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Ars Technica • Stephen Clark

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

NASA Spaceflight

Falcon 9 to lift Northrop Grumman CRS‑24 Cygnus XL with ~11,000 lb to ISS; Minotaur IV cleared for Vandenberg 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

SpaceNews.com

White House proposes $18.8B FY2027 NASA budget — a 23% cut hitting science, ISS and Artemis

2026-04-03T08:38:02.850876-07:00

News Timeline

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 lift Northrop Grumman CRS‑24 Cygnus XL with ~11,000 lb to ISS; Minotaur IV cleared for Vandenberg STP‑S29A NASA plans to fly Northrop Grumman’s CRS‑24 Cygnus XL on a Falcon 9 to the ISS, carrying roughly 11,000 pounds of science, supplies and hardware in the second flight of the larger Cygnus XL. Separately, Vandenberg Space Force Base has approved a Minotaur IV launch for the STP‑S29A mission.

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

Falcon 9 to lift Northrop Grumman CRS‑24 Cygnus XL with ~11,000 lb to ISS; Minotaur IV cleared for Vandenberg 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

SpaceNews.com

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White House proposes $18.8B FY2027 NASA budget — a 23% cut hitting science, ISS and Artemis The White House’s FY2027 "skinny" budget requests $18.8 billion for NASA, a 23% reduction from FY2026 that would deeply cut science, STEM programs, International Space Station support and portions of Artemis funding. Advocacy groups urged Congress to reject the proposal and lawmakers are expected to push back as they did last year.

2026-04-03T08:38:02.850876-07:00

White House proposes $18.8B FY2027 NASA budget — a 23% cut hitting science, ISS and Artemis

Space.com

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Artemis II Flight Day 3: Crew Prepares First Trajectory Correction Burn and Historic Lunar Observations After a successful translunar injection burn on April 2 and an eight‑hour crew rest, the four‑person Artemis II team entered Flight Day 3 preparing the mission’s first trajectory correction burn. NASA posted a highlights video as the crew received assignments to collect historic lunar observations during the 10‑day flyby.

2026-04-03T04:18:42.562483-07:00

Artemis II Flight Day 3: Crew Prepares First Trajectory Correction Burn and Historic Lunar Observations

SpaceNews.com

NASA convenes Lunar Surface Innovation Consortium 2026 Spring Meeting to focus lunar surface research and technology NASA’s Lunar Surface Innovation Consortium (LSIC) 2026 Spring Meeting runs April 28–30, with an April 28 session at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center in Washington, DC and follow-on sessions April 29–30. The meeting gathers stakeholders to advance lunar surface research, technology and collaboration.

2026-04-02T21:47:05.595864-07:00

NASA convenes Lunar Surface Innovation Consortium 2026 Spring Meeting to focus lunar surface research and technology

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Human Spaceflight & Space Stations News

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

Falcon 9 to lift Northrop Grumman CRS‑24 Cygnus XL with ~11,000 lb to ISS; Minotaur IV cleared for Vandenberg STP‑S29A

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

White House proposes $18.8B FY2027 NASA budget — a 23% cut hitting science, ISS and Artemis

News Timeline