- eROSITA Releases Second Data Catalog Doubling Known X-ray Sources — Universe Today
The eROSITA Consortium issued the survey's second data release. It nearly doubles the previously known eROSITA X-ray sources to two million. The catalog provides the most comprehensive high-energy census of the cosmos to date. Astronomers can now examine a much larger sample of energetic objects distributed throughout the universe. Follow-up studies will draw on this expanded list to classify new detections and refine properties of earlier entries.
- ESA Signs ALADDIN Contract for Nyx Cargo Capsule — spaceanddefense.io
The European Space Agency signed the ALADDIN contract with The Exploration Company. The agreement covers development of the Nyx cargo capsule. Work under the contract will advance a European vehicle designed for resupply missions. The capsule is intended to support future orbital logistics needs.
- NASA Solicits Proposals for Lunar Radioisotope Power Systems — American Nuclear Society
NASA issued a solicitation for lunar radioisotope power systems. The call targets power sources for future surface missions. These systems would provide reliable electricity during long lunar nights. Proposals are expected to address thermal and electrical requirements for extended operations on the Moon.
- LatConnect 60 Signs Agreements to Expand SWIRSAT Presence in India — SpaceNews
LatConnect 60 announced two strategic agreements at the Bengaluru Space Expo 2026 on September 7. The deals involve NSIL and GeoSyze for the SWIRSAT satellite. The partnerships aim to strengthen the company's position in the Indian Earth observation market. SWIRSAT is an Australian satellite focused on infrared imaging applications.
- NASA and NFL Launch Inspiration Tour at Fall Games — NASA
NASA is teaming up with the NFL to bring space and aeronautics exhibits to fans. The Inspiration Tour will appear at four games this fall with NASA aircraft flyovers before kickoff. Exhibits will highlight ongoing work in space exploration and aviation technology. The collaboration places NASA content directly in front of large stadium audiences.
- Djibouti to Sign Artemis Accords at September 14 Ceremony — NASA
The Republic of Djibouti will sign the Artemis Accords on September 14 at NASA Headquarters. It will become the 72nd signatory country. NASA Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson will host the event alongside the Djiboutian ambassador and a U.S. State Department official. The signing ceremony marks another step in expanding international participation in lunar exploration principles.
- Artemis II Crew to Attend Starmus VII Festival — Astronomy
Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover and Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen will attend Starmus VII in Tenerife. The visit comes fifteen years after the festival hosted the first generation of space explorers. The crew will join discussions on the current era of human spaceflight. Their presence connects the upcoming lunar mission to a long tradition of exploration storytelling.
- LINK Spacecraft Approaches Swift Observatory but Misses Boost Target — Space.com
The Katalyst Space LINK satellite continued operations after failing to complete its mission. It could not raise the orbit of NASA's Swift Observatory. The spacecraft achieved a close approach but fell short of the required rendezvous for the boost maneuver. Mission controllers are now assessing remaining capabilities of the LINK vehicle.
- New Morphodynamic Atlas Prepared for Phobos Sample Return — Universe Today
A new surface atlas of Phobos will support JAXA's MMX mission. The mission plans to collect samples from the Martian moon next month. The atlas maps surface features and dynamics to guide sample site selection. Scientists will use the detailed views to understand the moon's geology ahead of the return flight.
- Continuous Radio Observations Track Black Hole Jet Motion — Phys.org Space
Continuous video of black hole radio observations challenges shock wave theory. The data show how jet components move without relying on separate snapshot images from very long baseline interferometry. Traditional methods captured only isolated moments and left motion details unresolved. The new approach reveals ongoing evolution of features within the outflow.
- JWST Detects Dust and Water Near Sagittarius A* — NASA
An international team used the James Webb Space Telescope to observe IRS 3 near the galactic center. The mid-infrared data revealed oxygen-rich silicate dust and water signatures surprisingly close to the supermassive black hole. The findings demonstrate that these materials can persist in an extreme radiation environment. Observations targeted a star nearing the end of its life cycle within the dense star field.
- Summer Triangle Remains Visible After Season Ends — Space.com
Vega, Altair and Deneb continue to dominate the night sky long after summer fades. The three stars form a distinct seasonal pattern visible well into autumn. Their positions create a large triangle that stands out against darker skies. Observers can track the pattern across months as Earth orbits the Sun.
- NASA Search-and-Rescue Technology Saves Five Lives — NASA
Search and rescue technology developed in part by NASA saved five lives. The system operates where cell signals cannot reach. It relies on satellite detection of distress beacons in remote areas. The technology has been transferred from space applications to terrestrial emergency response.
- Satellite Image Shows Monterrey Bordering Folded Mountains — NASA Science
Mexico’s second-largest metropolitan area borders folded rock layers of the Sierra Madre Oriental. The image captures the city amid the mountain range. The folded structures result from long-term tectonic forces that shaped the landscape. The view highlights the contrast between urban development and surrounding geology.
- ESA Calls on Governments to Fund Exploration Research — researchprofessionalnews.com
The European Space Agency asked governments to fund exploration. The request targets future research programs. Funding would support studies in planetary science and human spaceflight technologies. The agency is seeking commitments to sustain a broad portfolio of missions.
The eROSITA second data release nearly doubled the catalog of known X-ray sources to two million. This expanded census lets astronomers map high-energy phenomena across the sky with greater completeness than before. The new entries include both previously undetected objects and refined measurements of known ones. Follow-up observations with other telescopes can now target these sources to determine their nature. What types of objects will dominate the newly added half of the catalog?
The environment within a few light-years of Sagittarius A* contains radiation fields intense enough to strip molecules apart across distances comparable to the width of several planetary systems placed end to end. Imagine traveling inward from the galactic center on a path where temperatures climb past a thousand degrees yet pockets of silicate grains and water vapor somehow remain intact. One measurement from the James Webb Space Telescope shows these materials surviving at radii where the black hole’s gravity and radiation should dominate completely. The grains appear oxygen-rich and are detected through mid-infrared signatures that stand out against the surrounding stellar glare. Continuous monitoring reveals that stellar outflows from aging stars like IRS 3 can shield and replenish the dust on timescales shorter than the orbital period around the black hole itself. Still, no model fully explains how the water molecules avoid rapid photodissociation in such proximity to the central engine.
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