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NASA Spaceflight • Justin Davenport

Shenzhou-23 set to launch to Tiangong with 3-person crew, including Hong Kong’s first astronaut, starting China’s record year-lo

China will launch the three-astronaut Shenzhou 23 mission to the Tiangong space station on Sunday (May 24, 2026) from Jiuquan on a Chang Zheng 2F, beginning a planned year-long stay. The crew includes Hong Kong’s first astronaut, with the longer-duration flight aimed at studying human physiology in orbit as Beijing targets a crewed lunar landing by 2030.

2026-05-23T15:26:31.297723-07:00

Bloomberg

China to launch Shenzhou-23 to Tiangong with first Hong Kong taikonaut, starting an overdue crew rotation

2026-05-22T22:42:22.261557-07:00

Space.com

SpaceX lines up private Mars flyby on Starship led by crypto investor Chun Wang (timing unclear)

2026-05-22T03:09:25.778673-07:00

SpaceNews.com

Isaacman: NASA expects China to fly a crewed lunar-orbit mission in 2027, escalating competition for cislunar presence

2026-05-20T02:40:49.949952-07:00

News Timeline

NASA Spaceflight

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Shenzhou-23 set to launch to Tiangong with 3-person crew, including Hong Kong’s first astronaut, starting China’s record year-lo China will launch the three-astronaut Shenzhou 23 mission to the Tiangong space station on Sunday (May 24, 2026) from Jiuquan on a Chang Zheng 2F, beginning a planned year-long stay. The crew includes Hong Kong’s first astronaut, with the longer-duration flight aimed at studying human physiology in orbit as Beijing targets a crewed lunar landing by 2030.

2026-05-23T15:26:31.297723-07:00

Shenzhou-23 set to launch to Tiangong with 3-person crew, including Hong Kong’s first astronaut, starting China’s record year-lo

Bloomberg

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China to launch Shenzhou-23 to Tiangong with first Hong Kong taikonaut, starting an overdue crew rotation China is set to launch Shenzhou-23 on Sunday from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre, sending three astronauts—Zhu Yangzhu, Zhang Zhiyuan and Lai Ka-ying—to Tiangong. The mission will relieve an overdue crew and could mark the start of China’s first year-long stay in orbit, with Lai becoming Hong Kong’s first astronaut on a Chinese space station flight.

2026-05-22T22:42:22.261557-07:00

China to launch Shenzhou-23 to Tiangong with first Hong Kong taikonaut, starting an overdue crew rotation

Universe Today

Mars fungi research points to bioprocessing regolith into fertile growing media for early settlements A study on “Mars fungi” explores how Earth microbes could be used to make Martian regolith more suitable for growing food crops. The concept centers on using fungal action to condition the soil substrate so it can support a first self-sustaining harvest in a settlement scenario.

2026-05-22T20:05:43.672239-07:00

Mars fungi research points to bioprocessing regolith into fertile growing media for early settlements

Space.com

NASA to brief May 26 on updated Artemis Moon-base plan NASA will provide a live update on Tuesday afternoon, May 26, on its plans to build a Moon base as part of Artemis. The briefing is expected to clarify how the agency’s latest architecture and sequencing translate into an actionable surface-infrastructure approach.

2026-05-22T06:10:46.675064-07:00

NASA to brief May 26 on updated Artemis Moon-base plan

Space.com

SpaceX lines up private Mars flyby on Starship led by crypto investor Chun Wang (timing unclear) SpaceX says a privately funded Mars flyby mission will be led by cryptocurrency investor Chun Wang, marking a new high-profile attempt to turn Starship into a mission platform beyond Earth orbit. The company has not clarified when the flyby will launch, ahead of a planned Starship Flight 12 attempt.

2026-05-22T03:09:25.778673-07:00

SpaceX lines up private Mars flyby on Starship led by crypto investor Chun Wang (timing unclear)

SpaceNews.com

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Isaacman: NASA expects China to fly a crewed lunar-orbit mission in 2027, escalating competition for cislunar presence NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said he expects China’s taikonauts to fly around the Moon in 2027, framing it as an imminent step in Beijing’s crewed lunar ambitions. The forecast heightens perceptions of an accelerated U.S.-China “space race” as Artemis operations progress.

2026-05-20T02:40:49.949952-07:00

Isaacman: NASA expects China to fly a crewed lunar-orbit mission in 2027, escalating competition for cislunar presence

Space.com

Study proposes laser beacons in lunar south-polar permanently shadowed craters for a “lunar GPS” to support Artemis navigation Researchers propose placing laser emitters in the Moon’s permanently shadowed craters to create a local navigation system that can guide future Artemis missions. The concept is framed as a GPS-like capability for surface operations in regions where conventional navigation signals are limited.

2026-05-19T14:05:40.632294-07:00

Study proposes laser beacons in lunar south-polar permanently shadowed craters for a “lunar GPS” to support Artemis navigation

Space.com

NASA LOXSAT “orbital gas station” demo to validate in-space cryogenic oxygen transfer for Artemis NASA is preparing LOXSAT (Liquid OXygen Flight demonstration), a satellite mission intended to test technologies for in-space transfer and storage of cryogenic propellants. The in-orbit “gas station” capability is positioned as a key enabling step for Artemis missions targeting crewed return to the Moon.

2026-05-19T09:05:31.165123-07:00

NASA LOXSAT “orbital gas station” demo to validate in-space cryogenic oxygen transfer for Artemis

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Human Spaceflight & Space Stations News

Shenzhou-23 set to launch to Tiangong with 3-person crew, including Hong Kong’s first astronaut, starting China’s record year-lo

China to launch Shenzhou-23 to Tiangong with first Hong Kong taikonaut, starting an overdue crew rotation

SpaceX lines up private Mars flyby on Starship led by crypto investor Chun Wang (timing unclear)

Isaacman: NASA expects China to fly a crewed lunar-orbit mission in 2027, escalating competition for cislunar presence

News Timeline