The 98th Academy Awards took place at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, celebrating the most significant achievements in film from 2025. The ceremony recognized outstanding performances, directing, and technical crafts, highlighting the year's top cinematic contributions to the global film industry.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is working to bolster the NavIC satellite constellation. While reports have highlighted challenges regarding the operational status of older satellites, India is actively launching next-generation satellites to ensure the continuity and enhanced accuracy of its regional navigation system.
A rare astronomical event occurred in Koblenz, Germany, when a meteorite fireball broke up in the atmosphere, resulting in a fragment striking a residential home. The impact caused structural damage to the roof, drawing attention from local authorities and space experts as they work to confirm the origin and composition of the space rock.
India experienced a total lunar eclipse on March 3, 2026, visible in its concluding stages across various regions. This 'Blood Moon' coincided with the Holi festival, adding a unique astronomical dimension to the cultural celebrations.
Scientists in Brazil have identified the country's first tektite field, named 'geraisites,' spanning over 900 kilometers. These natural glass fragments are evidence of a powerful asteroid impact approximately 6.3 million years ago, a discovery detailed in the journal Geology. The find adds Brazil to a select group of countries with major tektite fields.
French NewSpace company Infinite Orbits is expanding its European operational footprint by establishing a new office in Luxembourg. This move follows a recent €40 million funding round aimed at accelerating its in-orbit servicing capabilities, including satellite life extension and inspection.
The UAE's advanced Earth observation satellite, MBZ-Sat, has captured and released two high-resolution images of Kuwait, featuring Kuwait City and Jaber Al Ahmad International Stadium, to commemorate Kuwait's 65th National Day.
ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot, a French Air Force pilot and the first of her 2022 astronaut class, successfully launched to the International Space Station on February 13, 2026, aboard the SpaceX Crew-12 mission for a nine-month scientific expedition.
New Zealand has significantly increased its space launch limit from 100 to 1,000, effective February 12, 2026, to accelerate the growth of its burgeoning space and advanced aviation industries. This decision follows a comprehensive environmental review that deemed the risk from increased launches to be low, providing long-term certainty for industry investment and expansion.
NASA is holding a news conference at Kennedy Space Center today, February 3, 2026, to discuss the results of the Artemis II Wet Dress Rehearsal. The critical fueling test for the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft concluded, paving the way for the first crewed lunar mission since 1972.
The Artemis II crew, comprising NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen, recently completed specialized lunar-like geology training in Iceland. This crucial preparation, conducted in volcanic landscapes resembling the Moon's surface, focused on enhancing their rock identification, navigation, and expeditionary skills for their historic mission around the Moon.
India's space agency, ISRO, has initiated the 22.5-hour countdown for the PSLV-C62/EOS-N1 mission. The launch, scheduled for January 12, 2026, at 10:17 AM IST from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, will deploy the EOS-N1 Earth observation satellite and 18 co-passenger payloads into orbit, marking ISRO's first mission of the year.
January 2026 begins with a celestial spectacle over Luxembourg, featuring a 'Super' Wolf Moon on January 3 and the Quadrantids meteor shower peaking on January 3-4. Despite bright moonlight, observers may still catch bright meteors.
The United Arab Emirates marked 2025 with significant advancements in its space sector, expanding orbital infrastructure, forging international partnerships, and progressing lunar and deep-space missions. Key milestones include new satellite deployments, a commitment to the Lunar Gateway, and the development of the Rashid 2 Rover.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) achieved a significant milestone by successfully launching the BlueBird Block-2 communication satellite on December 24, 2025. Carried by the LVM3-M6 rocket from Sriharikota, the 6,100 kg satellite is the heaviest commercial payload ever launched by India into Low Earth Orbit, designed to provide direct-to-mobile 4G and 5G connectivity globally.
A South Korean-built HANBIT-Nano rocket, the first commercial vehicle launched from Brazil's Alcântara Space Center, crashed shortly after liftoff on Monday night, December 22, 2025. The failure of the Innospace 'Spaceward' mission, which aimed to deploy small satellites, represents a blow to Brazil's efforts to establish Alcântara as a global commercial launch hub, echoing past tragedies at the site.
Michaela Benthaus, a German aerospace engineer, made history on December 20, 2025, by becoming the first wheelchair user to travel to space. Aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard, her 10-minute suborbital flight from West Texas crossed the Kármán Line, marking a significant step for accessibility in space exploration.
Michaela Benthaus, a German aerospace engineer, has made history as the first wheelchair user to travel to space. She embarked on a suborbital flight with Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket from West Texas, crossing the Karman line during the approximately 10-minute journey. Benthaus advocates for greater accessibility in society and space.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully conducted crucial drogue parachute deployment qualification tests for its Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission on December 18 and 19, 2025. These tests, held in Chandigarh, are a significant step towards ensuring the safe return of the crew module, validating the performance of the deceleration system under extreme conditions.
Denmark's University of Copenhagen will spearhead the Máni mission, the nation's first lunar satellite, set for a 2029 launch. Approved by ESA, Máni will create high-resolution 3D maps of the Moon's surface to enhance future landings, support base construction, and contribute to climate research.
