Derek Newsome
@derek.space
Independent spaceflight reporter and photographer.
derek.space
derekspace.com
He/Him
derek.space
derekspace.com
He/Him
It's pretty easy to forget how many people are a part of a program like this, but yesterday standing with so many who built this machine was a hell of a reminder.
January 18, 2026 at 8:21 PM
It's pretty easy to forget how many people are a part of a program like this, but yesterday standing with so many who built this machine was a hell of a reminder.
So I have used derek.space as my handle on instagram for ages and always wanted it for my website domain, but someone had been sitting on it for years and wanted thousands for it, and frankly it wasn't worth spending that much on it.
Guess what finally happened 😎
Guess what finally happened 😎
January 18, 2026 at 7:09 PM
So I have used derek.space as my handle on instagram for ages and always wanted it for my website domain, but someone had been sitting on it for years and wanted thousands for it, and frankly it wasn't worth spending that much on it.
Guess what finally happened 😎
Guess what finally happened 😎
Artemis II is now fully hard down at Launch Complex 39B.
Crawler Transporter 2 departed about 2 hours ago from the launch pad, allowing workers to continue hookups and closeouts of the Mobile Launcher on the launch pad.
Crawler Transporter 2 departed about 2 hours ago from the launch pad, allowing workers to continue hookups and closeouts of the Mobile Launcher on the launch pad.
January 18, 2026 at 4:02 AM
Artemis II is now fully hard down at Launch Complex 39B.
Crawler Transporter 2 departed about 2 hours ago from the launch pad, allowing workers to continue hookups and closeouts of the Mobile Launcher on the launch pad.
Crawler Transporter 2 departed about 2 hours ago from the launch pad, allowing workers to continue hookups and closeouts of the Mobile Launcher on the launch pad.
There have been five years in our history where a rocket that would carry humans to the Moon stood on a launch pad.
1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972
But now, there are six.
1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972
But now, there are six.
January 17, 2026 at 11:32 PM
There have been five years in our history where a rocket that would carry humans to the Moon stood on a launch pad.
1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972
But now, there are six.
1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972
But now, there are six.
The rollout of Artemis II to Launch Complex 39B is just about over, as the Crawler Transporter is carefully lowering the nearly 15 million pound ML1 and SLS combo on the the pedestals at the pad.
Hard mate is expected to be completed overnight ahead of initial vehicle powerup tomorrow afternoon.
Hard mate is expected to be completed overnight ahead of initial vehicle powerup tomorrow afternoon.
January 17, 2026 at 10:53 PM
The rollout of Artemis II to Launch Complex 39B is just about over, as the Crawler Transporter is carefully lowering the nearly 15 million pound ML1 and SLS combo on the the pedestals at the pad.
Hard mate is expected to be completed overnight ahead of initial vehicle powerup tomorrow afternoon.
Hard mate is expected to be completed overnight ahead of initial vehicle powerup tomorrow afternoon.
Always a bit unbelievable to see hardware up close like this…
January 17, 2026 at 4:12 PM
Always a bit unbelievable to see hardware up close like this…
Absolutely blown away to see Artemis The First Flight has hit 50 *THOUSAND* views this week.
Felt amazing to see just a hundred or so people see it in the first day, can't believe the support that this little project has gotten.
Thank you all so much :)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiU-...
Felt amazing to see just a hundred or so people see it in the first day, can't believe the support that this little project has gotten.
Thank you all so much :)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiU-...
Artemis The First Flight
YouTube video by Derek Newsome
www.youtube.com
January 16, 2026 at 6:55 PM
Absolutely blown away to see Artemis The First Flight has hit 50 *THOUSAND* views this week.
Felt amazing to see just a hundred or so people see it in the first day, can't believe the support that this little project has gotten.
Thank you all so much :)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiU-...
Felt amazing to see just a hundred or so people see it in the first day, can't believe the support that this little project has gotten.
Thank you all so much :)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiU-...
A year ago this morning, Blue Origin's New Glenn lifted off for the first time.
The massive rocket flew a near perfect debut, orbiting the upper stage and a pathfinder vehicle for the Blue Ring spacecraft.
📸 by me
The massive rocket flew a near perfect debut, orbiting the upper stage and a pathfinder vehicle for the Blue Ring spacecraft.
📸 by me
January 16, 2026 at 5:44 PM
A year ago this morning, Blue Origin's New Glenn lifted off for the first time.
The massive rocket flew a near perfect debut, orbiting the upper stage and a pathfinder vehicle for the Blue Ring spacecraft.
📸 by me
The massive rocket flew a near perfect debut, orbiting the upper stage and a pathfinder vehicle for the Blue Ring spacecraft.
