Vol 45, Week 42

SPACE UPDATE

NASA & NEWSPACE

GLOBAL REPORTS

BEYOND EARTH

MISSION MILESTONES

FEATURED EVENTS

HUMANS IN SPACE

International Space Station

Latest: From Dragon CRS-35, unpacking 6,322 pounds of new supplies, science experiments and the final pair of roll-out solar arrays (iROSAs), which will both be installed by early Nov.

  • Average Altitude: 415 km
  • Current Mission: Expedition 75
  • Crew Members: Commander Pyotr Dubrov, Anna Kikina, Anil Menon, Jessica Watkins, Luke Delaney, Joshua Kutryk, and Sergey Teteryatnikov.
  • Docked Spacecraft: Crew-13 Dragon, Soyuz MS-29, Progress 95P, Progress 96P and Dragon CRS-35.

Tiangong Space Station

Latest: Undergoing spacecraft rendezvous and docking training; though Pakistan’s Shenzhou-24 astronaut will be chosen by late Oct, the crew names won’t release until November’s launch.

  • Average Altitude: 390 km
  • Current Mission: Shenzhou-23
  • Crew Members: Commander Zhu Yangzhu, pilot Zhang Zhiyuan and payload specialist Lai Ka-ying.
  • Docked Spacecraft: Shenzhou 23 and Tianzhou 10.
Near-Earth Objects Close Approaches
Date Object Distance
Fri Oct 16 Apollo Asteroid 2026 TB2 0.012 AU
Sun Oct 18 Apollo Asteroid 2026 TS 0.006 AU
Tue Oct 20 Apollo Asteroid 2026 TD2 0.018 AU
Wed Oct 21 Apollo Asteroid 2026 TV8 0.012 AU

