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🚀 Martian Letter №170📌 NASA announced the end of the MAVEN orbiter mission. Contact with the probe was lost on December ...
06/11/2026

🚀 Martian Letter №170

📌 NASA announced the end of the MAVEN orbiter mission. Contact with the probe was lost on December 6 of last year when it disappeared behind Mars. Since then, engineers have been trying to reestablish contact. However, their attempts were unsuccessful, so in February, the agency launched an investigation into the situation. A preliminary analysis of the data showed that MAVEN’s orientation system may have malfunctioned after it passed behind the Red Planet. As a result, the probe began spinning uncontrollably at high speed. This likely led to the batteries discharging, a loss of power to the systems, and the spacecraft entering safe mode. Currently, there is no communication with the spacecraft, and it is most likely impossible to restore it. NASA noted that this is a preliminary cause of the failure. The investigation into the situation will continue until the end of this year.

MAVEN was NASA’s first probe specifically designed to study the Martian atmosphere. It arrived in orbit on September 22, 2014. The spacecraft was expected to operate for one year, but it significantly exceeded expectations and functioned for more than 11 years. During this time, MAVEN studied the effects of the solar wind and dust devils on the atmosphere and observed Martian auroras. In addition, last year the spacecraft spent 10 days assisting in the observation of Comet ATLAS. In addition to its scientific work, it relayed data from the Mars rovers. The probe’s mission has made a significant contribution to the exploration of Mars. All the information transmitted by the spacecraft will be used in future missions—both unmanned and manned.

đź“Ś Curiosity collected its 47th soil sample. The rock was taken from the Campo Marte formation. After the sample was collected, it was placed in the CheMin and SAM instruments for analysis. At the same time, the rover conducted remote surveys of eight rock formations and photographed the surrounding area. Additionally, Curiosity monitored changes in the atmosphere and observed dust devils. Once CheMin and SAM have finished analyzing the sample, the rover will continue its ascent up Mount Sharp.

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🚀 Space rocket results MayIn May, there were 22 orbital flights and 1 suborbital mission worldwide.Orbital:🟡 SpaceX — 11...
06/07/2026

🚀 Space rocket results May

In May, there were 22 orbital flights and 1 suborbital mission worldwide.
Orbital:
🟡 SpaceX — 11
🟡 China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) — 6
🟡 CAS Space — 1
🟡 Landspace — 1
🟡 United Launch Alliance (ULA) — 1
🟡 European Space Agency (ESA) — 1
🟡 Rocket Lab — 1
Suborbital:
🟡 SpaceX — 1

Let’s take a look back at some of the most important flights that took place last month.

đź“Ś The most memorable event of the past month was the 12th flight of the Starship system, which took place on May 23. As part of this mission, the company conducted its first launch from the new Pad 2 launch pad at Starbase. It was also the debut flight of the Starship V3 system. The test utilized the Super Heavy B19 (first stage) and Starship S39 (second stage) prototypes. The launch vehicle successfully completed most of the tests. Super Heavy B19 managed to lift off from the launch pad and place Starship S39 on a suborbital trajectory. However, the prototype was unable to splash down in the Gulf of Mexico. For its part, Starship S39 deployed 22 full-scale Starlink V3 mockups, two of which were equipped with cameras. The company had planned to restart one Raptor 3 engine, but decided against it. Most importantly, the second-stage prototype survived reentry and made a soft splashdown in the Indian Ocean.

📌 On May 19, a new scientific spacecraft—the Solar Wind-Magnetosphere-Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE)—was launched. The satellite was developed through a joint effort between the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). It was placed into a highly elliptical orbit by a Vega C launch vehicle. SMILE will study the interaction between the solar wind and Earth’s magnetosphere. The spacecraft will also help scientists understand how the solar wind affects the ionosphere. Additionally, the satellite’s mission includes studying coronal mass ejections. SMILE is expected to have a service life of approximately three years.

🚀 The Rocket-Telegram channel:
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🚀 The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is ahead of schedule: its launch will take place earlier than plannedNASA announ...
06/07/2026

🚀 The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is ahead of schedule: its launch will take place earlier than planned

NASA announced, that the launch of the infrared observatory on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket is scheduled for August 30, 2026, from Launch Complex 39A in Florida. The telescope is currently being prepared for transport from the Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The “move” is scheduled for the end of this month.

