By Garth Calitz Space is no longer simply the domain of superpowers and science-fiction enthusiasts. It is becoming a strategic military and commercial environment, and Africa is being forced to decide whether it will participate or simply pay the subscription fee. That was the focus of a panel discussion at the AAD 2026 Conference in Pretoria, titled “Space as a Strategic Domain: How Africa Can Secure, Commercialise and Compete in the New Space Race.” The session formed part

The Artemis II mission concluded successfully with the safe return of NASA’s Orion spacecraft, marking the end of humanity’s first crewed deep space flight in more than five decades. The capsule splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of southern California following a 10-day journey that carried astronauts around the Moon and back to Earth. The Orion spacecraft travelled approximately 694,000 miles during the mission. Its return phase saw the capsule re-enter Earth’

The reusable Boeing X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle has been in orbit for over 230 days since its most recent launch, continuing a series of government-supported experiments designed to advance future space technologies. Although the Artemis program has overshadowed the project, it remains significant to the future of human space travel. Operating under the oversight of the United States Space Force and the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, the programme highlights the growing

For the first time since the Apollo era, astronauts are once again heading beyond low-Earth orbit, and with Artemis II, NASA has opened a new chapter in crewed deep-space flight. More than just another rocket launch, Artemis II is a full-scale test of the systems, spacecraft and human endurance that will underpin the next generation of lunar exploration. The significance is immediate, Artemis II is not simply a space story; it is a story about aerospace engineering at its mos

NASA’s carefully choreographed countdown towards the first crewed Artemis mission around the Moon has hit a familiar speed bump, with engineers now preparing for the possibility of rolling the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft back to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at Kennedy Space Center. The precaution follows an overnight observation on 21 February that helium flow to the rocket’s interim cryogenic propulsion stage (ICPS) was interrupted, prompting

On Saturday, 17 January 2026, NASA marked a defining moment in the modern era of human spaceflight as the Artemis II Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft completed their rollout to Launch Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. The milestone signals the start of final launch preparations for the first crewed mission to the Moon since Apollo 17 in 1972 and represents a major step forward in the agency’s ambitious Artemis programme. The rollout began at 7:0

Starship’s tenth flight test launched on August 26, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. CT from Starbase, Texas, marking a pivotal advancement in...

The Boeing-built X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle commenced its eighth mission yesterday, successfully launching at 11:50 p.m. ET aboard a...

The U.S. Space Force, in collaboration with the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office and SpaceX, is finalising preparations for the launch...

Airbus has been chosen by the European Space Agency (ESA) and Thales Alenia Space (TAS—a joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo...