Public Space, the news from government space agencies (16-20 June) – by Frederic Eger. – Photo credit: The Soyuz launch pad, Gagarin’s Start is seen prior to the rollout of the Soyuz TMA-13 spacecraft at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Friday, October 10, 2008 –
Bill Ingalls – NASA – Video credit: Roscosmos TV.

China (CNSA and Partners).
Shenzhou-20 Crew Activities: The three astronauts aboard the Tiangong Space Station—Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui, and Wang Jie—are in good health after over 50 days in orbit. They have been conducting extensive multidisciplinary space science experiments, including space medicine research on cognitive function, teamwork dynamics, vascular health, and fine motor skills in microgravity. These studies support safe operations for future complex space missions.

China-Europe Joint Mission SMILE.
This week, the development of in-orbit detectors for the Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE), a joint China-ESA mission, has been completed. SMILE is set to launch in 2025 from Kourou, French Guiana. It will study the interaction between solar wind and Earth’s magnetosphere, advancing understanding of space weather.
Deep Space Exploration Plans. This week, China unveiled ambitious missions including the Hongmeng/DSL project (a lunar orbit radio telescope array to study the universe’s Dark Ages), the Earth 2.0 exoplanet search mission, and the eXTP X-ray timing and polarimetry observatory. These projects involve international scientific cooperation and aim to explore fundamental astrophysical phenomena.

Tianwen-2 Mission Progress.

China’s asteroid sample-return mission Tianwen-2 is progressing well, having sent back its first photo as it travels toward the near-Earth quasi-moon asteroid Kamoʻoalewa. The spacecraft is over 3 million km from Earth and expected to reach the asteroid in July 2026 for detailed study and sample collection.

Space Station Operations and International Cooperation.
China’s Tiangong Space Station continues stable operation with ongoing scientific research and crewed missions. China signed an agreement with Pakistan for astronaut training and future joint missions aboard Tiangong, highlighting expanding international collaboration.

Military and Strategic Developments.
Analysts note that Tiangong also serves military purposes, with modules capable of deploying small interception satellites and space-based weapons. China plans to maintain Tiangong for at least a decade, positioning itself as the sole operator of a crewed orbital station after the planned deorbit of the ISS around 2030.

Russia (Roscosmos).
Alexey Zubritsky, a hairdresser on the International Space Station (ISS), is working on a new cargo ship at Baikonur, which is scheduled for launch in July. Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman cosmonaut in human history, made her flight aboard the Vostok 6 spacecraft in 1963, becoming the tenth cosmonaut and the only woman to fly into space alone. The Vostok-6 made 48 orbits around Earth in just under three days, and Tereshkova kept a logbook and took photographs of the Earth’s horizon, which were later used to detect aerosol layers in the atmosphere. A rocket for launching new “Ionosfera-M” satellites has been delivered to Vostochny, with the components of the Soyuz rocket and fairing panels for the launch of the Ionosphere-M No. 3, No. 4 spacecraft and accompanying payload arriving at the cosmodrome. The “Ionosfera-M” satellites create a global map of the ionosphere by evenly distributing measurements across the entire Earth, helping determine the most important parameters of space plasma and monitor changes in the ionosphere during solar flares and magnetic storms. The 70th anniversary of the cosmodrome, Baikonur, has been celebrated with photo exhibitions in Moscow parks, where visitors can learn about the history of Baikonur, see the Gagarin Gazebo, the launch of the Buran, rocket launches, and other archival photos of the famous cosmodrome. The most powerful liquid rocket engine in the world, RD-171MV, has been sent for assembly as part of the first stage of the rocket. A cargo plane with spacecraft has arrived at the Vostochny Cosmodrome airport, marking the first delivery of space equipment after the commissioning of the Vostochny airport complex. Roscosmos has signed agreements with the governments of the Ulyanovsk, Udmurt, Murmansk regions and the X5 Group, aiming to develop innovative activities, import substitution, high-tech industries, personnel potential, and a retail network in cities with the rocket and space industry.

USA (NASA and Partners).

PUNCH Mission Releases First Images.

NASA’s Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere. (PUNCH) mission released its first detailed images of coronal mass ejections, providing unprecedented 3D views of space weather phenomena in the inner solar system. This enhances understanding of how solar activity affects the heliosphere and Earth’s space environment.

X-59 Quiet Supersonic Demonstrator Milestone.

The NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center’s X-59 supersonic demonstrator aircraft passed a major safety and flight readiness review by the Airworthiness and Flight Safety Review Board. This is a key step toward its first flight, aiming to demonstrate low-noise supersonic travel over land.

LunaRecycle Challenge.

Phase 1 Winners Announced NASA recognized innovative concepts for recycling waste during lunar missions, including technologies that convert food packaging into 3D printing material, combine discarded foam with lunar dust to form composites, and transform thermoplastic waste into fabrics. These advances support sustainable lunar exploration.

ISS Operations and Axiom 4 Mission Preparations.

The upcoming Axiom 4 commercial crew mission to the ISS was postponed due to weather and a Falcon 9 liquid oxygen leak repair. NASA and Roscosmos teams continue to collaborate on ISS maintenance, including evaluating recent repairs to the Zvezda service module. Artemis II Mission Training Progress Astronauts Reid Wiseman and Christina Koch completed simulated ascent training for the Artemis II crewed lunar flyby mission planned for 2026. Joint emergency rescue exercises with Department of Defense teams in Florida also advanced mission readiness.

NASA+ Documentary “Cosmic Dawn” Premiered.

