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NASA Spaceflight • Haygen Warren

Russia debuts Soyuz-5, completing first flight test ahead of entry into service

Russia conducted the debut launch of its new Soyuz-5 medium-lift rocket from Baikonur/Baikonur Cosmodrome, flying a suborbital demonstration with a dummy payload. State officials and Roscosmos reported the mission as successful, framing it as foundational work for follow-on Soyuz-5 projects intended to replace the Zenit launch system.

2026-04-30T15:04:20.219619-07:00

Universe Today

Artemis II’s laser link shows what “calling home” from cislunar space requires

2026-04-30T14:15:22.762399-07:00

SpaceNews.com

Morocco signs the Artemis Accords, becoming the 64th signatory

2026-04-30T05:41:55.974238-07:00

SpaceNews.com

ISS module cracking mystery persists after air leaks stop

2026-04-29T17:30:54.334719-07:00

News Timeline

Space.com

Scientists develop ultra-thin, stretchable radiation-shielding material for next-gen space systems Researchers say they’ve created a new material for shielding humans and critical technology from harmful radiation. The material is thinner than a human hair and can stretch like rubber, aiming to deliver protection while reducing rigidity and weight penalties for future space architectures.

2026-05-01T09:56:29.616489-07:00

Scientists develop ultra-thin, stretchable radiation-shielding material for next-gen space systems

NASA Spaceflight

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Russia debuts Soyuz-5, completing first flight test ahead of entry into service Russia conducted the debut launch of its new Soyuz-5 medium-lift rocket from Baikonur/Baikonur Cosmodrome, flying a suborbital demonstration with a dummy payload. State officials and Roscosmos reported the mission as successful, framing it as foundational work for follow-on Soyuz-5 projects intended to replace the Zenit launch system.

2026-04-30T15:04:20.219619-07:00

Russia debuts Soyuz-5, completing first flight test ahead of entry into service

Universe Today

Artemis II’s laser link shows what “calling home” from cislunar space requires During Artemis II’s April lunar flyby, NASA’s breakthrough laser communications system enabled unusually detailed downlink coverage—showing the technical demands of high-rate optical links when the spacecraft is far from Earth and radio alternatives are constrained.

2026-04-30T14:15:22.762399-07:00

Artemis II’s laser link shows what “calling home” from cislunar space requires

SpaceNews.com

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Morocco signs the Artemis Accords, becoming the 64th signatory Morocco signed the Artemis Accords on April 29, becoming the third country to join in the preceding 10 days. The U.S. Department of State said Morocco is pledging its commitment to peaceful space exploration and the Accords’ principles for use of space.

2026-04-30T05:41:55.974238-07:00

Morocco signs the Artemis Accords, becoming the 64th signatory

Universe Today

Flexible 3D-Printable Shielding enables autonomous Artemis lunar rover operations near the south pole Based from Artemis Station at the Moon’s south pole, teams will monitor 12 autonomous rovers searching for water ice and other essential minerals. The cluster centers on flexible, 3D-printable shielding designed to protect rover systems in extreme environments across this mission profile.

2026-04-29T20:02:30.984920-07:00

Flexible 3D-Printable Shielding enables autonomous Artemis lunar rover operations near the south pole

SpaceNews.com

ISS module cracking mystery persists after air leaks stop Cracks in a Russian segment of the International Space Station remain unexplained even after leaks in the area have stopped, leaving engineers without a clear cause for how the damage formed. The unresolved issue adds to ongoing structural-health monitoring demands for the orbiting outpost.

2026-04-29T17:30:54.334719-07:00

ISS module cracking mystery persists after air leaks stop

Washington Post

Trump hosts Artemis II crew at the White House as NASA maps additional Moon missions through the end of his term and looks to 20 President Trump welcomed the Artemis II crew after their historic lunar flyby, highlighting what he says will become “more trips to the moon.” NASA also plans to extend Artemis missions beyond the current flight, with two lunar expeditions already set for 2028—including one intended to kick off construction of a lunar base.

2026-04-29T03:53:16.489706-07:00

Trump hosts Artemis II crew at the White House as NASA maps additional Moon missions through the end of his term and looks to 20

Universe Today

Designing in-situ power stations to power future Mars missions The article focuses on how in-situ power stations could be designed to generate and manage power using resources available on Mars, supporting sustained operations within future human Mars habitats. The concept is framed around reducing reliance on Earth-supplied energy and enabling mission endurance through locally derived power.

2026-04-28T20:23:46.941526-07:00

Designing in-situ power stations to power future Mars missions

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Human Spaceflight & Space Stations News

Russia debuts Soyuz-5, completing first flight test ahead of entry into service

Artemis II’s laser link shows what “calling home” from cislunar space requires

Morocco signs the Artemis Accords, becoming the 64th signatory

ISS module cracking mystery persists after air leaks stop

News Timeline