Human Spaceflight & Space Stations News

Space.com • Tereza Pultarova

German named first European astronaut slated to fly to the Moon

A German has been named the first European astronaut slated to fly to the Moon — a milestone summed up as "No European has ever seen that before." The selection establishes Europe's first scheduled human lunar crewmember and begins mission-specific planning, training and operational preparations.

2025-12-01T12:08:57.835785-08:00

Ars Technica

Unsecured 20‑ton service platform discovered ahead of Soyuz launch

2025-11-28T08:45:43.278733-08:00

SpaceNews.com

ESA secures record €22bn ministerial package, but exploration programmes face funding shortfalls

2025-11-27T12:22:30.681208-08:00

New York Times

Perseverance records electrical discharges — 'mini‑lightning' — linked to Martian dust devils

2025-11-26T08:08:37.661314-08:00

Human Spaceflight & Space Stations News Timeline

Space.com

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German named first European astronaut slated to fly to the Moon A German has been named the first European astronaut slated to fly to the Moon — a milestone summed up as "No European has ever seen that before." The selection establishes Europe's first scheduled human lunar crewmember and begins mission-specific planning, training and operational preparations.

2025-12-01T12:08:57.835785-08:00

German named first European astronaut slated to fly to the Moon

Ars Technica

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Voyager's Dylan Taylor: why private space stations can be a viable business Voyager Technologies chairman Dylan Taylor checked in with Ars from the "space station frontier" to argue privately operated space stations can be a viable business. He lays out a commercial case for low Earth orbit habitats as potential successors to the International Space Station and a path to sustainability.

2025-12-01T10:49:16.986074-08:00

Voyager's Dylan Taylor: why private space stations can be a viable business

Reuters

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Damaged Shenzhou-20 spacecraft to return to Earth uncrewed for inspection China will send the damaged Shenzhou-20 return vehicle back to Earth without crew so experts can closely inspect the damage after the spacecraft was ruled unfit to fly mid-mission, state broadcaster CCTV reported Monday. The move enables hands-on forensic assessment that cannot be completed on orbit.

2025-12-01T06:39:36.239458-08:00

Damaged Shenzhou-20 spacecraft to return to Earth uncrewed for inspection

Space.com

Cygnus XL completes inaugural ISS resupply, delivering 11,000 lb to station Northrop Grumman’s new Cygnus XL completed its first resupply run to the International Space Station, delivering roughly 11,000 lb (about 5 tonnes) of supplies, experiments and station hardware. The flight marks the debut operational use of the enlarged Cygnus variant to support expanded LEO logistics.

2025-12-01T06:11:06.945374-08:00

Cygnus XL completes inaugural ISS resupply, delivering 11,000 lb to station

Universe Today

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International roadmap for lunar and Martian plant systems targets Artemis III greenhouse in 2027 An international team published a roadmap for plant cultivation on the Moon and Mars to address NASA's priority for long-duration missions. Plants would provide fresh food, recycle air and water, produce medicines, process waste and support crew mental health ahead of a lunar greenhouse planned for Artemis III in 2027.

2025-11-30T15:06:45.087032-08:00

International roadmap for lunar and Martian plant systems targets Artemis III greenhouse in 2027

Ars Technica

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Unsecured 20‑ton service platform discovered ahead of Soyuz launch An unsecured 20‑ton service platform was found at the launch complex shortly before a Soyuz crew launch, prompting immediate safety and oversight questions about Russia's crewed-launch operations and potential impacts to International Space Station access. Officials signalled increased scrutiny of launch‑site procedures.

2025-11-28T08:45:43.278733-08:00

Unsecured 20‑ton service platform discovered ahead of Soyuz launch

Space.com

NASA astronauts test Axiom's new Extravehicular Mobility Unit in neutral‑buoyancy training ahead of Artemis NASA astronauts are conducting neutral‑buoyancy training using Axiom Space's new Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) as part of validation for upcoming crewed Artemis missions. Tests focus on mobility, life‑support integration and EVA procedures to confirm the suit for lunar surface and deep‑space operations.

2025-11-28T06:10:06.585402-08:00

NASA astronauts test Axiom's new Extravehicular Mobility Unit in neutral‑buoyancy training ahead of Artemis

Soyuz MS-28 damages Baikonur crewed‑launch pad, threatens Russia's ISS launch cadence A Soyuz MS-28 launch on Nov. 27, 2025 damaged the Baikonur crewed‑launch pad; footage shows the service gantry falling into an exhaust trench. The damage to Russia's sole operational site for Soyuz and Progress missions jeopardizes upcoming ISS crew rotations and cargo launch cadence.

2025-11-27T15:47:43.154752-08:00

Soyuz MS-28 damages Baikonur crewed‑launch pad, threatens Russia's ISS launch cadence

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