NASA finalizes science plans for Artemis 2 lunar flyby
Original Publication Date: 2026-04-05 03:29
NASA’s science team is finalizing the observation plan for the Artemis 2 lunar flyby as the spacecraft approaches the Moon. At an April 4 briefing, officials confirmed they are working to lock in the specific experiments astronauts will conduct during the mission. The goal is to have the full plan ready by April 6, ensuring the crew can carry out targeted scientific measurements. This effort underscores NASA’s commitment to maximizing the scientific return from the Artemis 2 mission.
Atlas 5 launches Amazon Leo satellites
Original Publication Date: 2026-04-04 20:27
Amazon’s latest Atlas 5 launch lifted off at 1:46 a.m. From Cape Canaveral and deployed 29 Leo satellites, the most ever on a single Atlas mission, in just 37½ minutes. The launch added to Amazon’s growing fleet, bringing the total to 241 satellites already in orbit. However, the company still falls short of its FCC target of 1,616 satellites by July, prompting a request to extend or waive the deadline amid launch delays. Amazon plans to double its launch cadence to over 20 missions a year as new vehicles like New Glenn and Vulcan begin carrying up to 48 satellites each, accelerating the deployment of its 3,232‑satellite constellation.
Space Force budget would more than double in Trump’s $1.5 trillion defense plan
Original Publication Date: 2026-04-04 16:30
The Trump administration’s fiscal‑year 2027 defense budget calls for a $1.5 trillion, roughly 42% jump—its largest topline ever—pushing the U.S. Military toward an expanded on‑orbit missile‑defense focus. The Space Force would receive more than $71 billion, a $40 billion rise, with about $17 billion earmarked for the Golden Dome satellite‑based defense architecture. To achieve this, roughly $350 billion would be routed through budget reconciliation, sidestepping the usual 60‑vote hurdle and raising questions about congressional approval. The proposal signals a Pentagon shift that treats space as a core warfighting domain, but its success will hinge on lawmakers’ willingness to adopt reconciliation for such a massive spend.
NASA Answers Your Most Pressing Artemis II Questions
Original Publication Date: 2026-04-04 19:44
NASA’s Artemis II mission launched on April 1, sending four astronauts—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Canadian Jeremy Hansen—into a 10‑day orbit around the Moon aboard the Orion spacecraft. During the flight the crew will conduct a battery of tests on Orion’s life‑support, propulsion, power, thermal and navigation systems while also performing proximity operations and lunar observations, pushing the spacecraft to a record‑setting 252,757 miles from Earth—about 4,100 miles farther than Apollo 13. Live coverage and real‑time telemetry will stream from NASA’s YouTube channel and the Orion capsule, with daily briefings at Johnson Space Center, while the crew remains in constant conversation with mission control. The mission will conclude with a splashdown off the coast of San Diego on April 10, where recovery teams will retrieve the astronauts and begin post‑flight medical evaluations.
Illuminated in Orion
Original Publication Date: 2026-04-04 15:07
On the third day of the Artemis II mission, NASA and CSA astronauts Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen are preparing Orion’s cabin for a lunar flyby while exercising, practicing medical response procedures, and testing the spacecraft’s emergency communications system in deep space. The dimly lit capsule shows Koch reading a tablet, with Hansen peering out of a window as lights are turned off to avoid glare. The crew is also engaging the public through the Artemis blog and NASA’s 24/7 live feed. Stay tuned for updates as the mission progresses toward the Moon.
Orion Spacecraft Races Toward Historic Lunar Flyby in Artemis II Mission
Original Publication Date: 2026-04-04 21:57
NASA’s Artemis II, launched April 1, 2026, has entered its mid‑flight phase with the Orion capsule on a free‑return trajectory toward the Moon.
Dozens of hidden star streams found in the outskirts of our Milky Way galaxy
Original Publication Date: 2026-04-05 10:00
Astronomers have uncovered 87 new stellar streams in the Milky Way’s outskirts, more than quadrupling the number previously known, thanks to a new physics‑based algorithm applied to ESA’s Gaia data. These faint ribbons of stars, torn from surviving globular clusters, preserve the gravitational history of the galaxy and offer a fresh way to map its mass—including the elusive dark matter halo. Researchers noted that many of the streams are shorter, wider, or misaligned with their parent clusters, a feature that may have caused earlier searches to miss them. This expanded sample promises deeper insights into how our galaxy formed and how dark matter is distributed across it.
Artemis 2 astronauts — now halfway to the moon — report 'burning smell' from toilet, but everything's fine
Original Publication Date: 2026-04-04 18:30
NASA’s Artemis 2 crew, halfway to the moon, reported a burning odor from the Orion spacecraft’s toilet, but Mission Control said it was nothing to worry about. The smell, described as similar to a heater left on too long, was traced to the hygiene bay’s insulation and did not affect the crew’s ability to use the bathroom. Mission Control confirmed the issue is minor and the astronauts can continue normal operations. The crew remains on schedule for their lunar flyby on April 6.
Disclosure day: If ET made contact, how would we handle the news?
Original Publication Date: 2026-04-04 14:00
President Trump has ordered the U.S. Government to begin releasing classified files on UFOs and UAPs, sparking renewed interest in the mystery. That move comes just as Steven Spielberg’s new film “Disclosure Day” is slated for a June release, adding a cultural buzz to the debate. Historians and scientists warn that past declassifications have both reassured some and fueled suspicion, with many arguing that even open documents may conceal deeper secrets. Experts say the public appetite for disclosure will likely never be fully satisfied, and any new information could reshape our understanding of extraterrestrial phenomena.
An Artemis 2 astronaut took a 'bath' on camera on the way to the moon. Mission Control's reaction was priceless (video)
Original Publication Date: 2026-04-04 11:00
NASA’s Artemis 2 crew launched toward the Moon on April 1, and on April 3, astronaut Victor Glover slipped off his shirt and performed a “towel bath” on the live camera after a workout, prompting a brief feed cut and a playful response from Mission Control. The incident underscored that the Orion spacecraft has no showers, offering listeners a rare glimpse into daily astronaut life. Mission Control quickly restored the feed, noted the moment in the crew’s preference logs, and reassured the public about privacy. The ten‑day mission will return the crew to Earth on April 10 after a lunar loop.