Weekly brief · Thursday, November 5, 2026
The day’s stories at a glance
Written 11:19 AM ET
NASA’s Lucy spacecraft has entered the Jupiter Trojan asteroid region after more than five years in flight, with its first close encounter set for August 2027. Four volunteers finished 378 days inside NASA’s CHAPEA Mars habitat simulation in Houston and began post-mission evaluations. Northwood Space closed a $375 million Series C to expand its modular satellite ground network, with TechCrunch putting the company’s value at $2 billion. NASA unveiled the crewed X-70 Fractal research aircraft and expects a first flight within two years. Swift fell to Earth over Sumatra on Nov. 4 after a commercial rescue attempt ended without raising its orbit.
The stories
Science
Swift observatory falls to Earth over Sumatra after rescue plan ends
NASA's gamma-ray burst hunter came down uncontrolled almost 22 years after launch, months after a commercial robotic tug was unable to raise its orbit.
Technology
NASA's new crewed X-plane will test reconfigurable flight controls
The agency expects the subsonic research aircraft, so far shown in a generated image, to fly within two years.
Business
Satellite ground network startup lands $375 million to expand
The Torrance, California, company builds modular antennas that let satellite operators rent shared ground capacity.
Human Spaceflight
Volunteers leave NASA's simulated Mars habitat after 378 days
Four crew members spent more than a year in a 3D-printed Houston facility, coping with delayed messages and scarce supplies.
Science
Lucy arrives among Jupiter's Trojan asteroids after five-year cruise
The spacecraft is closing in on a swarm of asteroids that share the giant planet's orbit, with its first close look planned for next August.