News

Space.com • Mike Wall

Northrop Grumman’s first Cygnus XL freighter set to depart ISS March 12

Northrop Grumman’s first Cygnus XL cargo spacecraft is scheduled to depart the International Space Station Thursday, March 12 at 7:05 a.m. EDT (1105 GMT). NASA will stream the undocking live as the new Cygnus variant completes its resupply mission and prepares for post‑undock disposal operations.

2026-03-11T12:09:01.367071-07:00

Universe Today

Short-term simulated microgravity alters women's blood clotting — implications for six-month-plus missions

2026-03-10T15:34:06.144603-07:00

SpaceNews.com

Starliner and Artemis: commercial label vs. commercial discipline

2026-03-10T06:08:46.045766-07:00

Space.com

China eyes Rimae Bode near‑side 'geological museum' for first crewed Moon landing

2026-03-09T09:14:23.131560-07:00

News Timeline

Space.com

Northrop Grumman’s first Cygnus XL freighter set to depart ISS March 12 Northrop Grumman’s first Cygnus XL cargo spacecraft is scheduled to depart the International Space Station Thursday, March 12 at 7:05 a.m. EDT (1105 GMT). NASA will stream the undocking live as the new Cygnus variant completes its resupply mission and prepares for post‑undock disposal operations.

2026-03-11T12:09:01.367071-07:00

Northrop Grumman’s first Cygnus XL freighter set to depart ISS March 12

NASA

Expedition 74 conducts cardiovascular research, prepares EVA to upgrade ISS power as Cygnus XL readies to depart Expedition 74 crew carried out cardiovascular studies while preparing for a planned extravehicular activity to upgrade the International Space Station's power generation system. Meanwhile, Northrop Grumman's Cygnus XL cargo spacecraft was packed and scheduled to depart the station later Thursday.

2026-03-11T12:08:59.218942-07:00

Expedition 74 conducts cardiovascular research, prepares EVA to upgrade ISS power as Cygnus XL readies to depart

Universe Today

Short-term simulated microgravity alters women's blood clotting — implications for six-month-plus missions A Simon Fraser University study reports that just a few days in simulated microgravity subtly altered blood clotting in women, prompting questions about whether current astronaut health monitoring would detect or mitigate such changes. The results raise concerns for missions lasting six months or longer.

2026-03-10T15:34:06.144603-07:00

Short-term simulated microgravity alters women's blood clotting — implications for six-month-plus missions

SpaceNews.com

Starliner and Artemis: commercial label vs. commercial discipline A critical look at how the “commercial” label is applied to NASA’s Starliner crew taxi and the Artemis program, and whether that branding aligns with the programmatic rigor needed for complex human-spaceflight missions. The piece contrasts rhetoric with operational and contractual discipline.

2026-03-10T06:08:46.045766-07:00

Starliner and Artemis: commercial label vs. commercial discipline

Space.com

❗️

China eyes Rimae Bode near‑side 'geological museum' for first crewed Moon landing China is considering Rimae Bode, a near‑side area described as a "geological museum," as the landing site for its first crewed lunar mission. The region combines volcanic plains and ancient highlands in a single traversable area, enabling sampling from deep lunar interior volcanics to massive impact debris.

2026-03-09T09:14:23.131560-07:00

China eyes Rimae Bode near‑side 'geological museum' for first crewed Moon landing

Universe Today

Astronauts Use Bacteria and Fungi to Harvest Metals in Space Astronauts are using bacteria and fungi to harvest metals in space, leveraging microbes that live on and in crew, surfaces and food. Understanding how these organisms respond to space conditions is critical for managing onboard microbiomes and could enable biological in‑situ resource utilization on long‑duration exploration missions.

2026-03-07T18:23:56.916229-08:00

Astronauts Use Bacteria and Fungi to Harvest Metals in Space

Space.com

Long‑duration spaceflight shifts and deforms the human brain inside the skull A new study finds that long‑duration spaceflight causes the human brain to shift upward and backward and to deform within the skull. Researchers report measurable structural changes following extended microgravity exposure, raising questions about neurological effects on astronauts during prolonged missions.

2026-03-07T03:03:43.130135-08:00

Long‑duration spaceflight shifts and deforms the human brain inside the skull

NASA

❗️

Japan's first HTV‑X1 undocks from ISS Harmony and departs on March 6; NASA streams live JAXA's first HTV‑X1 cargo spacecraft undocked from the ISS Harmony module and departed on March 6 at 12 p.m. ET after being grappled and released by Canadarm2. NASA provided live coverage on NASA+, Amazon Prime and its YouTube channel as Expedition 74 continued cargo transfers, spacewalk preparations and on‑station research.

2026-03-06T08:59:50.791229-08:00

Japan's first HTV‑X1 undocks from ISS Harmony and departs on March 6; NASA streams live

Menu

Human Spaceflight & Space Stations News

Northrop Grumman’s first Cygnus XL freighter set to depart ISS March 12

Short-term simulated microgravity alters women's blood clotting — implications for six-month-plus missions

Starliner and Artemis: commercial label vs. commercial discipline

China eyes Rimae Bode near‑side 'geological museum' for first crewed Moon landing

News Timeline