NASA Picks SpaceX to Launch New StarBurst Space Telescope

By Space.Fan Editorial DeskSeptember 17, 2026 at 8:37 PM UTC

A new satellite is getting ready to head into space to hunt for the biggest explosions in the universe.

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The Drop

NASA has officially chosen SpaceX to launch a special new mission called Burst. This project is a small satellite designed to look for powerful flashes of light known as gamma-ray bursts. These flashes happen when massive objects in space collide. The satellite will launch from Florida on a Falcon 9 rocket as part of a rideshare program that helps multiple missions get to space at once. By working with a commercial company like SpaceX, NASA can get its science tools into orbit more efficiently. Once in space, Burst will keep a constant watch for these sudden energy bursts. Scientists believe these events are often caused by s, which are the very dense cores of dead s that crash into each other. Capturing this data will provide a clearer picture of how these rare space collisions work.

Why It Matters

When two s crash together, they send out ripples in space called gravitational waves and release a burst of gamma-ray light. Scientists want to study these events to learn how heavy elements like gold and platinum are made in the universe. By watching for these gamma-ray bursts, researchers can connect the light they see with the gravitational ripples detected by other ground-based observatories.

The Catch

While the launch plan is confirmed, the mission is still in its preparation phase. The success of the science depends on the satellite successfully reaching its orbit and the sensitive instruments performing correctly in the harsh environment of space. Until the launch occurs and the telescope begins its work, the mission remains a goal for future exploration.

Put That in Perspective

Studying gamma-ray bursts has historically relied on telescopes that could only see a small part of the sky at one time. StarBurst is designed to monitor a much larger field of view, which improves the chances of catching these brief, fleeting events that appear randomly across the cosmos.

Source September 17, 2026

NASA