📸 by me
You know, with Artemis II gearing up to fly in the next few weeks/months, I cant help but think back to this article which came out two days after Starship exploded around 7 minutes into flight.
"On just its second flight, Starship now is arguably as successful as NASA’s SLS rocket."
"On just its second flight, Starship now is arguably as successful as NASA’s SLS rocket."
January 15, 2026 at 9:01 PM
You know, with Artemis II gearing up to fly in the next few weeks/months, I cant help but think back to this article which came out two days after Starship exploded around 7 minutes into flight.
"On just its second flight, Starship now is arguably as successful as NASA’s SLS rocket."
"On just its second flight, Starship now is arguably as successful as NASA’s SLS rocket."
NASA's Crew 11 Mission returned home this morning after a medical issue with one of the crew members saw the mission ended early.
Read More:
derekspace.news/2026/01/15/i...
Read More:
derekspace.news/2026/01/15/i...
ISS Crew Returns Home Safely After Medical Issue
The Crew-11 Astronauts at Kennedy Space Center prior to their launchImage Credit: Derek Newsome NASA’s Crew 11 mission is back on the ground a few weeks early, after one of the crew members h…
derekspace.news
January 15, 2026 at 7:44 PM
NASA's Crew 11 Mission returned home this morning after a medical issue with one of the crew members saw the mission ended early.
Read More:
derekspace.news/2026/01/15/i...
Read More:
derekspace.news/2026/01/15/i...
Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp shared this photo today of the completed Blue Moon Mk1 lander. The spacecraft has undergone direct field acoustic testing here at Cape Canaveral, before shipping off to Johnson Space Center for Thermal Vacuum testing.
January 15, 2026 at 5:38 PM
Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp shared this photo today of the completed Blue Moon Mk1 lander. The spacecraft has undergone direct field acoustic testing here at Cape Canaveral, before shipping off to Johnson Space Center for Thermal Vacuum testing.
Yeah so this is a crazy powerful tool.
This is only about 2 hours of work to do this effect of the livery appearing onto the racecar.
Im gonna have so much fun with this.
This is only about 2 hours of work to do this effect of the livery appearing onto the racecar.
Im gonna have so much fun with this.
January 15, 2026 at 4:47 AM
Yeah so this is a crazy powerful tool.
This is only about 2 hours of work to do this effect of the livery appearing onto the racecar.
Im gonna have so much fun with this.
This is only about 2 hours of work to do this effect of the livery appearing onto the racecar.
Im gonna have so much fun with this.
I am starting to understand how Fusion works in DaVinci Resolve.
This is incredibly dangerous for my free time
This is incredibly dangerous for my free time
January 14, 2026 at 10:10 PM
I am starting to understand how Fusion works in DaVinci Resolve.
This is incredibly dangerous for my free time
This is incredibly dangerous for my free time
I have been looking into doing my own independent reporting on spaceflight after a slow year for photography work.
Today I am proud to announce the launching of derekspace.news with our first article!
My first look is a glimpse into the tumultuous 2025 ULA had and their plans for a bigger 2026.
Today I am proud to announce the launching of derekspace.news with our first article!
My first look is a glimpse into the tumultuous 2025 ULA had and their plans for a bigger 2026.
ULA looking to bounce back after disappointing 2025
Vulcan Centaur lifting off from Space Launch Complex 41 during the Cert-2 missionImage Credit : Derek Newsome As the end of 2024 approached ULA was optimistic for their upcoming 2025 launch campaig…
derekspace.news
January 12, 2026 at 8:25 PM
I have been looking into doing my own independent reporting on spaceflight after a slow year for photography work.
Today I am proud to announce the launching of derekspace.news with our first article!
My first look is a glimpse into the tumultuous 2025 ULA had and their plans for a bigger 2026.
Today I am proud to announce the launching of derekspace.news with our first article!
My first look is a glimpse into the tumultuous 2025 ULA had and their plans for a bigger 2026.
Having had my moments where there is a sudden and tight window to get an incredible photo, I cant even imagine how it felt looking at the photos afterwards and seeing that they nailed it.
i believe the photographer who is taking the photo is Christopher Katsarov of the Canadian Press, and here is his photo
January 11, 2026 at 11:24 PM
Having had my moments where there is a sudden and tight window to get an incredible photo, I cant even imagine how it felt looking at the photos afterwards and seeing that they nailed it.
Got to use the new Z Flip yesterday for a bit.
It is *wild* how much better a foldable phone is now than it was just a few years ago. Genuinely a frontrunner for my next phone now.
It is *wild* how much better a foldable phone is now than it was just a few years ago. Genuinely a frontrunner for my next phone now.
