October 18, 2026

New Research Reveals How Long Stays in Space Affects the Human Genome (Source: Universe Today)
Our data show that the genome, its organization, and dynamics are incredibly robust and seem unaffected by gravity, or lack thereof, after 24 hours. Similarly, these results suggest that the physical organization of the human genome may change little in outer space over comparable timeframes. However, such changes could occur during longer exposures and due to DNA damage occurring in space. (10/17)

Mars May Pose a Serious Risk to the Human Heart: What a New Space Radiation Study Reveals (Source: Breezy Scroll)
Researchers associated with the Medical College of Wisconsin investigated how space-like conditions affect the heart and blood cells over time. Their findings suggest that exposure to high-energy radiation can trigger scarring around the blood vessels supplying the heart, while the combination of radiation and simulated microgravity may compromise important immune defenses. (10/14)

Russian Satellite Approaches U.S. Spacecraft Serving Ukraine’s Military (Source: Axios)
A Russian satellite has moved close to a U.S. satellite in a constellation that supports Ukraine’s military, raising concerns about Moscow’s intent. The report provides no further details on the spacecraft, the proximity or any operational effect, leaving the encounter’s immediate consequences unclear. (10/17)

Saudi Space Agency, JAXA Sign Cooperation Memorandum in Space Sector (Source: Spa.gov)
The Saudi Space Agency and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) have signed a memorandum of cooperation on space activities and the use of outer space for peaceful purposes. It aims to strengthen cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Japan in several areas, including space applications, the use of the space environment, space science and exploration, space transportation, research and development, the advancement of space industries, education and awareness, human capital development, and training. (10/17)

Russia Turns to Turkish Mafia for Starlink Sabotage Attack in Poland (Source: United 24)
Russian intelligence services may have recruited a Turkish organized crime group to carry out an arson attack on a Starlink ground station in Poland, potentially signaling a shift in Moscow’s sabotage operations across Europe. According to German magazine Der Spiegel on October 17, intelligence agencies from several countries are investigating possible links between the September 23 attack and the Daltons, a Turkish criminal organization operating across Europe. (10/18)

Russia’s Starlink Substitute Poses a Security Threat Far Beyond Ukraine (Source: Atlantic Council)
The Rassvet project is being managed by Bureau 1440, an aerospace company owned by Yadro CEO Alexy Shelobkov. It is intended as a major upgrade for Russian military communications in Ukraine after Starlink disabled unauthorized terminals used by Kremlin forces at the start of 2026. Moscow has positioned Rassvet as “sovereign” satellite technology, but to accelerate deployment, Russia has contracted Chinese satellite manufacturing through Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology (SSST). Rassvet is part of a broader axis of technological interdependence together with China, Iran, and North Korea.

For the Kremlin, genuine technological sovereignty is not essential. The main aim is to produce a network that is independent from Western control for use during military operations in Ukraine. China and SSST will oblige, within the framework of established bilateral agreements. A Chinese satellite network controlling Iranian-designed drones is perfectly acceptable to the Russian authorities, as long as it can be used to target Ukrainians. (10/15)

Northrop Grumman Touts Space-Surveillance Experience as Space Force Opens In-Orbit Monitoring to New Competitors (Source: Space News)
Northrop Grumman is emphasizing its longstanding role in military space surveillance as the U.S. Space Force opens the in-orbit surveillance market to newer companies. The shift introduces competition in a mission area where established defense contractors bring experience, while new entrants seek a share of emerging government demand. (10/16)

NASA Develops Batteries to Power Humanity’s Return to Moon (Source: Douglas Messier)
NASA researchers are working to develop a battery that could function in the brutal cold of the Moon’s South Pole, where nighttime temperatures plunge to minus 328 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 200 Celsius). For future lunar operations, a battery will need to work immediately when warmed up and be able to power everything from an astronaut’s emergency kit to a rover capable of exploring the Moon’s darkest craters — all without posing a fire hazard. The project is called Solid Power for Extreme Environment Adaptability and Resilience in Space (SPEARS). (10/17)

Rescuing Astronomy From its Satellite Megaconstellation Crisis (Source: Space News)
As megaconstellations continue to proliferate into the hundreds of thousands of satellites in coming years, astronomers may find themselves backed into a corner as there are fewer and fewer "dark sky" sites to seek out. So, something else needs to be done, according Alan Stern, a planetary scientist, astronaut and former member of the U.S. National Science Board.