Before launch, engineers will verify the functionality of all observatory components, conduct engine-on tests and launch rehearsals, and fill its tanks with approximately 1,100 liters of hydrazine fuel, after which the telescope will be mounted onto the Falcon Heavy adapter. The spacecraft will then be placed inside the fairing and integrated onto the launch vehicle before being transported to the launch pad.

It is worth noting that a key feature of the telescope, which will be launched to the Lagrange point L2, is its combination of a wide field of view with high resolution in the infrared spectrum. The spacecraft’s main objectives will be to seek answers to fundamental questions about dark energy in the universe and to study exoplanets. The observatory is expected to discover several thousand worlds beyond the Solar System, as well as direct images of large planets orbiting other stars.

🚀 The Rocket-Telegram channel:
t.me/RocketHub_Space

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🤖 The History and Future of NASA’s RobotsWhen we mention, for example, the construction of a lunar base, images of human...
06/05/2026

🤖 The History and Future of NASA’s Robots

When we mention, for example, the construction of a lunar base, images of humanoid androids might come to mind. Even though, in reality, specialized autonomous vehicles are far more effective for performing rough and dangerous work on the barren lunar surface, we simply cannot overlook such an interesting and important story. Anthropomorphic robots will be needed much later, once complex infrastructure designed for humans has already been built. The idea of sending such assistants into space was developed even before SpaceX, at the dawn of modern space exploration, in NASA’s Robonaut project.

Development of Robonaut began in 1997. Engineers were tasked with creating a humanoid robot capable of performing tasks under an astronaut’s control or autonomously in extreme conditions where human presence is undesirable.

As a result, the specialists developed the Robonaut 1 (R1) prototype, which could operate both on a wheeled base and without one. R1 served as an experimental platform for field and laboratory testing until 2006. It was used to practice tasks related to future work in space. The robot was controlled remotely using a telepresence system. In addition to R1, engineers created the R1A and R1B prototypes, but neither was sent into space.

In 2007, NASA and General Motors signed an agreement to collaborate on the next-generation Robonaut. The new version of the robot was designed to assist astronauts with scientific research and daily tasks both inside and outside the International Space Station (ISS). It was also anticipated that the technologies developed as part of the project could be applied at General Motors plants on Earth.

This led to the development of Robonaut 2 (R2). The robot was unveiled in 2010, and on February 24, 2011, it was sent to the ISS as part of the STS-133 mission. The Discovery shuttle transported the R2 unit to the station. On board the ISS, specialists tested the robot’s performance in microgravity and studied the effects of radiation and electromagnetic radiation on its systems.

On April 18, 2014, a Falcon 9 Block 2 launch vehicle launched the Cargo Dragon spacecraft, which carried the robot’s “legs.” After their installation, R2 stood about 2.7 meters tall. In addition, the robot received more powerful processors and new sensors, becoming the first fully-fledged humanoid robot sent to the ISS. However, following this upgrade, the android encountered serious technical problems. As early as 2015, the robot was considered malfunctioning. As a result, in April 2018, the robot was returned to Earth for repairs aboard the Dragon CRS-14 spacecraft, and it never returned to orbit. In 2024, it was finally decommissioned and put on display at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum—right next to the very same Discovery shuttle that once sent it into space.

As long-time space enthusiasts know, the very idea of space androids is far from dead; on the contrary, it is poised for a new breakthrough. Today, we are witnessing the beginning of exponential growth in the number of bipedal robots: thanks to the development of AI with advanced world models (such as the Nvidia Isaac GR00T platform, models from Google DeepMind, and Helix from Figure AI), they are transforming from exhibition pieces into real workers. Figure 02 robots are already assembling cars at BMW plants, the electric Atlas from Boston Dynamics is preparing to work at Hyundai, Agility Digit is being tested in Amazon warehouses, Tesla’s Optimus is preparing for mass production, and many Chinese companies are striving to keep up with the trend.

Nevertheless, there are no androids in NASA’s immediate plans for lunar exploration through 2029. Not even at the ambitious SpaceX. The company’s role in Artemis is currently limited to heavy logistics and Starship HLS landings. Elon Musk has his own Mars plan involving Tesla Optimus robots, which he plans to send to Mars on Starship in unmanned mode by the end of 2026, but this is merely his private initiative and more of a demonstration of capabilities.

