This Week in Space – January 11-17, 2026
🚀 International Space Station
NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 to Discuss Space Station Science Mission
After 167 days in space, the crew members of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 mission will hold a news conference to discuss their groundbreaking scientific research aboard the International Space Station, highlighting achievements in microgravity experiments and long-duration spaceflight.
Out of This World Discoveries: Space Station Research in 2025
As Earth completed its orbit around the Sun to close out 2025, the International Space Station continued its remarkable legacy of scientific discovery. This comprehensive review showcases the year’s most significant research achievements in microgravity, from medical breakthroughs to materials science innovations.
🌙 Artemis Program Updates
NASA’s Crawler Preps for Artemis II Rollout
NASA’s crawler-transporter 2 moves toward the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, preparing for the historic Artemis II rollout. This massive vehicle will transport the fully stacked Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft to the launch pad for humanity’s return to lunar orbit.
🔬 Breakthrough Discoveries
Cloud-9: A Failed Galaxy from the Early Universe
Astronomers have identified Cloud-9, the first-known starless, gas-rich, dark-matter-dominated cloud. This remarkable relic from the early universe contains abundant neutral hydrogen but no stars, providing a unique window into dark matter properties and suggesting many similar structures await discovery.
Earliest Ever Supernova Sheds Light on the First Stars
James Webb Space Telescope observations have revealed the earliest ever supernova, SN Eos, within a distant galaxy cluster. This ancient stellar explosion provides unprecedented insights into the first generation of stars and the early universe’s chemical evolution.
🔭 Hubble Observations
Hubble Spies Stellar Blast Setting Clouds Ablaze
The Hubble Space Telescope has captured dramatic imagery of a stellar explosion illuminating surrounding gas clouds, showcasing the dynamic and violent processes that shape stellar evolution and enrich the interstellar medium with heavy elements.
✈️ Aviation Innovation
NASA Develops Blockchain Technology to Enhance Air Travel Safety
In an era where data security is critical to aviation safety, NASA is pioneering blockchain technology applications to enhance air travel safety and security. This innovative approach promises to revolutionize how aviation data is stored, shared, and protected across the industry.
🌌 Planetary Defense
A New Hope: Vera C. Rubin Observatory Finding Fast-Spinning Asteroids
The Vera C. Rubin Observatory is proving exceptionally capable at finding fast-spinning asteroids. Early results from the Legacy Survey of Space and Time demonstrate the observatory’s potential to revolutionize near-Earth object detection and planetary defense efforts.
☀️ Space Weather Update
ARRL Solar Update: Moderate Activity Continues
Solar activity reached moderate levels on January 16, 2026, due to an M1.6 flare from a new active region on January 14. Continued monitoring reveals the Sun’s dynamic behavior as Solar Cycle 25 progresses, with implications for communications and satellite operations.
📸 Week in Images
ESA Week in Images: January 12-16, 2026
Discover this week through the lens with ESA’s curated collection of stunning imagery from Earth observation missions, space exploration, and astronomical discoveries, showcasing the beauty and science of our universe.
🌍 Astrobiology
Could Aliens and Fireflies Communicate in the Same Way?
Scientists explore the intriguing possibility that extraterrestrial civilizations might use bioluminescent communication methods similar to fireflies on Earth. This fascinating research examines universal principles of optical signaling that could transcend planetary boundaries.
Next Week Preview
Stay tuned for the Artemis II rollout progress, Crew-11 return preparations, continued discoveries from Webb and Hubble telescopes, and updates on planetary defense initiatives as the Vera C. Rubin Observatory begins full operations.