Space exploration
26 stories related to this topic, newest first.
NASA / Harrison H. Schmitt / Wikimedia (Public domain)NASA Releases Thousands of Photos from Artemis II Lunar Mission
NASA has released over 12,000 images from the Artemis II mission, which orbited the moon in April 2026. The photos capture views of Earth, the lunar surface, and a solar eclipse observed during the crew's return. Astronauts from the mission also visited the United Nations headqua…
forward.comPresident Releases Message Marking National Astronaut Day
The White House issued a presidential message on May 5, 2026, commemorating National Astronaut Day. The statement honors American astronauts and underscores the legacy of space exploration starting with Alan Shepard's 1961 flight.
Reid Wiseman/NASA / Wikimedia (Public domain)NASA Releases New Photos from Artemis II Mission Capturing Earth, Moon and Eclipse
NASA has released additional photographs from the Artemis II mission, depicting Earth and the Moon from space during the crew's journey and return. The images, taken in early April 2026, include views of the Earth passing behind the Moon and the Moon eclipsing the Sun. All 12,217…
U.S. Space Force photo by Staff Sgt. Joshua LeRoi / Wikimedia (Public domain)Firefly Aerospace Reports $81 Million Q1 Revenue and $1.3 Billion Backlog
Firefly Aerospace announced record revenue of $81 million for the first quarter of 2026, alongside a $1.3 billion backlog. The company highlighted wins in the Artemis program and defense sectors. It also provided an outlook for the full year during its earnings call.
app.buzzsumo.comAsteroid Apophis to Pass Within 20,000 Miles of Earth in 2029, NASA Says
An asteroid named Apophis will pass closer to Earth than many satellites on April 13, 2029, with no risk of impact, according to NASA. The object, classified as potentially hazardous, was discovered in 2004 and has been monitored since. Space agencies plan to study it during the…
ESO / Wikimedia (CC BY 4.0)Astronomers Identify 27 Potential Planets Orbiting Binary Star Systems
A new survey using NASA's TESS telescope has identified 27 potential circumbinary planets, which orbit two stars instead of one. Researchers developed a method to detect these planets by monitoring changes in binary star orbits and eclipse schedules. The findings suggest thousand…
ElshadK / Wikimedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)U.S. Imposes 25% Tariffs on EU Vehicles and Plans Withdrawal of 5,000 Troops from Germany
President Trump stated he will impose 25% tariffs on EU cars and trucks while withdrawing 5,000 troops from Germany amid tensions with Merz. Other recent developments include a humpback whale release in the North Sea and space experiments in France. Euronews reported these events…
goodnewsnetwork.orgArtemis II Astronaut Captures Lunar Images During Moon Orbit
An astronaut on the Artemis II mission took photographs while orbiting the Moon. The images were captured to provide unique shots for an individual named James. The mission has been completed.
app.buzzsumo.comArtemis II Crew Discusses Historic Lunar Mission and Record-Breaking Journey
The astronauts of NASA's Artemis II mission shared details of their recent loop around the moon, marking the farthest human travel from Earth. They described witnessing unique phenomena and conducting experiments on space radiation. The crew participated in interviews and a town…
nasa.govArtemis II Crew Returns Safely; Supreme Court Rules on Redistricting
The Artemis II mission concluded with a splashdown in April 2026, marking the farthest journey from Earth by humans and a step toward lunar return. One state enacted a new congressional map following a major Supreme Court ruling on redistricting this week. Philosopher Ben Bramble…
Substrate placeholder — needs review · Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)Artemis II Pilot Victor Glover Discusses Goals for Mars Missions
Artemis II pilot Victor Glover outlined his views on future space exploration, including the objective of sending astronauts to Mars. The Artemis II crew also commented on potential returns to space. These statements were made during a CBS News segment.
nasa.govNPR Covers NASA's Artemis II Mission
NPR has released a report on the Artemis II mission. The coverage was produced by science correspondent Nell Greenfieldboyce and Rob Schmitz. The report is available through various NPR platforms including podcasts and embeds.