He advocates for a new wave of off-world astronomy, and specifically called for funding it by imposing taxes on megaconstellation operators in an attempt to offset the damage their light pollution would cause. "Let us, as both astronomers and members of the public, not try to stop the inevitable proliferation of satellite constellations," he wrote. "Instead, let’s work to find a new astronomical prosperity in that proliferation, by once again moving astronomy’s major ground-based research facilities to dark sky locales in space, paid for with a tiny fraction of the revenues the new satellite constellations will earn." (10/16)

Astronomer Leads Global Team on NASA Mission to Create Unprecedented View of the Early Universe (Source: Phys.org)
A University of Missouri astronomer is leading a team of 130 researchers from 62 institutions on an ambitious mission to capture an unprecedented view of the early universe. Haojing Yan heads the international team behind the Roman eXtreme Deep Field (RXDF), a project that will use NASA's newest flagship space observatory, the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, to create one of the deepest and widest views of the early universe ever made.

And NASA is giving Yan and the team 386 hours of observation time to do it. Their goal is to help answer one of astronomy's most fundamental questions: How did the universe evolve from its earliest moments into the vast collection of stars, galaxies and planets we see today? By looking billions of years into the past, the team expects to study thousands of early galaxies, exploding stars, giant black holes and other cosmic mysteries. (10/16)

Musk Approached Trump to Slow Down Starlink in Ukraine, Trump Denies (Sources: Telegraph, BBC)
Elon Musk approached Donald Trump with the idea of slowing down Starlink in Ukraine, The Telegraph can reveal. He approached the US president with the proposal to introduce speed limits on the system, which hampered Ukraine’s drone defenses, according to four sources familiar with the discussions. One of the sources said Mr Trump “agreed” with Mr Musk’s suggestion, paving the way for the Pentagon to execute the slowdown on Starshield, the military-grade version of the satellite communications system.

Mr. Musk had previously blamed Mr. Trump for the chaos, claiming any changes would have been decided by the US military and ultimately the president. Trump denied limiting Ukraine's access to Starlink's sister internet network Starshield after it restricted drone speed, hampering Kyiv's ability to protect itself from Russian attacks. "It wasn't me and I don't think it was [Starlink owner] Elon [Musk]," Trump said. (10/16)

After Pumping Hundreds of Millions into Texas Politics, State Considers Selling a Beloved State Park to Elon Musk’s SpaceX (Source: Texas Monthly)
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission has been discussing the sale of Boca Chica State Park, Texas Monthly has learned. The deliberations were far along enough that the commission planned to take up the sale of “1,300 acres” in Cameron County during a closed-door executive session at a meeting on November 5, two days after the election, according to a draft agenda of the commission meeting. Two sources familiar with internal discussions of the potential sale said SpaceX is the prospective buyer and confirmed that the 1,300-acre property in question is the beachfront state park, which is adjacent to Musk’s burgeoning Starbase facility.

Sources said the item could be taken up by the nine commissioners—all appointees of Governor Greg Abbott—after November 5. The move comes as Abbott, Ken Paxton, and other Texas Republicans face unusually close races, with polls showing Abbott’s opponent, Democrat Gina Hinojosa, within striking distance. Musk, the world’s richest man, has pumped a reported $158 million into a super PAC backing Paxton’s flailing campaign. Musk’s own super PAC is also instructing canvassers to tar Hinojosa over her record on transgender issues. (10/16)

Japan’s MMX Mission Aims to Swipe Soil Samples From Mars’ Moon Phobos (Source: The Conversation)
A Japanese space mission is about to launch towards Mars. But it will not land on the planet itself. Instead, the Martian Moons Exploration (MMX) mission will focus on Phobos, the bigger of Mars’s two small moons. The mission will lift off on Monday on an H3 rocket from the Tanegashima Space Center, in the south of Japan. MMX is led by the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (Jaxa), in collaboration with the US, France, Germany and the European Space Agency (Esa). The overall science objective is to unravel the origins of the two Martian moons, the smaller of which is called Deimos. Mission scientists also want to examine the wider evolution of Mars and its local environment in space. (10/16)

JAXA, Innovative Space Carrier Collaborate On Reusable Rocket Studies (Source: International Business Times)
Japan's space agency JAXA and Tokyo-based rocket developer ISC said they had begun joint work on reusable-rocket technology, combining test data and computer modeling to support the development of commercial space transportation services. The collaboration started in September under the JAXA Space Innovation through Partnership and Co-creation program, known as J-SPARC, which supports the creation of space-related businesses. Launched in May 2018, the program has undertaken about 60 projects and activities. The partners aim to enable more frequent, lower-cost transportation and broaden access beyond research organizations to users including universities and startups. (10/16)