Theo Wargo/WireImage
The summer season has ended, but spaceflight continues to be hot, with new views of our Moon and Jupiter’s moon Io, the much-anticipated return of an astronaut and an asteroid sample, and important new rocket engine tests, to name just a few of the many moments that captured our attention in September.
A week before it was set to launch to a distant metal rich asteroid, NASA’s Psyche spacecraft is forced to remain grounded until the space agency resolves an issue with its thrusters.
Elon Musk’s SpaceX has secured a Pentagon contract for its military satellite network, Starshield.
NASA/Bill Ingalls
After Bob Smith’s resignation as chief executive, Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin has appointed David Limp, Amazon’s former head of hardware and leader of the company’s Project Kuiper satellites, as the new CEO.
Nathan Howard/Getty Images, Kurt Krieger/Corbis via Getty Images, David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for Bulgari, and on Kopaloff/FilmMagic
As part of its efforts to create a space-based cellular broadband network, AST SpaceMobile made the first ever 5G phone call between its prototype satellite and a Samsung Galaxy S22.
SpaceX/Insider
SpaceX’s plans for a second launch of its Starship megarocket could face new delays, as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) launches a review of environmental impacts and potential threats to endangered species in the Boca Chica region.