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NASA Spaceflight • Justin Davenport

NASA and Astrobotic pick lunar south pole site for VIPER and Griffin ahead of Artemis human landings

NASA and commercial partner Astrobotic have selected a site on the Moon’s south pole for the VIPER rover and Astrobotic’s Griffin lander, marking a coordinated robotic reconnaissance ahead of planned Artemis human missions. The designation focuses science on volatile‑rich terrain close to proposed Artemis 4 touchdown zones.

2026-04-03T16:12:35.997218-07:00

SpaceNews.com

White House requests $18.8B for NASA in FY2027, proposing 23% agency cut and deep science reductions

2026-04-03T08:38:02.850876-07:00

Space.com

Artemis II Flight Day 3: Crew Prepares First Trajectory Correction Burn and Historic Lunar Observations

2026-04-03T04:18:42.562483-07:00

Ars Technica

Artemis II heads to the Moon after successful translunar injection burn

2026-04-02T10:01:14.506330-07:00

News Timeline

NASA Spaceflight

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NASA and Astrobotic pick lunar south pole site for VIPER and Griffin ahead of Artemis human landings NASA and commercial partner Astrobotic have selected a site on the Moon’s south pole for the VIPER rover and Astrobotic’s Griffin lander, marking a coordinated robotic reconnaissance ahead of planned Artemis human missions. The designation focuses science on volatile‑rich terrain close to proposed Artemis 4 touchdown zones.

2026-04-03T16:12:35.997218-07:00

NASA and Astrobotic pick lunar south pole site for VIPER and Griffin ahead of Artemis human landings

SpaceNews.com

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White House requests $18.8B for NASA in FY2027, proposing 23% agency cut and deep science reductions The White House has proposed an $18.8 billion FY2027 budget for NASA — a 23% reduction from FY2026 — that would sharply reduce science and STEM programs (with near‑50% cuts to some science accounts) while preserving priorities for lunar exploration and a surface base.

2026-04-03T08:38:02.850876-07:00

White House requests $18.8B for NASA in FY2027, proposing 23% agency cut and deep science reductions

Space.com

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Artemis II Flight Day 3: Crew Prepares First Trajectory Correction Burn and Historic Lunar Observations After a successful translunar injection burn on April 2 and an eight‑hour crew rest, the four‑person Artemis II team entered Flight Day 3 preparing the mission’s first trajectory correction burn. NASA posted a highlights video as the crew received assignments to collect historic lunar observations during the 10‑day flyby.

2026-04-03T04:18:42.562483-07:00

Artemis II Flight Day 3: Crew Prepares First Trajectory Correction Burn and Historic Lunar Observations

SpaceNews.com

NASA convenes Lunar Surface Innovation Consortium 2026 Spring Meeting to focus lunar surface research and technology NASA’s Lunar Surface Innovation Consortium (LSIC) 2026 Spring Meeting runs April 28–30, with an April 28 session at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center in Washington, DC and follow-on sessions April 29–30. The meeting gathers stakeholders to advance lunar surface research, technology and collaboration.

2026-04-02T21:47:05.595864-07:00

NASA convenes Lunar Surface Innovation Consortium 2026 Spring Meeting to focus lunar surface research and technology

Space.com

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Passengers, photographers and a viral fan capture NASA's Artemis II launch NASA's Artemis II launch produced dramatic public moments — airline passengers aboard a Spirit Airlines flight filmed the SLS/Orion ascent, photographers worldwide paired the Pink Moon with the mission, and a young space fan went viral, underscoring intense public visibility for the agency's crewed lunar flyby.

2026-04-02T15:06:28.993455-07:00

Passengers, photographers and a viral fan capture NASA's Artemis II launch

Ars Technica

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Artemis II heads to the Moon after successful translunar injection burn After one day in Earth orbit verifying Orion systems, NASA's Artemis II completed a successful translunar injection burn at 7:49 p.m. EDT on April 2, placing the four‑person crew on a free‑return trajectory for a roughly ten‑day lunar flyby that returns them on April 10.

2026-04-02T10:01:14.506330-07:00

Artemis II heads to the Moon after successful translunar injection burn

SpaceNews.com

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SpaceX completes in‑flight abort test for Crew Dragon, clears key crew‑certification milestone SpaceX successfully tested Crew Dragon’s in‑flight abort system, completing one of the final certification milestones required for the spacecraft to carry astronauts. The result advances crew‑certification efforts and reduces a primary technical hurdle before commercial and NASA crew missions can proceed.

2026-04-01T21:02:02.007219-07:00

SpaceX completes in‑flight abort test for Crew Dragon, clears key crew‑certification milestone

Space.com

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What makes the Artemis II launch different from other rocket launches? An explainer on the technical, operational and programmatic features that distinguish the Artemis II launch from routine orbital flights. The piece examines mission profile, vehicle architecture, human-rating procedures and the integrated ground and software systems that raise complexity and program stakes compared with standard launches.

2026-04-01T17:39:21.857227-07:00

What makes the Artemis II launch different from other rocket launches?

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Human Spaceflight & Space Stations News

NASA and Astrobotic pick lunar south pole site for VIPER and Griffin ahead of Artemis human landings

White House requests $18.8B for NASA in FY2027, proposing 23% agency cut and deep science reductions

Artemis II Flight Day 3: Crew Prepares First Trajectory Correction Burn and Historic Lunar Observations

Artemis II heads to the Moon after successful translunar injection burn

News Timeline