‘Shots on goal and win the game’: NASA’s effort to accelerate lunar landings
Original Publication Date: 2026-03-29 09:37
NASA unveiled a $20 billion, seven‑year plan to ramp up robotic lunar landers, targeting monthly missions to support a future lunar base.
Starfish Space finds a new partner for docking demonstration mission
Original Publication Date: 2026-03-28 20:28
Starfish Space has altered its Otter Pup 2 docking plan after the original partner withdrew. The June 2025 launch was originally set to dock with D‑Orbit’s ION vehicle, but that collaboration ended unexpectedly. Starfish has now secured a new docking partner, though it has not yet revealed the name, and expects to resume proximity operations and a docking attempt in the coming months. Meanwhile, the company has secured $52.5 million and $54.5 million contracts with the Space Development Agency and the U.S. Space Force for future servicing missions.
Artemis 2 astronauts arrive in Florida ahead of April 1 launch attempt
Original Publication Date: 2026-03-27 14:58
NASA’s Artemis 2 crew—Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen
Built by Thales Alenia Space for ESA’s Celeste mission, IOD-2 Satellite lifts off today from New Zealand
Original Publication Date: 2026-03-28 23:51
The first two satellites of the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Celeste mission—IOD-1 and IOD-2—successfully lifted off from Rocket Lab’s Launch. At 10:14 CET on March 28, 2026, the first two satellite of the Celeste mission successfully lifted off.
SpaceX to deliver 119 payloads to Sun-synchronous orbit on Transporter 16
Original Publication Date: 2026-03-28 23:48
SpaceX will launch 119 satellites on its Transporter‑16 rideshare mission from Vanden
Making Canadian history: Artemis 2 astronaut Jeremy Hansen is ready for his epic moon mission
Original Publication Date: 2026-03-29 10:00
Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, a former Royal Canadian Air Force pilot, is set to fly on NASA’s Artemis 2 mission, becoming the first Canadian to orbit the Moon. Selected in 2009, Hansen waited 14 years for a seat, contributing to ISS science and managing astronaut training before earning his spot through Canada’s Canadarm‑3 contribution. He will launch with NASA crew commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover and mission specialist Christina Koch, with a possible launch as early as April 1. Hansen says the mission underscores Canada’s earned place in deep‑space exploration and sets the stage for future lunar landings.
'It's all I think about': Artemis 2 commander Reid Wiseman is zeroed in on historic moon mission
Original Publication Date: 2026-03-29 10:00
Reid Wiseman, a retired Navy captain and NASA astronaut, is the commander of Artemis 2, the first crewed moon mission since Apollo 17, slated to launch no earlier than April 1, 2026. The 10‑day flight will carry four astronauts—Victor Glover, Christina Koch, Jeremy Hansen and Wiseman himself—around the Moon before returning to Earth, marking milestones such as Glover becoming the first Black astronaut to leave low‑Earth orbit and Koch the first woman to do so. Wiseman, who has served as NASA’s chief astronaut and flown a long‑duration ISS mission, stresses that the crew’s preparation hinges on mastering three critical burns, including translunar injection, while acknowledging the high speeds, 250,000‑mile distance and 45‑minute communication blackout the crew will face. He also shares that his personal experience as an only parent has shaped his perspective on risk and the value of human exploration.
'We work for them, too': Artemis 2 moon mission is for everyone, NASA astronaut Victor Glover says (video)
Original Publication Date: 2026-03-29 10:00
NASA astronaut Victor Glover said the Artemis 2 moon mission is for everyone, hoping to reach people who normally ignore space exploration. He will become the first Black astronaut to leave low Earth orbit when Artemis 2 launches no earlier than April 1, 2026, after extensive training and experience as a pilot and test pilot. Glover stressed the importance of teamwork and unity, noting that the crew must resolve differences and work together to succeed. The 10‑day flight will loop around the moon before returning, with future Artemis missions aiming to land astronauts on the lunar surface by 2028.
'An incredible privilege and responsibility': Artemis 2's Christina Koch is ready to become the 1st woman to fly around the moon
Also covered by: Space.com
Original Publication Date: 2026-03-29 10:00
NASA’s Artemis 2 crew—Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialists Christina Koch and Canadian Jeremy Hansen—will be the first humans in decades to leave low‑Earth orbit, launching no earlier than April 1, 2026. Over a 10‑day flight the team will test the Orion spacecraft in Earth orbit, slingshot around the Moon, and return, paving the way for the first crewed lunar landing in 2028. The mission marks several firsts: Glover becomes the first Black astronaut to exit LEO, Koch the first woman to travel beyond LEO, and Hansen the first non‑American to do so, while the crew’s cohesion and rigorous training underscore the collaborative effort behind humanity’s return to the Moon.