News

Ars Technica • Eric Berger

Leak in Russian ISS segment stops after five years; NASA and Roscosmos keep probing cracks

A leak in a Russian segment of the International Space Station that was observed intermittently over five years has stopped, NASA and Roscosmos said. Both agencies will continue monitoring and investigating previously reported cracks in the module to verify long‑term structural integrity and crew safety.

2026-01-02T08:02:53.916700-08:00

Universe Today

Model predicts how charged lunar dust sticks to — or bounces off — spacecraft

2026-01-01T12:09:45.021647-08:00

New York Times

Artemis II crew completes launch‑day dress rehearsal as Space Coast braces for busy 2026

2025-12-29T23:48:45.192416-08:00

Wall Street Journal

NASA to Test Orion Heat Shield Ahead of Artemis II Four‑Crew Lunar Flyby

2025-12-30T12:22:19.492757-08:00

News Timeline

NASA

NASA schedules two January 2026 ISS spacewalks to prepare roll‑out solar array installation NASA will carry out two spacewalks from the International Space Station in January 2026 to prepare for the installation of a roll‑out solar array and complete additional external maintenance tasks. Agency experts will preview the planned EVAs in a public briefing ahead of the operations.

2026-01-02T09:13:13.945482-08:00

NASA schedules two January 2026 ISS spacewalks to prepare roll‑out solar array installation

Ars Technica

❗️

Leak in Russian ISS segment stops after five years; NASA and Roscosmos keep probing cracks A leak in a Russian segment of the International Space Station that was observed intermittently over five years has stopped, NASA and Roscosmos said. Both agencies will continue monitoring and investigating previously reported cracks in the module to verify long‑term structural integrity and crew safety.

2026-01-02T08:02:53.916700-08:00

Leak in Russian ISS segment stops after five years; NASA and Roscosmos keep probing cracks

Universe Today

Model predicts how charged lunar dust sticks to — or bounces off — spacecraft Researchers have developed a mathematical model that predicts how electrically charged lunar dust particles behave during low-speed collisions with spacecraft, identifying the electrical and mechanical conditions that cause stubborn adhesion versus rebound. Findings clarify mechanisms behind dust contamination and inform mitigation, materials and design choices for sustained lunar missions.

2026-01-01T12:09:45.021647-08:00

Model predicts how charged lunar dust sticks to — or bounces off — spacecraft

Space.com

Scientists ready robotic explorers to work alongside humans on Mars Scientists are preparing robotic explorers to operate alongside humans on Mars, defining complementary roles and procedures to combine autonomous systems and crewed capabilities. As Ehlmann notes, 'It's not a question of robotic exploration or human exploration; it is an "and"—robotic and human exploration and how we do these best together.'

2025-12-31T14:03:10.377977-08:00

Scientists ready robotic explorers to work alongside humans on Mars

GeekWire

2026 preview: NASA crewed lunar flyby and Blue Origin lunar lander to take center stage In 2026 NASA plans a crewed lunar flyby that will send astronauts around the Moon while Blue Origin pursues a separate lunar-lander mission, putting government-led human exploration and private-sector lunar activity at the forefront of next year’s space calendar and launch manifest.

2025-12-31T08:44:47.554904-08:00

2026 preview: NASA crewed lunar flyby and Blue Origin lunar lander to take center stage

Universe Today

Mouse from China's space station gives birth to healthy pups — first mammalian offspring after spaceflight A female mouse that spent two weeks aboard China's space station returned to Earth and has given birth to healthy pups — the first documented mammalian offspring conceived after spaceflight. The result indicates short-term orbital missions did not impair reproduction and yields data on development risks for longer human missions.

2025-12-31T01:09:22.153593-08:00

Mouse from China's space station gives birth to healthy pups — first mammalian offspring after spaceflight

Wall Street Journal

❗️

NASA to Test Orion Heat Shield Ahead of Artemis II Four‑Crew Lunar Flyby NASA will subject the Orion crew capsule's heat shield to a critical test this month as teams prepare for Artemis II, the four‑astronaut lunar flyby targeted for early next year; engineers aim to validate thermal protection and reentry performance to ensure crew survival through extreme heating.

2025-12-30T12:22:19.492757-08:00

NASA to Test Orion Heat Shield Ahead of Artemis II Four‑Crew Lunar Flyby

New York Times

❗️

Artemis II crew completes launch‑day dress rehearsal as Space Coast braces for busy 2026 NASA's Artemis II crew completed a full launch‑day dress rehearsal in Florida, advancing the agency's first crewed lunar mission in more than 50 years toward liftoff. The test underscores a crowded 2026 Space Coast manifest that could also include Blue Origin's lunar lander and the arrival of SpaceX's Starship.

2025-12-29T23:48:45.192416-08:00

Artemis II crew completes launch‑day dress rehearsal as Space Coast braces for busy 2026

Menu

Human Spaceflight & Space Stations News

Leak in Russian ISS segment stops after five years; NASA and Roscosmos keep probing cracks

Model predicts how charged lunar dust sticks to — or bounces off — spacecraft

Artemis II crew completes launch‑day dress rehearsal as Space Coast braces for busy 2026

NASA to Test Orion Heat Shield Ahead of Artemis II Four‑Crew Lunar Flyby

News Timeline