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Reuters • Joey Roulette

Senate panel moves to extend ISS to 2032 and accelerate Artemis lunar-base policy

A Senate Commerce Committee markup will consider a NASA authorization bill to extend the International Space Station’s operational life by two years to 2032, giving industry more time to develop commercial LEO successors. The measure also revises Artemis lunar-base policy to speed establishment of a permanent presence and respond to China’s expanding space activity.

2026-02-25T17:36:33.799000-08:00

Space.com

Mike Fincke identifies himself as the Crew‑11 astronaut whose medical emergency triggered the ISS's first in‑flight evacuation

2026-02-25T10:37:18.290514-08:00

Universe Today

Why Mars missions need more than greenhouses: a systems view of food and life support

2026-02-25T07:51:54.909534-08:00

Universe Today

How long could Earth microbes survive on Mars? New estimates sharpen planetary‑protection and sample‑integrity concerns

2026-02-24T20:33:57.452833-08:00

News Timeline

Reuters

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Senate panel moves to extend ISS to 2032 and accelerate Artemis lunar-base policy A Senate Commerce Committee markup will consider a NASA authorization bill to extend the International Space Station’s operational life by two years to 2032, giving industry more time to develop commercial LEO successors. The measure also revises Artemis lunar-base policy to speed establishment of a permanent presence and respond to China’s expanding space activity.

2026-02-25T17:36:33.799000-08:00

Senate panel moves to extend ISS to 2032 and accelerate Artemis lunar-base policy

Associated Press

Apollo lunar samples reveal new evidence of the Moon's ancient magnetic field Analyses of Apollo-era lunar rock samples collected more than 50 years ago are yielding new insights into the Moon's ancient magnetic field. Re-examination of those samples provides a fresh perspective on when and how a planetary-scale dynamo may have operated on the early Moon.

2026-02-25T16:34:52.109900-08:00

Apollo lunar samples reveal new evidence of the Moon's ancient magnetic field

Space.com

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Mike Fincke identifies himself as the Crew‑11 astronaut whose medical emergency triggered the ISS's first in‑flight evacuation NASA astronaut Mike Fincke has identified himself as the Crew‑11 member whose medical condition aboard the ISS prompted NASA’s first in‑flight medical evacuation. The four‑person crew undocked early and splashed down near San Diego on Jan. 15 after a planned spacewalk was canceled; investigators are still reviewing the incident.

2026-02-25T10:37:18.290514-08:00

Mike Fincke identifies himself as the Crew‑11 astronaut whose medical emergency triggered the ISS's first in‑flight evacuation

Universe Today

Why Mars missions need more than greenhouses: a systems view of food and life support A new paper in Acta Astronautica argues growing food is only one small part of sustaining crews on Mars and calls for a systems‑level view of food and life‑support. The authors warn that focusing on greenhouses alone obscures the logistics, reliability and integration challenges of a full mission food system.

2026-02-25T07:51:54.909534-08:00

Why Mars missions need more than greenhouses: a systems view of food and life support

Universe Today

How long could Earth microbes survive on Mars? New estimates sharpen planetary‑protection and sample‑integrity concerns Researchers are assessing survival times for terrestrial microbes under Martian conditions to better quantify forward‑contamination risk. Reliable survival estimates are critical to avoid confusing Earth life with indigenous Martian biology and to shape NASA's mitigation measures for sample collection and return.

2026-02-24T20:33:57.452833-08:00

How long could Earth microbes survive on Mars? New estimates sharpen planetary‑protection and sample‑integrity concerns

Space.com

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Shenzhou-20 crew disclose cracked viewport in China's first in-orbit emergency Shenzhou-20 crew members described discovering cracks in their spacecraft's viewport during what Chinese authorities called the nation's first in-orbit emergency, an event that left the crew effectively stranded aboard. The astronauts' accounts recount immediate reactions, damage assessment and onboard contingency steps.

2026-02-24T06:14:28.963547-08:00

Shenzhou-20 crew disclose cracked viewport in China's first in-orbit emergency

Payload

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LambdaVision reserves Starlab lab space to scale protein‑based artificial‑retina manufacturing LambdaVision has reserved lab capacity on the planned Starlab commercial space station to advance and scale manufacturing of its protein‑based artificial retina, following microgravity experiments conducted on the ISS. The reservation signals the company’s push to move R&D and production to post‑ISS LEO facilities.

2026-02-24T04:30:44.075569-08:00

LambdaVision reserves Starlab lab space to scale protein‑based artificial‑retina manufacturing

Universe Today

Sustainable water recycling for long‑duration space habitats Water for drinking, hygiene and plant growth is a primary constraint on long‑duration human spaceflight: resupplying the ISS costs on the order of tens of thousands of dollars per delivered mass. Durable, efficient closed‑loop water sourcing and reuse are essential to enable months‑to‑years surface and orbital habitation.

2026-02-20T15:15:31.740705-08:00

Sustainable water recycling for long‑duration space habitats

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Human Spaceflight & Space Stations News

Senate panel moves to extend ISS to 2032 and accelerate Artemis lunar-base policy

Mike Fincke identifies himself as the Crew‑11 astronaut whose medical emergency triggered the ISS's first in‑flight evacuation

Why Mars missions need more than greenhouses: a systems view of food and life support

How long could Earth microbes survive on Mars? New estimates sharpen planetary‑protection and sample‑integrity concerns

News Timeline