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Artemis II begins return to Earth after historic lunar flyby as Orion executes first return burn

Following a historic lunar flyby on April 6, NASA's Artemis II entered its return phase on Flight Day 7 as the Orion spacecraft Integrity executed a 15‑second return correction burn at 8:03 p.m. EDT. The crew report high spirits and NASA says Orion is "performing spectacularly" despite a lingering waste‑tank evacuation issue.

2026-04-07T15:07:43.862320-07:00

Ars Technica

Crew Sets New Record for Distance from Earth, Underscoring Moon’s Potential for Human Exploration

2026-04-07T00:58:55.948416-07:00

NASA Spaceflight

Falcon 9 to loft Northrop Grumman CRS‑24 Cygnus to ISS as Vandenberg clears Minotaur IV for STP‑S29A

2026-04-06T15:16:42.227346-07:00

Space.com

Artemis II crosses two‑thirds of transit, enters lunar space and shares Earth–Moon photos

2026-04-05T22:06:18.783705-07:00

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Artemis II begins return to Earth after historic lunar flyby as Orion executes first return burn Following a historic lunar flyby on April 6, NASA's Artemis II entered its return phase on Flight Day 7 as the Orion spacecraft Integrity executed a 15‑second return correction burn at 8:03 p.m. EDT. The crew report high spirits and NASA says Orion is "performing spectacularly" despite a lingering waste‑tank evacuation issue.

2026-04-07T15:07:43.862320-07:00

Artemis II begins return to Earth after historic lunar flyby as Orion executes first return burn

The Atlantic

Artemis II Earth Images Emphasize Global Unity, Implicit Rebuke to Presidential Bellicosity New photographs of Earth taken aboard NASA's Artemis II show a planet‑wide perspective that underscores common humanity and cooperation. Commentators say the images act as a visual counterpoint to President Trump's recent bellicose rhetoric, reinforcing the mission's soft‑power symbolism for global dialogue.

2026-04-07T15:00:39.818677-07:00

Artemis II Earth Images Emphasize Global Unity, Implicit Rebuke to Presidential Bellicosity

Payload

Redwire supplies 11 cameras to record inside and outside views of Orion for Artemis II lunar flyby Redwire built and installed 11 cameras around the inside and outside of NASA's Orion crew capsule to record the upcoming Artemis II lunar flyby, Redwire senior systems engineer Kaylee Geidel told Payload. The camera suite will provide both cabin and external views during the mission.

2026-04-07T05:18:02.490108-07:00

Redwire supplies 11 cameras to record inside and outside views of Orion for Artemis II lunar flyby

Ars Technica

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Crew Sets New Record for Distance from Earth, Underscoring Moon’s Potential for Human Exploration A crew on NASA's lunar flyby has set a new record for the farthest distance humans have traveled from Earth, underscoring the Moon's potential for renewed human exploration. Astronauts called the view 'truly hard to describe' and 'amazing,' highlighting the mission's public and programmatic resonance.

2026-04-07T00:58:55.948416-07:00

Crew Sets New Record for Distance from Earth, Underscoring Moon’s Potential for Human Exploration

NASA Spaceflight

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Falcon 9 to loft Northrop Grumman CRS‑24 Cygnus to ISS as Vandenberg clears Minotaur IV for STP‑S29A U.S. launch activity this week sees a Falcon 9 set to lift Northrop Grumman's CRS‑24 Cygnus XL — carrying roughly 11,000 pounds of science and supplies — to the International Space Station, while Vandenberg cleared a Minotaur IV for the STP‑S29A mission. Expedition 74 crews are finalizing Cygnus handover preparations as Artemis II reaches its midpoint.

2026-04-06T15:16:42.227346-07:00

Falcon 9 to loft Northrop Grumman CRS‑24 Cygnus to ISS as Vandenberg clears Minotaur IV for STP‑S29A

Payload

Inside Orion’s windows: an Artemis II supplier profile Part of our Artemis II supplier series, this piece examines the design and supplier work behind the Orion spacecraft’s windows. For astronauts who invested decades of training, the ability to see space firsthand — enabled by those windows — is a key part of the mission payoff.

2026-04-06T05:36:07.575116-07:00

Inside Orion’s windows: an Artemis II supplier profile

Space.com

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Artemis II crosses two‑thirds of transit, enters lunar space and shares Earth–Moon photos NASA's Artemis II has passed the two‑thirds point of its free‑return transit and officially entered lunar space, marking the first humans near the Moon since 1972. The crew rehearsed safety procedures ahead of a planned communications blackout during closest approach and released new Earth and Moon images.

2026-04-05T22:06:18.783705-07:00

Artemis II crosses two‑thirds of transit, enters lunar space and shares Earth–Moon photos

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

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Human Spaceflight & Space Stations News

Artemis II begins return to Earth after historic lunar flyby as Orion executes first return burn

Crew Sets New Record for Distance from Earth, Underscoring Moon’s Potential for Human Exploration

Falcon 9 to loft Northrop Grumman CRS‑24 Cygnus to ISS as Vandenberg clears Minotaur IV for STP‑S29A

Artemis II crosses two‑thirds of transit, enters lunar space and shares Earth–Moon photos

News Timeline