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.
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.
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…
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."
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.
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!
This record is expected to only be held briefly as the first Vulcan Amazon LEO flight is expected to follow it shortly after with a whopping 25,200kg payload mass.
ULA is expecting to launch the USSF-87 mission prior to this though on February 2nd.
ULA is expecting to launch the USSF-87 mission prior to this though on February 2nd.
January 9, 2026 at 12:25 AM
This record is expected to only be held briefly as the first Vulcan Amazon LEO flight is expected to follow it shortly after with a whopping 25,200kg payload mass.
ULA is expecting to launch the USSF-87 mission prior to this though on February 2nd.
ULA is expecting to launch the USSF-87 mission prior to this though on February 2nd.
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.
A good look from Boeing today of the new strakes adorning the SLS Core Stage. These fins were added after Artemis I experienced unexpected airflow induced vibrations at the forward attachment point for the SRBs.
These smooth out the airflow around the point and reduce vibrations during launch.
These smooth out the airflow around the point and reduce vibrations during launch.
January 7, 2026 at 9:43 PM
A good look from Boeing today of the new strakes adorning the SLS Core Stage. These fins were added after Artemis I experienced unexpected airflow induced vibrations at the forward attachment point for the SRBs.
These smooth out the airflow around the point and reduce vibrations during launch.
These smooth out the airflow around the point and reduce vibrations during launch.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman has had his private jets put into a NASA livery and is now using them to give joyrides to members of the Trump family from Kennedy Space Center.
January 6, 2026 at 3:02 AM
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman has had his private jets put into a NASA livery and is now using them to give joyrides to members of the Trump family from Kennedy Space Center.
Yup! Although the schedule is pretty tight to hit the current February launch window, NASA is still well on track to fly the Artemis II mission this year. This is the first crewed flight test of SLS and Orion and will be used to evaluate both vehicles prior to operational Artemis missions.
January 1, 2026 at 6:57 PM
Yup! Although the schedule is pretty tight to hit the current February launch window, NASA is still well on track to fly the Artemis II mission this year. This is the first crewed flight test of SLS and Orion and will be used to evaluate both vehicles prior to operational Artemis missions.
My collection of obscure NASA LEGO grows...
December 31, 2025 at 6:31 PM
My collection of obscure NASA LEGO grows...
Just stumbled upon an INCREDIBLE shot of Apollo 10 blasting a hole in the clouds during its launch
December 31, 2025 at 4:51 AM
Just stumbled upon an INCREDIBLE shot of Apollo 10 blasting a hole in the clouds during its launch
BOOM 💥
FIRST EVER 10 MINUTE MILETIME LFG
1/4 mile warmup at 4mph
1 mile run at 6 mph
FIRST EVER 10 MINUTE MILETIME LFG
1/4 mile warmup at 4mph
1 mile run at 6 mph
December 23, 2025 at 5:04 AM
BOOM 💥
FIRST EVER 10 MINUTE MILETIME LFG
1/4 mile warmup at 4mph
1 mile run at 6 mph
FIRST EVER 10 MINUTE MILETIME LFG
1/4 mile warmup at 4mph
1 mile run at 6 mph
Not exactly what I would call a flawless flight…
December 23, 2025 at 1:19 AM
Not exactly what I would call a flawless flight…
The Exploration Upper Stage Structural Test Article is now well into production at the Michoud Assembly Facility ahead of a planned completion early next year.
This is the first EUS to be manufactured, and will be used for testing at the Marshall Spaceflight Center in Alabama.
This is the first EUS to be manufactured, and will be used for testing at the Marshall Spaceflight Center in Alabama.
December 18, 2025 at 8:39 PM
The Exploration Upper Stage Structural Test Article is now well into production at the Michoud Assembly Facility ahead of a planned completion early next year.
This is the first EUS to be manufactured, and will be used for testing at the Marshall Spaceflight Center in Alabama.
This is the first EUS to be manufactured, and will be used for testing at the Marshall Spaceflight Center in Alabama.
Atlas V punches through the clouds on its way to space
December 16, 2025 at 11:43 PM
Atlas V punches through the clouds on its way to space
As the holidays approach, the space coast has yet to slow down as ULA launches the LA-4 mission to orbit.
December 16, 2025 at 11:42 PM
As the holidays approach, the space coast has yet to slow down as ULA launches the LA-4 mission to orbit.
LETS FUCKING GO!!!!
Best run of my damn life today, 2:30 for 10 miles!!!!
Best run of my damn life today, 2:30 for 10 miles!!!!
December 13, 2025 at 3:13 PM
LETS FUCKING GO!!!!
Best run of my damn life today, 2:30 for 10 miles!!!!
Best run of my damn life today, 2:30 for 10 miles!!!!
I am refusing to put any serious work into this until January... but I'm starting to have ideas again and it's dangerous to leave them in my head for too long
Hopefully this one doesn't take two years lmao
Hopefully this one doesn't take two years lmao
December 11, 2025 at 7:14 AM
I am refusing to put any serious work into this until January... but I'm starting to have ideas again and it's dangerous to leave them in my head for too long
Hopefully this one doesn't take two years lmao
Hopefully this one doesn't take two years lmao