- NASA to Name Artemis III Crew Next Week — WKMG
The agency will hold a briefing on June 9 at 11 a.m. ET to introduce the astronauts assigned to the mission. Artemis III will use the third European Service Module to power Orion and will demonstrate docking with commercial lunar landers in low Earth orbit. This step directly supports the goal of returning humans to the Moon’s surface. The crew announcement advances planning for the first crewed landing under the current architecture. Observers will watch for details on training timelines and lander integration tests.
- Prada and Axiom Reveal Lunar Cooling Garment — Space.com
The liquid cooling ventilation garment features a design described as “very aesthetically pleasing” by project leads. It will be worn beneath the Axiom Space lunar spacesuit developed for NASA. The garment manages heat during surface operations on the Moon. This marks the first public reveal of a finished element from the Prada partnership. Next steps include further integration testing with the full suit assembly.
- Axiom Advances Full Lunar Spacesuit Design — SpaceNews
The company unveiled another completed component of the suit intended for NASA’s Artemis program. The design incorporates materials and construction techniques developed with Prada. This element joins the cooling garment in moving from concept to hardware. The partnership aims to deliver a suit ready for crewed lunar surface activity. Follow-on work will focus on certification and mobility testing.
- NASA Tests Spacecraft Network Switching Technology — SciTechDaily
The new system allows spacecraft to move between different communication networks without interruption. Engineers demonstrated the capability in recent ground trials. The technology addresses growing demand for flexible links as more commercial and government assets operate in orbit. It builds on existing relay infrastructure to improve data return rates. Future missions will incorporate the switching protocol during initial flight tests.
- ESA and EBRD Sign Earth Observation Agreement — European Space Agency
The partnership will apply satellite data to development and impact finance projects. EBRD clients will gain access to imagery and analysis for monitoring infrastructure and environmental conditions. The agreement expands use of European Earth observation assets beyond traditional science programs. Initial projects will target regions where EBRD operates. Progress will be tracked through joint pilot studies over the next two years.
- UK Startup NewOrbit Raises $18.5 Million — SpaceNews
NewOrbit Space secured Series A funding to develop satellites for very low Earth orbit operations. The capital will support construction of the first demonstration spacecraft. VLEO platforms promise lower latency and higher resolution imaging than traditional orbits. The round reflects continued investor interest in specialized orbital regimes. The company plans an initial launch within the next two years.
- OQ Technology Schedules Direct-to-Smartphone Test — SpaceNews
The Luxembourg firm will conduct a cellular-spectrum demonstration in Germany next year. The trial uses an existing local telco network rather than dedicated satellite frequencies. Success would mark an early European entry into the direct-to-device market. The test targets standard smartphones without hardware modifications. Results will inform regulatory filings across additional countries.
- Swissmint Issues Space-Themed Silver Coin — Swissmint
The new coin honors Switzerland’s contributions to space technology and missions. It features imagery tied to instruments and hardware developed in the country. Proceeds support continued Swiss participation in European space programs. The minting run is limited and available through official channels. Collectors can expect delivery later this year.
- ESA Prepares ILA Berlin Pavilion — European Space Agency
The agency will occupy the Space Pavilion at the airshow from June 10 to 14 under the theme “Space4Future.” Exhibits will cover lunar exploration, climate monitoring, navigation, and European launch vehicles. Visitors will see hardware models and data visualizations from current missions. The event serves as a public outreach platform ahead of upcoming launches. Staff will conduct daily demonstrations and briefings.
- NASA Shares UAE Site Excavation Findings — NASA Science
Orbital imagery helped identify Jabal al Fāyah as a former shallow-sea location now above the desert. Archaeologists are studying early human occupation layers preserved at the site. The work combines satellite remote sensing with ground surveys. Findings add detail to migration routes across the Arabian Peninsula. Additional field seasons are planned to expand the excavated area.
- Astronomers Identify Source of Repeating Radio Bursts — phys.org
The source ASKAP J1745 originates from a pair of stars in a tight binary orbit. Observations show the bursts repeat on a regular cycle tied to the orbital period. The system provides a nearby laboratory for studying coherent radio emission. Data were collected with the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder. Continued monitoring will refine the orbital parameters and emission geometry.
- ESA Schedules Artemis III Mission Update — European Space Agency
A live briefing on June 9 at 17:00 CEST will cover progress on the European Service Module and overall mission status. The update precedes the crew announcement by a few hours. Viewers can follow developments on the Orion spacecraft’s path toward lunar operations. The session will include technical status reports from ESA and NASA teams. Recording will be available afterward for later viewing.
- NASA Plans GW SIG Seminar on Black Holes — NASA Science
University of Maryland researcher Cole Miller will speak on June 10 about gravitational-wave sources. The seminar is part of the Physics of the Cosmos series. Topics will include current constraints on black-hole populations from LIGO and Virgo data. Attendees can join virtually through the posted link. Slides will be archived on the NASA Science site.
- Gamma-Ray Science Interest Group Meets June 12 — NASA Science
The 1:00 p.m. ET session will review recent high-energy observations and instrument performance. Presenters will discuss data from active missions and upcoming proposals. The group coordinates community input on gamma-ray priorities. Registration is open through the NASA Astrophysics portal. Notes will be distributed to participants after the meeting.
- ASTRA Initiative Seminar Focuses on Future Telescopes — NASA Science
Rob Petre of NASA GSFC will outline ground- and space-based astronomy concepts for the 2030s and 2040s on June 12. The talk covers technology roadmaps and science drivers. Discussion will address how new facilities could complement existing observatories. The session runs from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. ET. Materials will be posted on the Physics of the Cosmos community page.
The ASKAP J1745 binary offers the first clear periodic clock for a repeating radio burst source. Repeated observations tie the emission directly to the orbital motion of two compact stars, giving astronomers a predictable window to study the emission mechanism. Because the system is relatively nearby, sensitive arrays can capture fine time structure that distant fast-radio-burst sources wash out. The next observing season will test whether the burst strength varies with orbital phase or remains constant. What physical process in the stellar magnetospheres actually generates the coherent radio waves remains unknown.
A pair of neutron stars orbiting each other every few hours can release more radio energy in a single burst than the Sun emits across its entire surface in a day. Picture riding alongside one of the stars as its magnetic field sweeps through the companion’s wind; the interaction twists and reconnects field lines in milliseconds, accelerating particles that then radiate in phase like a natural laser. The entire process repeats with clock-like precision because the orbit itself sets the timer. In the case of ASKAP J1745 the bursts arrive every 1.5 hours, matching the measured orbital period to within seconds. Yet no model fully explains why only certain binaries produce this coherent emission while others remain silent. The missing piece is whether the radio waves require a minimum magnetic-field strength, a particular wind density, or an alignment we have not yet measured.
Artemis III crew selection and new orbital technologies keep the pace of exploration steady.