thesouthafrican.comSpaceX Positions Falcon Heavy at Historic Launch Complex 39A, Indicating Imminent Launch
SpaceX has positioned its Falcon Heavy rocket at Launch Complex 39A, the site of past Apollo Moon missions. This move signals an upcoming launch, as rolling the rocket into the hangar typically precedes liftoff. Falcon Heavy remains the most powerful operational rocket in use tod…
Ars TechnicaCorrosion Found in Lunar Gateway Modules as NASA Pauses Program for Lunar Surface Focus
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman confirmed corrosion issues in the HALO and I-HAB modules of the Lunar Gateway during congressional testimony. The program has been paused to focus on lunar surface activities, with repairs underway on HALO. Stakeholders are exploring repurposing…
Science NewsNASA's SPHEREx Maps Water Ice Across Hundreds of Light-Years in Milky Way Stellar Nurseries
NASA's SPHEREx observatory has charted vast clouds of interstellar water ice in the Cygnus X and North American Nebula regions. The findings, reported in the April 20 Astrophysical Journal, confirm water's widespread presence in space. The maps are dozens of times wider than thos…
nasa.govNASA Unveils Fully Assembled Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope for Fall Launch
NASA has unveiled the fully assembled Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, marking a key milestone in its development as the agency's next-generation space observatory. The telescope completes a critical phase ahead of operational deployment. A launch is scheduled as early as this…
app.buzzsumo.comFormer Astronaut Charles Duke Reflects on Moon Walk Amid Recent Artemis II Mission
CBS News reported on space exploration, highlighting reflections from Charles Duke amid the Artemis II moon mission. Duke, a former NASA astronaut, became the youngest person to walk on the moon in 1972. He remains the youngest man to have achieved that feat.
Nbc NewsArtemis II Astronauts Share Experiences from Historic Lunar Flyby Mission
The four Artemis II astronauts held a press conference to discuss their 10-day mission around the moon, highlighting views of the lunar far side and a solar eclipse. They described emotional moments and the spacecraft's performance during reentry. The mission tested NASA's Orion…
app.buzzsumo.comNASA Releases New Footage from Artemis II Space Launch System
NASA has released new footage captured during the launch of the Artemis II mission's Space Launch System. The footage was obtained using cameras known as the Flight Imaging Launch Monitoring Real-time System. This release provides views from onboard the system.
nasa.govArtemis II Crew Encounters Technical Issues with Orion Capsule Toilet
An Artemis II astronaut detailed challenges faced by the crew during their mission on the Orion capsule. The issues included technical difficulties with the space toilet. This account highlights some of the operational troubles experienced in the spacecraft.
nasa.govNASA Artemis II Crew Praises Lockheed Martin Orion Capsule Performance
The crew of NASA's Artemis II mission expressed positive feedback on the Lockheed Martin-built Orion capsule. They noted its capability during the journey around the moon and back. The crew indicated that future astronauts would benefit from the vehicle's performance.
Substrate placeholder — needs review · Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)White House Announces NASA Plan for Nuclear Reactors on Moon and in Orbit
The White House has directed NASA to collaborate with the Departments of Defense and Energy on developing nuclear reactors for the moon's surface and orbit. The initiative aims to provide sustained power for future space missions. Technologies are targeted to produce at least 20…
Substrate placeholder — needs review · Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)White House Memorandum Outlines Plan for Space Nuclear Reactors by 2030
The White House has announced a plan to accelerate nuclear power development in space, including deployment of reactors on the moon and in orbit within the next decade. The initiative assigns roles and deadlines to federal agencies and builds on prior executive orders. OSTP Direc…
Substrate placeholder — needs review · Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)NASA Director of Flight Operations Announces New Era of Space Exploration
Norm Knight, NASA's Director of Flight Operations, stated that the agency is entering a new era of exploration. This includes returning to the moon and establishing a sustained presence there. Preparations are also underway for missions to Mars.
Substrate placeholder — needs review · Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)Artemis II Mission Draws Interest from Young People in Space Science
The Artemis II mission has generated attention among younger generations unfamiliar with the Apollo moon program. Most of the world's population was born after the Apollo era. The mission represents a new effort to return humans to the moon.
EuronewsSwiss Researchers Test ANYmal Robot for Autonomous Exploration on Moon and Mars
Researchers at the University of Basel have tested a four-legged robot named ANYmal in a simulated Mars and Moon environment. The robot performed autonomous missions to identify and analyze rocks, completing tasks in 12 to 23 minutes compared to 41 minutes for human operators.