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Bloomberg • Pui Gwen Yeung

Hong Kong’s first astronaut joins Shenzhou-23 mission en route to China’s Tiangong space station

Hong Kong’s inaugural astronaut—an ex-police officer with a doctorate in computer forensics—will launch with China’s Shenzhou-23 crew and join the Tiangong space-station mission Sunday, with Chief Executive John Lee calling it a “historic moment.” Separate live reporting at Jiuquan covered press interactions with the Shenzhou-23 crew.

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

European Spaceflight

As ESA Chief Pushes for European Autonomous Human Spaceflight, Agency Prepares Reusable Orbital Spaceplane Proposal

2026-05-19T07:54:42.246339-07:00

News Timeline

Bloomberg

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Hong Kong’s first astronaut joins Shenzhou-23 mission en route to China’s Tiangong space station Hong Kong’s inaugural astronaut—an ex-police officer with a doctorate in computer forensics—will launch with China’s Shenzhou-23 crew and join the Tiangong space-station mission Sunday, with Chief Executive John Lee calling it a “historic moment.” Separate live reporting at Jiuquan covered press interactions with the Shenzhou-23 crew.

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

Hong Kong’s first astronaut joins Shenzhou-23 mission en route to China’s Tiangong space station

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

European Spaceflight

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As ESA Chief Pushes for European Autonomous Human Spaceflight, Agency Prepares Reusable Orbital Spaceplane Proposal ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher says Europe must build an autonomous human spaceflight capability, framing it as a strategic requirement rather than a “luxury.” In parallel, ESA is set to propose a reusable orbital spaceplane to close gaps in Europe’s independent post-ISS transportation capabilities.

2026-05-19T07:54:42.246339-07:00

As ESA Chief Pushes for European Autonomous Human Spaceflight, Agency Prepares Reusable Orbital Spaceplane Proposal

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Human Spaceflight & Space Stations News

Hong Kong’s first astronaut joins Shenzhou-23 mission en route to China’s Tiangong space station

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

As ESA Chief Pushes for European Autonomous Human Spaceflight, Agency Prepares Reusable Orbital Spaceplane Proposal

News Timeline