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Mainstream coverage of space exploration, missions, and aerospace technology
Behind-the-Scenes Look at Preparations for Artemis II Launch
NASA is finalizing preparations for Artemis II, the first crewed lunar flyby in over 50 years. The Space Launch System and Orion capsule are undergoing last‑minute checks at Kennedy Space Center. The rocket is slated to roll out to Launch Pad 39B on Saturday, positioning the mission for a launch within weeks. Artemis II will carry four astronauts around the Moon, marking a pivotal step toward a sustainable lunar presence.
Astronauts Return From ISS After Medical Issue Cuts Mission Short
NASA’s Crew‑6 mission returned to Earth Thursday, splashing down off California a full two weeks ahead of schedule after a crew member developed a medical issue aboard the International Space Station. The early termination marked the first unplanned return of...
Why NASA Is Cutting the Current International Space Station Mission Short
NASA announced that the current International Space Station expedition will end more than a month early, bringing home four crew members ahead of schedule. The decision follows health concerns for one astronaut, who remains stable but would face increased risk...
Companies Compete to Develop Next Generation Lunar Rover for NASA
NASA is launching a competitive procurement for a next‑generation lunar rover slated for the Artemis 5 mission, targeted for 2030. Three aerospace firms have been shortlisted to design a vehicle capable of extended crew excursions, scientific payloads, and cargo transport on...
Artemis 2 Astronauts Rehearse Countdown for Upcoming Moon Launch
NASA’s Artemis 2 crew—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen—completed a full countdown rehearsal inside the Vehicle Assembly Building, strapping into Orion atop the SLS rocket. The test simulated launch‑day procedures and stopped just before zero, confirming crew‑in‑capsule integration....
German Engineer Becomes First Wheelchair User Launched Into Space
German aerospace engineer Sabine Müller became the first wheelchair‑bound person to travel to space, completing a ten‑minute sub‑orbital flight aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket. The mission, launched from West Texas, marked a historic accessibility milestone for commercial space tourism....
Jared Isaacman, Billionaire Who's Flown with SpaceX, Confirmed to Lead NASA
The Senate confirmed billionaire Jared Isaacman as NASA administrator in a 67‑to‑30 vote. Isaacman, a former SpaceX space‑tourist who has flown on commercial missions and performed a private citizen spacewalk, will lead the agency during a critical period. He pledged...
Interstellar Comet Is Making Its Closest Approach to Earth
A stray comet from another star, designated 3I/Atlas, will make its closest approach to Earth this week, passing within 167 million miles. Discovered in July by NASA’s Atlas telescope in Chile, the object is estimated to be between 1,444 feet and 3.5 miles...
"Wet Lava Ball" Exoplanet May Have an Atmosphere, Evidence Shows
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has identified the ultra‑hot super‑Earth TOI‑561b as a potential "wet lava ball" with a thick, volatile‑rich atmosphere. The planet, 1.4 times Earth’s size and orbiting its Sun‑like star every 11 hours, shows a dayside temperature...
NASA Says Maven Spacecraft that Was Orbiting Mars Has Gone Silent
NASA announced that the MAVEN spacecraft, orbiting Mars since 2014, went silent after emerging from a planetary occultation on Dec 6. The probe, which has been measuring atmospheric loss and serving as a communications relay for the Curiosity and Perseverance rovers,...