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Sam's News — space — 2026-09-02

Space Exploration

8.5 Falcon Heavy launches NASA Roman Space Telescope

SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket successfully launched NASA's Roman Space Telescope on August 30, 2026.

Sources: Space.com RSS Update to: NASA's Roman Space Telescope Launches Aboard SpaceX Falcon Heavy on August 30

Science

8 LUX-ZEPLIN experiment may have detected first direct evidence of dark matter

Scientists using the LUX-ZEPLIN detector may have identified the first direct evidence of dark matter through a rare interaction between a WIMP particle and ordinary matter.

Sources: Space.com RSS

Space

7.5 Blue Origin Wins NASA Contract for Mars Telecommunications Orbiter

Blue Origin awarded NASA contract to build a high-performance Mars telecommunications orbiter by December 31, 2028.

Sources: Engadget RSS, space & defense RSS

The European Space Agency found its long-lost Philae comet lander on the surface of Comet 67P on September 2, 2016, ending a two-year search.

Sources: Space.com RSS

7.5 NASA develops new Mars helicopter rotors that break the sound barrier

NASA has developed advanced rotor technology for its Mars helicopter that achieves supersonic speeds.

Sources: SciTechDaily RSS

7 BepiColombo spacecraft begin Mercury arrival phase September 3, available to watch live

The European-Japanese BepiColombo mission will commence its lengthy Mercury arrival sequence on September 3 with live coverage available.

Sources: Space.com RSS

6.5 NASA seeks sustained lunar presence

NASA is pursuing an ongoing human and robotic presence on the Moon.

Sources: Madison County Record RSS

6.5 President of the United States proposes U.S. Space Academy amid concerns over NASA-military boundaries

The president of the United States has proposed establishing a U.S. Space Academy, raising questions about potential blurring of civilian space agency and military roles.

Sources: theconversation.com RSS

Space Science

7 Ancient Supernova Explosions Recorded in Moon Dust Radioactive Isotopes

Scientists extracted a history of supernova explosions in our local cosmic region by analyzing radioactive isotopes found in moon dust samples.

Sources: Space.com RSS

Astrophysics

6.5 Early universe supermassive black holes may be smaller than previously thought

Supermassive black holes detected by the James Webb Space Telescope and considered anomalously large for the early universe may not be as massive as initial estimates suggested.

Sources: Space.com RSS