SPACE HISTORY

Oct 16

5 Years in Space: Lucy Spacecraft

Oct 17

24 Years in Space: INTErnational Gamma-Ray Astrophysics Laboratory (INTEGRAL)

28 Sep - 16 Oct 2026
  • Education Program
Quy Nhan, Vietnam
At International Centre for Interdisciplinary Science Education (ICISE), Quy Nhon, Vietnam, for target audience Early MSc/PhD students and senior undergraduates in Astronomy, especially from...
13 - 16 Oct 2026
  • Meeting / Conference / Symposium
Noordwijk, Netherlands
The SPCD international Symposium is the premier technical conference dedicated to Passive components for space applications. It is an exceptional venue to learn more...
16 Oct 2026
  • Observation / Anniversary
Jupiter Greek camp at Lagrangian point L4
NASA craft reaches 5 full years in space during planned 12-year mission to encounter 11 different asteroids.
16 - 18 Oct 2026
  • Meeting / Conference / Symposium
New Mexico, USA
Explore the Moon and Planets without leaving Earth with other like-minded members of the Planetary Society! A portion of your registration fee will be...
17 Oct 2026
  • Meeting / Conference / Symposium
Worldwide
For observation, appreciation, understanding of the Moon / its connection to planetary science / exploration; 1st quarter Moon is best time due to shallow...
17 Oct 2026
  • Observation / Anniversary
Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
Detecting some of the most energetic radiation in space, ESA, NASA, Roscosmos spacecraft surpasses another year of operations in space, despite loss of its...
17 - 22 Oct 2026
  • Meeting / Conference / Symposium
Canary Islands, Spain
Celebration of science, art, music, exploration and the responsibility we share for the future of our species and our planet. Expected are Astronauts, Nobel...
18 Oct 2026
  • Launch
Tanegashima Space Center, ~30°N, Japan
Launch Oct 19 at 3:41 pm EDT (Oct 20, 4:41 am JST), Japan's first Mars mission is planned to conduct observations of Mars, Phobos...
18 Oct 2026
  • Meeting / Conference / Symposium
Honolulu HI, USA
STEM event to inspire students with hands-on activities and displays featuring rocketry, satellites, astronomy, meteorites, robotics and more. At University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa....
19 Oct 2026
  • Observation / Anniversary
Mars Orbit
European Space Agency (ESA) and Roscosmos spacecraft surpasses another full year at Mars, launched 2016; craft continues collecting data on atmosphere, deployed Schiaparelli demonstration...
19 Oct 2026
  • Observation / Anniversary
High Earth Orbit (HEO)
NASA spacecraft mapping boundary between the Solar System and interstellar space surpasses another full year in space; launched on this day 2008.
19 - 20 Oct 2026
  • Meeting / Conference / Symposium
Luxexpo, Luxembourg
Final-year-Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD students from across the world, enrolled in space-related programmes, are invited to test their skills against real-world challenges issued by...
19 - 22 Oct 2026
  • Education Program
Hawai’i Island HI, USA
Annual event inviting STEAM professionals and Maunakea Observatories staff to participate in 200+ Hawai'i classroom visits, career panels, and community events.
20 Oct 2026
  • Observation / Anniversary
Mercury Trajectory
European Space Agency / JAXA Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO) and Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (dubbed Mio ‘waterway or fairway’) surpasses another full year in space...
20 - 21 Oct 2026
  • Meeting / Conference / Symposium
NYC NY, USA
8:00am - 6:30 pm daily at AWS Executive Briefing Center; Up/Link is an invitation-only forum focused on the commercial and investment momentum shaping the...
20 - 22 Oct 2026
  • Meeting / Conference / Symposium
Antibes – Juan-les-Pins
The 14th IAASS Conference, “Together for a Safe Space Frontier”, invites reflection and the exchange of knowledge on critical space safety topics that demand...
20 - 22 Oct 2026
  • Meeting / Conference / Symposium
Washington DC, USA
The 193rd meeting of the Space Studies Board will be held October 20-21, the meeting of the Board on Physics and Astronomy will be...
20 Oct 2026
  • Meeting / Conference / Symposium
Luxexpo, Luxembourg
Navigating Emerging Opportunities: a conference to explore space market trends, emerging technologies, geopolitical dynamics, new companies and the next generation of talent. Designed as...
20 Oct 2026
  • Mission Milestone
Online
2pm ET, NASA will discuss the U.S. Spacewalks #100 and #101 to complete solar array installation and power augmentation of the International Space Station...
21 - 23 Oct 2026
  • Meeting / Conference / Symposium
Noordwijk, Netherlands
Bringing together leading researchers, engineers, and industry experts at the intersection of artificial intelligence and space exploration. As AI continues to transform the way...
21 - 22 Oct 2026
  • Space / Astro Events
Worldwide
Appearing in constellation Orion, Orionids are a Class I shower providing up to 20 per hour, swiftly moving ~66km/sec. With activity spanning October 2...
21 Oct 2026
  • Launch
Rizhao Offshore, Haiyang Oriental Spaceport ~36°N, China
Solid-propellant launch vehicle of private aerospace company Galactic Energy of Beijing to provide low-cost commercial launches from off-shore barge. The Galactic Energy Ceres-1 rocket...
28 Sep - 16 Oct 2026
At International Centre for Interdisciplinary Science Education (ICISE), Quy Nhon, Vietnam, for target audience Early...
Quy Nhan, Vietnam
13 - 16 Oct 2026
The SPCD international Symposium is the premier technical conference dedicated to Passive components for space...
Noordwijk, Netherlands
16 Oct 2026
NASA craft reaches 5 full years in space during planned 12-year mission to encounter 11...
Jupiter Greek camp at Lagrangian point L4
16 - 18 Oct 2026
Explore the Moon and Planets without leaving Earth with other like-minded members of the Planetary...
New Mexico, USA
17 Oct 2026
For observation, appreciation, understanding of the Moon / its connection to planetary science / exploration;...
Worldwide
17 Oct 2026
Detecting some of the most energetic radiation in space, ESA, NASA, Roscosmos spacecraft surpasses another...
Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
17 - 22 Oct 2026
Celebration of science, art, music, exploration and the responsibility we share for the future of...
Canary Islands, Spain
18 Oct 2026
Launch Oct 19 at 3:41 pm EDT (Oct 20, 4:41 am JST), Japan's first Mars...
Tanegashima Space Center, ~30°N, Japan
18 Oct 2026
STEM event to inspire students with hands-on activities and displays featuring rocketry, satellites, astronomy, meteorites,...
Honolulu HI, USA
19 Oct 2026
European Space Agency (ESA) and Roscosmos spacecraft surpasses another full year at Mars, launched 2016;...
Mars Orbit
19 Oct 2026
NASA spacecraft mapping boundary between the Solar System and interstellar space surpasses another full year...
High Earth Orbit (HEO)
19 - 20 Oct 2026
Final-year-Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD students from across the world, enrolled in space-related programmes, are invited...
Luxexpo, Luxembourg
19 - 22 Oct 2026
Annual event inviting STEAM professionals and Maunakea Observatories staff to participate in 200+ Hawai'i classroom...
Hawai’i Island HI, USA
20 Oct 2026
European Space Agency / JAXA Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO) and Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (dubbed Mio...
Mercury Trajectory
20 - 21 Oct 2026
8:00am - 6:30 pm daily at AWS Executive Briefing Center; Up/Link is an invitation-only forum...
NYC NY, USA