January 11, 2026 at 1:04 AM
Got to use the new Z Flip yesterday for a bit.
It is *wild* how much better a foldable phone is now than it was just a few years ago. Genuinely a frontrunner for my next phone now.
It is *wild* how much better a foldable phone is now than it was just a few years ago. Genuinely a frontrunner for my next phone now.
NASA has released the available launch dates for Artemis II in February, March, and April.
There are more windows past April available (monthly effectively) but these are the primary windows.
There are more windows past April available (monthly effectively) but these are the primary windows.
January 10, 2026 at 12:21 AM
NASA has released the available launch dates for Artemis II in February, March, and April.
There are more windows past April available (monthly effectively) but these are the primary windows.
There are more windows past April available (monthly effectively) but these are the primary windows.
It was mildly concerning to drive up to Titusville and see thick black smoke coming from Kennedy Space Center.
Good news though is it is just a control burn for normal land management!
Good news though is it is just a control burn for normal land management!
January 9, 2026 at 8:50 PM
It was mildly concerning to drive up to Titusville and see thick black smoke coming from Kennedy Space Center.
Good news though is it is just a control burn for normal land management!
Good news though is it is just a control burn for normal land management!
Amazon is preparing for their first flight with Arianespace in early February.
This will be the first flight of Ariane 6 with all four SRBs and will also be the heaviest commercial payload ever launched at over 18,250 kg.
This will be the first flight of Ariane 6 with all four SRBs and will also be the heaviest commercial payload ever launched at over 18,250 kg.
January 9, 2026 at 12:25 AM
Amazon is preparing for their first flight with Arianespace in early February.
This will be the first flight of Ariane 6 with all four SRBs and will also be the heaviest commercial payload ever launched at over 18,250 kg.
This will be the first flight of Ariane 6 with all four SRBs and will also be the heaviest commercial payload ever launched at over 18,250 kg.
Earlier this week I rewatched the F1 movie and was wondering if I could recreate the opening title sequence using only iRacing.
Turns out I can get pretty close!
youtu.be/MpZP29I1TbA?...
Turns out I can get pretty close!
youtu.be/MpZP29I1TbA?...
F1 Movie Opening Credits in iRacing
YouTube video by Derek Newsome
youtu.be
January 8, 2026 at 11:52 PM
Earlier this week I rewatched the F1 movie and was wondering if I could recreate the opening title sequence using only iRacing.
Turns out I can get pretty close!
youtu.be/MpZP29I1TbA?...
Turns out I can get pretty close!
youtu.be/MpZP29I1TbA?...
Confirmation that Crew-11 will be returning home as soon as reasonable.
Recovery assets are stationed in California to support a splashdown and recovery.
The Crew-12 launch is looking to be accelerated to early February.
Recovery assets are stationed in California to support a splashdown and recovery.
The Crew-12 launch is looking to be accelerated to early February.
January 8, 2026 at 10:08 PM
Confirmation that Crew-11 will be returning home as soon as reasonable.
Recovery assets are stationed in California to support a splashdown and recovery.
The Crew-12 launch is looking to be accelerated to early February.
Recovery assets are stationed in California to support a splashdown and recovery.
The Crew-12 launch is looking to be accelerated to early February.
NASA briefing to update on the Crew-11 situation.
Given the movement of recovery assets to California earlier today, I expect them to be returning early.
www.youtube.com/live/ffcV3jC...
Given the movement of recovery assets to California earlier today, I expect them to be returning early.
www.youtube.com/live/ffcV3jC...
January 8, 2026 at 10:01 PM
NASA briefing to update on the Crew-11 situation.
Given the movement of recovery assets to California earlier today, I expect them to be returning early.
www.youtube.com/live/ffcV3jC...
Given the movement of recovery assets to California earlier today, I expect them to be returning early.
www.youtube.com/live/ffcV3jC...
Keeping a close eye on Crew-11 as a medical situation has developed with one of the crew members that canceled tomorrows planned EVA.
NASA is currently evaluating potentially ending the mission early to return the member to Earth.
IMPORTANT: The Crew member is in stable condition at this time.
NASA is currently evaluating potentially ending the mission early to return the member to Earth.
IMPORTANT: The Crew member is in stable condition at this time.
January 8, 2026 at 5:33 AM
Keeping a close eye on Crew-11 as a medical situation has developed with one of the crew members that canceled tomorrows planned EVA.
NASA is currently evaluating potentially ending the mission early to return the member to Earth.
IMPORTANT: The Crew member is in stable condition at this time.
NASA is currently evaluating potentially ending the mission early to return the member to Earth.
IMPORTANT: The Crew member is in stable condition at this time.