the success of Artemis II, NASA’s return to the lunar surface hinges on two pieces of complex hardware: the landers that descend and the suits that protect.
The Logistics of the Lunar Wardrobe
Payload SpaceNew Glenn: The Bittersweet Outcome of Blue Origin's First Reuse
Ars Technica SpaceUtility in Orbit: Vast Unveils Its Modular Flight Suit
Payload Space
§ 06 More stories
12 of 16
The Orbital Backbone: Europe’s Quest for Optical Connectivity
A Kepler-led consortium is preparing to test the ESA’s HydRON network, a "fiber in the sky" designed to extend terrestrial internet infrastructure into the vacuum of space.
NASA’s Fiscal Realism and the Path to Artemis II
Administrator Jared Isaacman defends the agency’s FY2027 budget while navigating the technical and political hurdles of returning humans to the moon.
The Low Earth Orbit Standoff
As NASA questions the commercial viability of private space stations, industry leaders argue that the market for orbital research is already here.
Slingshot Aerospace Unveils an AI-Powered Command Center for Orbit
As the orbital environment grows more crowded and contested, a new platform aims to unify disparate data streams into a single, actionable interface for satellite operators.
The Commodities of Orbit: Atomic-6 and the New Data Economy
Atomic-6's new marketplace, ODC.Space, aims to turn the complex logistics of orbital computing into a streamlined procurement process for AI developers and governments.
Artemis II and the Long Road Back to the Moon
The successful return of four astronauts from lunar orbit marks a historic milestone, but the path to a permanent human presence on the Moon remains a complex logistical challenge.
The Return of Integrity
After a fifty-year hiatus, NASA’s Orion spacecraft successfully navigated the violent physics of atmospheric re-entry, marking a pivotal moment in the new lunar age.
The Inexorable Descent of Artemis II
As the Orion spacecraft nears Earth, its 14-minute reentry represents the most perilous—and immutable—phase of the mission.
The Sea-Based Pivot for Firefly’s Alpha Rocket
A new partnership between Seagate Space and Firefly Aerospace explores the logistical and geographic advantages of offshore launch platforms for the Alpha rocket.
The Limits of Integrity: NASA Pivots Artemis II to Address Helium Leak
As the Orion spacecraft returns from its lunar flyby, mission controllers are prioritizing data collection over flight demonstrations to address a propulsion system flaw.
Reflections from the Far Side of the Moon
As the Artemis II crew nears splashdown, commander Reid Wiseman recounts the visceral experience of watching the Earth vanish behind the lunar horizon.
The Human Lens on the Lunar Far Side
As the Artemis II crew begins their journey home, a stream of high-resolution imagery reminds us why we send people, not just sensors, into deep space.