A new documentary chronicling the 25-year journey of the James Webb Space Telescope premiered on NASA+, YouTube, and select theaters, showcasing the telescope’s scientific milestones and agency-wide collaboration.

Student and STEM Outreach Activities.

NASA continued engaging students nationwide through STEM events, including prerecorded Q&A sessions with astronauts aboard the ISS and career exploration activities at NASA centers.

Budget and Organizational Updates.

The Trump-Vance Administration released toplines for the Fiscal Year 2026 budget, emphasizing accelerated human exploration of the Moon and Mars with a fiscally responsible mission portfolio. Acting NASA Administrator Janet Petro highlighted ongoing organizational streamlining and increased use of AI, amid workforce reductions.

US Space Technology Ecosystem and Startups.

NASA’s selection of Rocket Lab USA to launch the Aspera SmallSat mission earlier in 2025 reflects continued collaboration with commercial launch providers. NASA’s focus on sustainable lunar technologies and advanced spacecraft like the X-59 supports a growing market for innovative aerospace startups in propulsion, materials recycling, and autonomous systems.

Week Summary:

China’s Tiangong Space Station is in good health after over 50 days in orbit, conducting extensive space science experiments. The development of in-orbit detectors for the Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE) has been completed, set to launch in 2025. China unveiled ambitious missions including the Hongmeng/DSL project, Earth 2.0 exoplanet search mission, and the eXTP X-ray timing and polarimetry observatory. Tiangong also serves military purposes, with modules capable of deploying small interception satellites and space-based weapons. Russia’s Roscosmos is working on a new cargo ship, while NASA and Roscosmos teams are working on ISS maintenance. India is preparing for the Gaganyaan human spaceflight, declared as the “Gaganyaan Year” in 2025, with the maiden uncrewed mission and crewed missions expected by early 2027.

India (ISRO).
Ongoing Preparations for Gaganyaan Human Spaceflight.
ISRO continues intensive preparations for the Gaganyaan program, declared as the “Gaganyaan Year” in 2025 by ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan. The maiden uncrewed mission with the humanoid robot Vyommitra is scheduled for December 2025, with crewed missions expected by early 2027. This week, ISRO reaffirmed its commitment to completing remaining critical tests and validations for crew safety and mission success.

Space Docking Technology Demonstrated Earlier in 2025.

ISRO’s Space Docking Experiment (SpaDex) mission successfully demonstrated rendezvous, docking, and undocking of two small spacecraft in early 2025, making India the fourth country globally with this capability. This technology is vital for future lunar missions and the planned Bharatiya Antariksh Station (Indian space station).

Upcoming NISAR Satellite Launch in June 2025.

ISRO is gearing up for the launch of the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite aboard the GSLV-F16 rocket. NISAR will provide dual-band radar imaging for Earth observation, monitoring ecosystems, ice sheets, sea level rise, and natural hazards. This mission is a flagship example of international collaboration and advanced remote sensing.

Launches of EOS-09 and BlueBird Block-2 Satellites.

ISRO is preparing for the PSLV-C61 mission carrying EOS-09, an Earth observation satellite with C-band synthetic aperture radar for all-weather imaging, scheduled in this quarter. Additionally, the LVM3-M5 mission in July 2025 will launch BlueBird Block-2 satellites for AST SpaceMobile Inc. (USA), highlighting India’s expanding role in commercial satellite launches.

NavIC Navigation System Enhancements.

The second-generation NavIC satellites (NVS-01 and NVS-02) continue to improve India’s regional navigation capabilities, providing accurate positioning and timing services extending 1500 km beyond Indian borders. NVS-02 was launched successfully in January 2025, enhancing the system’s precision.

International Collaborations and Strategic Partnerships.

ISRO maintains strong collaborations with NASA (NISAR mission), ESA (astronaut training and microgravity research), JAXA (joint lunar studies), and CNES (thermal infrared imaging on TRISHNA mission). These partnerships strengthen India’s technological capabilities and global space diplomacy.

India’s Space Tech Ecosystem and Startups.

Private Sector Satellite Launches and Commercial Growth.

ISRO has launched 18 satellites developed by private companies and student teams, fostering a vibrant domestic space startup ecosystem. The upcoming commercial launch of BlueBird Block-2 satellites under NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) demonstrates growing private sector participation and India’s increasing footprint in the global commercial launch market.

Innovation in Space Robotics.

India’s first walking robotic arm, RRM-TD, onboard the POEM-4 platform, showcases indigenous development in space robotics. This inch-worm walking robotic manipulator enhances India’s capabilities in satellite servicing and space operations.

Strategic Vision for Space Economy Growth.

India aims to capture 8% of the global space market by 2033 and grow its space economy to $44 billion, driven by innovation, private sector involvement, and expanding launch capabilities.

 

European Union (ESA).

Collaboration on SMILE Mission.

ESA is collaborating with China on the SMILE mission, which is ready for launch in 2025. This joint mission exemplifies ongoing Sino-European cooperation in space science.

Scientific Instrument on Chang’e-6.

French scientists contributed the Detection of Outgassing RadoN (DORN) instrument for China’s Chang’e-6 lunar lander, demonstrating active Europe-China scientific partnerships.

— Frederic Eger.

About the Author.

Frederic Eger is an Israeli, Argentine and French independent journalist and filmmaker with almost three decades of experience in the media industries. He focuses on science, technology, space and global issues. Frederic holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from the Sorbonne and a certificate in producing from UCLA. He is a member of the several organizations, among them the Moon Society, the Mars Society, Icarus Interstellar… Albert Einstein, Michio Kaku or Theodore Herzl are among his models.