🚀 The Rocket-Telegram channel:
t.me/RocketHub_Space

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NASA orders hardware for the future lunar base, but there’s a catchFollowing the Moon Base press conference, four compan...
06/03/2026

NASA orders hardware for the future lunar base, but there’s a catch

Following the Moon Base press conference, four companies have received
contracts. Blue Origin will provide two Blue Moon Mark 1 landers to deliver
lunar rovers to the South Pole ($234M each).

The rovers themselves (LTVs) will be built by Astrolab (CLV-1 model) and Lunar
Outpost (Pegasus model), with contracts worth ~$220M each. The rovers will be
parked 2 km away from the HLS landers (provided by SpaceX or Blue Origin) so
they aren't damaged by regolith kicked up during landing. These vehicles will be
capable of autonomous driving and carrying crews within a 10 km radius.

The fourth contractor is Firefly Aerospace ($75M). In 2028, their Elytra Dark
orbiter will deliver four NASA JPL "hopper drones" to the Moon. They will be
deployed from an altitude of 50 km. The drones will operate for one lunar day
(14 Earth days), testing rocket-powered hopping technology and photographing the
surface.

According to NASA's plan, all this hardware must arrive before astronauts land
during the Artemis IV mission in 2028 (Phase 1 of the base). Phase 2 (2029 –
early 2030s) involves setting up a power grid, while Phase 3 (2030s) will focus
on constructing permanent habitats.

However, the recent New Glenn rocket explosion puts this timeline at risk. The
destroyed LC-36 pad is Blue Origin's only launch facility for New Glenn. This is
the exact rocket tasked with launching the rover landers, as well as lifting the
lunar lander for the Artemis III mission.

Repairs and the anomaly investigation could drag on for a year or more. Despite
the Blue Origin CEO’s statement about returning to flight before the end
of 2026, renowned space journalist Eric Berger noted: "A launch in the first
half of 2027 would be a feat." Regardless, this incident severely impacts NASA's
lunar ambitions.

Pictured: Models of the Blue Origin, Astrolab, Lunar Outpost, and Firefly
spacecraft (left to right).

Rocket Telegram Channel: https://t.me/RocketHub_Space

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🚀 The crew for the Artemis III mission will be announced on June 9On June 9 at 15:00 UTC, NASA will host a live broadcas...
05/29/2026

🚀 The crew for the Artemis III mission will be announced on June 9

On June 9 at 15:00 UTC, NASA will host a live broadcast from the Johnson Space Center in Houston, where it will reveal the names of the four astronauts selected for Artemis III and provide an update on the mission.

As a reminder, Artemis III was originally intended to be the first lunar landing mission under the Artemis program, but in late February, NASA changed its plans: now, the plan is to conduct near-Earth rehearsals of rendezvous and docking operations between the Orion crewed spacecraft and one or both of the program’s crewed lunar landers—SpaceX’s Starship and Blue Origin’s Blue Moon.

Currently, the launch of Artemis III is scheduled for mid-2027. If all goes well, astronauts will be able to land near the Moon’s south pole in late 2028 as part of the Artemis IV mission. It is currently unclear which lunar lander—Starship or Blue Moon—will participate in this mission. However, due to the explosion and partial destruction of Blue Origin’s only launch site, an increasing amount of responsibility for meeting the program’s deadlines falls on SpaceX.

🚀 The Rocket-Telegram channel:
t.me/RocketHub_Space

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🚀 Space rocket results May 17–28From May 17 to 28, there were 9 orbital launches and 1 suborbital flight worldwide.📌 Spa...
05/28/2026

🚀 Space rocket results May 17–28

From May 17 to 28, there were 9 orbital launches and 1 suborbital flight worldwide.

đź“Ś SpaceX:

đź“Ť On May 20, 21, 25, and 26, the company expanded the Starlink constellation. Over four flights, Falcon 9 deployed 106 satellites. The launches used first stages B1103 (2nd flight), B1077 (28th flight), B1078 (28th flight), and B1100 (6th flight).

đź“Ť On May 23, the 12th flight test of the Starship system took place. This flight marked the debut for both Starship V3 and Pad 2 at Starbase. For the test, the company used the Super Heavy B19 (first stage) and Starship S39 (second stage) prototypes. You can read more about the flight here (https://t.me/RocketHub_Space/2493).

