NASA and ESA facilities avoid major damage from wildfires in Spain
NASA and ESA facilities avoided major damage from wildfires in Spain; potential damage to be assessed when safe.
Monday, July 27, 2026
NASA and ESA facilities avoid major damage from wildfires in Spain — Monday, July 27, 2026
SpaceX completed Starship Flight 13 on July 24 with successful test objectives; NASA/ESA facilities in Spain avoided major wildfire damage; Expedition 74 crew including NASA astronaut Chris Williams scheduled to return from ISS on July 26. Recent activity in space includes continued progress on Starship testing and new funding for space‑tech ventures, alongside unresolved questions around NASA’s Artemis infrastructure and fresh exoplanet discoveries that challenge formation models.
Biggest developments
Russian Soyuz brings three home after 8 months at space station
NASA astronaut Chris Williams and two Russian cosmonauts to return to Earth from the ISS early Sunday morning (July 26).
SpaceX conducts 13th Starship test flight
SpaceX conducted its 13th Starship test flight on July 24, achieving key objectives before the ship concluded in the Indian Ocean.
Bullish takes
- DeltaVision raises 10.2 million euros to advance space-based Earth observation capabilities, signaling continued investor confidence in space tech startups[2].
- UK and Florida commit $300,000 to joint space projects, reflecting growing international collaboration and public‑sector backing for regional space ecosystems[2].
- SpaceX completes its 13th Starship test flight, indicating steady progress in maturing the vehicle for future orbital and deep‑space missions[2].
Critical takes
- GAO notes NASA has not yet terminated the Mobile Launcher 2 (ML2) contract and stopped work on it in February, highlighting programmatic uncertainty around Artemis infrastructure and SLS‑related spending[1].
- Reports indicate NASA has not yet decided what to do with ML2 as of April, raising questions about schedule and cost discipline for the Artemis program[1].
- The discovery of extremely low‑density Jupiter‑sized exoplanets challenges current models of planet formation, underscoring gaps in our understanding of how gas giants form and evolve[3].
Why this matters
Recent Starship progress supports Artemis timelines; crew rotations maintain ISS operations continuity.