WaperSpace & Astronomy Watch: Week of October 5, 2026
Overview
This week brought a mix of commercial station planning, crew return, reentry technology testing, and solar and planetary science. NASA moved its commercial low Earth orbit plans forward with a final call for proposals, while a crewed mission ended safely in the Pacific. Science results from ESA missions also advanced understanding of the Sun and Mars.
Key developments
NASA released its final Request for Proposals on 2026-10-09, inviting US industry to submit plans for next-generation commercial space stations in low Earth orbit.
SpaceX Crew-12 splashed down off California on 2026-10-08, returning NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, ESA's Sophie Adenot and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev aboard Crew Dragon Freedom.
NASA flew 12 small experimental capsules on Northrop Grumman's 24th cargo resupply mission, releasing them after undocking to test heat shields for Moon and Mars returns, as reported on 2026-10-09.
ESA's Solar Orbiter flew through an S-shaped magnetic switchback and traced its particles back to the Sun's surface, per 2026-10-09 items.
Mars Express and a weather model suggested exotic physics behind Mars's strangest cloud, also reported on 2026-10-09.
What to watch
How US industry responds to NASA's final RFP for commercial space stations, and what proposals emerge.
Results from the 12 heat-shield capsules released after the cargo mission's undocking, which could inform future Moon and Mars return designs.
Further analysis of Solar Orbiter's switchback data and Mars Express's cloud findings as scientists refine their models.