SpaceX just launched the 1st-ever nuclear-powered commercial satellite

A satellite aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-17 rideshare mission is the first commercially designed and operated spacecraft to harness nuclear energy in orbit.

Even astronauts in space saw America 250 fireworks on the Fourth of July. See their ISS view of Los Angeles (video)

The U.S. just celebrated its 250th birthday, and the Americans living off the planet had a great view of some of the parties down below.

SpaceX launches 81 satellites to orbit from California, lands rocket on ship at sea
SpaceX launches 81 satellites to orbit from California, lands rocket on ship at sea

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched 81 payloads to orbit from California early Tuesday morning (July 7), then landed on a ship at sea.

Unidentified metal spheres found on Australian beach are ‘debris from a foreign rocket body’, space agency says

The Australian Space Agency is warning residents of Queensland to be on the lookout after metallic-looking spheres, possibly space debris, appeared on a beach.

Japan’s Hayabusa2 probe captures remarkable photo of a two-headed asteroid 62 million miles away
Japan’s Hayabusa2 probe captures remarkable photo of a two-headed asteroid 62 million miles away

Japan’s Hayabusa2 asteroid probe got up close to asteroid Torifune on July 5 and captured stunning new images of the double-lobed space rock.

Artemis moon astronauts visit Capitol Hill | Space photo of the day for July 6, 2026
Artemis moon astronauts visit Capitol Hill | Space photo of the day for July 6, 2026

Following their return to Earth from a 10-day journey around the moon and back in April, NASA’s Artemis II astronauts headed to Capitol Hill.

NASA will have to find a way to service its new alien-hunting space telescope
NASA will have to find a way to service its new alien-hunting space telescope

We could see robots working on NASA’s Habitable Worlds Observatory out in space.

NASA tests advanced new Mars rover prototype in the California desert (video)
NASA tests advanced new Mars rover prototype in the California desert (video)

A new rover prototype is teaching NASA scientists how to design robots that can think for themselves and navigate terrain that would leave old rovers stuck in the lunar or Martian dust.

America 250: From 1776 to the moon and beyond (A Space.com series)
America 250: From 1776 to the moon and beyond (A Space.com series)

As the United States celebrates its 250th birthday, our Space.com team took a look back at American advances in space since 1776, and where we might be headed.

Could humans someday explore Saturn’s moon Titan, or will humanoid robots do it for us?
Could humans someday explore Saturn’s moon Titan, or will humanoid robots do it for us?

Could humans ever set foot on Titan, or will AI-powered humanoid robots make the voyage instead?