A Russian cosmonaut has been removed from an upcoming SpaceX mission to the International Space Station after reportedly mishandling sensitive technical materials during training in the United States. The investigative outlet The Insider reported that Oleg Artemyev, a veteran cosmonaut, allegedly photographed and removed restricted documents at SpaceX’s training facility in Hawthorne, California. Space industry analyst Georgy Trishkin told The Insider that an interagency investigation was launched in response to the incident. A popular space industry Telegram channel, Yura Prosti, separately claimed that Artemyev had been taken off the mission last week after photographing SpaceX engines and other materials controlled under U.S. export laws. “It’s hard to imagine an experienced cosmonaut making such a serious mistake unintentionally,” Trishkin told The Insider.

ESA Faces Criminal Inquiry Over Alleged 500GB Data Breach by Scattered Lapsus$ Hunters The European Space Agency (ESA) is set to launch a criminal investigation following claims by the hacking group Scattered Lapsus$ Hunters that they exfiltrated 500GB of sensitive data from its servers in September. The breach, reportedly exploiting an unpatched vulnerability, has raised concerns over the exposure of critical space program information. While ESA has not confirmed the attackers’ assertions, leaked data samples shared by the group include internal files from major contractors such as Airbus Group, SpaceX, Teledyne, Deimos Imaging, Thales Alenia Space, and SkyLabs. The compromised data allegedly contains operational procedures, details on Earth Observation satellite constellations, system capabilities, security protocols, and mission-specific files related to ESA’s space programs. This incident follows ESA’s recent acknowledgment of a separate breach involving external servers, where over 200GB of purportedly stolen data was leaked on BreachForums. The full scope and impact of the breach remain under scrutiny as authorities prepare to investigate.

Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX, made a questionable social media post that was interpreted as potentially inciting political violence, possibly seen as a threat towards the US President and Vice President. Although he later clarified it was an attempt at humor, the tweet may attract federal law enforcement attention due to the severity of its implications. SpaceX, with its intensive dealings and contracts with the US Department of Defense and NASA, risks not only reputational damage but also heightened scrutiny and possible sanctions. This controversy could undermine public and governmental trust, potentially impacting the company's lucrative defense contracts and its role in critical national security operations.