Sam's News — space — 2026-09-10¶

Space¶

7.5 Blue Origin Wins $700M NASA Contract to Establish Communications Infrastructure on Mars¶

Blue Origin has secured a $700 million NASA contract to establish telecommunications infrastructure on Mars.

Sources: Data Center Dynamics RSS Update to: Blue Origin Wins $700 Million NASA Contract for Mars Communications Network

7 NASA and IBM Launch Lunar Foundation Model for Moon Science¶

NASA and IBM have partnered to create the Lunar Foundation Model, an AI system designed to process decades of lunar data for improved surface mapping.

Sources: IBM Research RSS, NASA Science (.gov) RSS, Engadget RSS, Live Science RSS

6.5 Artemis II Moonshot Commander and Pilot Retire from NASA Astronaut Corps¶

The commander and pilot assigned to NASA's Artemis II crewed lunar mission are stepping down from their astronaut roles.

Sources: Decatur Daily RSS Update to: Artemis II commander and pilot retire from NASA astronaut corps

5.5 Mercury Shrinking Faster Than Previously Predicted, Reveals Surface Wrinkles¶

New observations of Mercury's surface wrinkles indicate the planet is shrinking at a faster rate than scientists previously thought.

Sources: Space.com RSS

5.5 NASA seeks radioisotope power systems for lunar missions¶

NASA is soliciting radioisotope-based power generation systems for use in lunar exploration missions.

Sources: American Nuclear Society RSS

5 LINK Spacecraft Approaches NASA's Swift Observatory But Cannot Save It¶

The LINK spacecraft maneuvered close to NASA's Swift Observatory but was unable to extend its operational life.

Sources: Space RSS

4 NASA launches GRAIL probes to map lunar gravity (September 10, 2011)¶

NASA launched the GRAIL spacecraft on September 10, 2011, to map the Moon's gravitational field.

Sources: Space.com RSS, space.com RSS

4 NASA and NFL collaborate on space and aeronautics showcase¶

NASA partners with an NFL team to demonstrate space exploration and aeronautics innovation.

Sources: NASA (.gov) RSS

Cosmology¶

7 Dark energy may be evolving, supernova catalog suggests¶

Analysis of nearly 3,000 type Ia supernovae indicates dark energy may be changing over time rather than remaining constant.

Sources: Space.com RSS

Astronomy¶

4.5 The Summer Triangle: three bright stars and the mystery of seasonal visibility¶

The Summer Triangle asterism of Vega, Altair, and Deneb dominates the night sky well into autumn, despite being named for summer.

Sources: Space.com RSS