đź“Ś CASC:

đź“Ť On May 17, a Long March 8 launch vehicle sent 18 Qianfan (G60 Starlink) internet satellites into polar orbit.

đź“Ť On May 24, a Long March 2F launched the Shenzhou 23 crewed spacecraft to the Tiangong space station. The astronauts have now arrived at the station. The Shenzhou 23 crew consists of three people: Zhu Yangzhu, Zhang Zhiyuan, and Li Jiaing.

đź“Ť On May 26, the experimental communications satellite Tongxin Jishu Shiyan-24 (TJSW-24) was launched into geostationary orbit. The launch was carried out by a Long March 7A rocket.

đź“Ś ESA:

đź“ŤOn May 19, the Vega C launch vehicle sent the Solar Wind-Magnetosphere-Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE) into a highly elliptical orbit. The satellite is a joint project between ESA and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).

SMILE will help scientists study the interaction between the solar wind and Earth’s magnetosphere and its impact on the ionosphere. The satellite’s mission also includes studying coronal mass ejections. The satellite is expected to study the Sun for three years.

đź“Ś Rocket Lab:

📍On May 22, the company carried out the Viva La StriX mission. During the flight, the Electron launch vehicle placed Synspective’s StriX Earth remote sensing satellite into low Earth orbit.

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05/27/2026

🚀 New Glenn is back in action!

Blue Origin is resuming launches of its partially reusable launch vehicle following an incident during the third flight: the investigation into the incident has been completed.

As a reminder, on April 19, 2026, Blue Origin’s partially reusable New Glenn launch vehicle lifted off from Cape Canaveral as part of the NG-3 mission. Despite the successful return of the previously flown first stage to a sea platform, the second stage failed to place AST Space Mobile’s BlueBird 7 internet communications satellite into its intended orbit, prompting the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to order an investigation into the incident and suspend the rocket’s flights.

On May 22, Blue Origin announced on social media platform X that the FAA had approved the company’s report on the investigation into the NG-3 mission launch. The FAA statement reads as follows: “The final incident report identified a cryogenic fuel leak as the immediate cause of the accident, which led to the freezing of the hydraulic line and a thrust anomaly during second-stage engine operation.” Blue Origin has developed nine corrective measures aimed at preventing a recurrence of the incident.

The company also announced that it is preparing for the next New Glenn launch as part of the NG-4 mission. CEO Dave Limp posted a video on X showing the new “No, It’s Necessary” launch vehicle being mounted on a transport and erector. “The next step is static fire tests,” he wrote.

According to the latest information on the FAA website, the launch of the next NG-4 mission could take place as early as June 4, 2026 (backup date: June 5, 2026).

🚀 The Rocket-Telegram channel:
t.me/RocketHub_Space

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🌕 Moon-TimeThis photograph, taken on 6 April 2026, shows part of the far side of the Moon along the terminator—the bound...
05/26/2026

🌕 Moon-Time

This photograph, taken on 6 April 2026, shows part of the far side of the Moon along the terminator—the boundary between the lit and unlit parts of the surface.

🚀 The Rocket-Telegram channel
t.me/RocketHub_Space

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🚀 Quick Takeaways from Starship's 12th Flight TestThe first flight of Starship V3 was partially successful. The Super He...
05/23/2026

🚀 Quick Takeaways from Starship's 12th Flight Test

The first flight of Starship V3 was partially successful. The Super Heavy B19 first-stage prototype launched Starship S39 onto a suborbital trajectory. However, Super Heavy B19 was unable to make a soft splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico—communication with the prototype was lost at a speed of 1,455 km/h at an altitude of about 100 meters.

Meanwhile, Starship S39 successfully launched 22 full-scale Starlink V3 mockups into a suborbital trajectory. SpaceX abandoned the attempt to restart one of the Raptor 3 engines. At the same time, the second-stage prototype accomplished one of the most difficult tasks—a soft splashdown in the Indian Ocean!

We also got our first side view of Starship in space: the company released footage from the Starlink V3 mockups, which were equipped with cameras.

Starship V3 is starting its flight history much more confidently than V2! Go SpaceX! Go Starship! 🚀

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