News

Flying Magazine • Jack Daleo

X-59 second flight aborted after cockpit warning as low‑boom campaign begins

NASA’s X‑59 low‑boom demonstrator returned to base minutes into its second flight after a cockpit warning light prompted an early landing. NASA and Lockheed Martin are investigating the technical anomaly while preparing an expanded multi‑flight 2026 test campaign to validate the aircraft’s quiet sonic‑boom signature.

2026-03-20T14:04:13.531590-07:00

Ars Technica

NASA issues draft RFI to study relocating Space Shuttle Discovery or an Orion capsule

2026-03-20T13:38:38.228208-07:00

Space.com

NASA holds out hope for silent MAVEN Mars orbiter: 'We're still looking for it'

2026-03-20T06:01:03.961296-07:00

Ars Technica

NASA conducts controlled methalox rocket explosions to quantify blast hazards

2026-03-20T10:29:26.358347-07:00

News Timeline

Flying Magazine

❗️

X-59 second flight aborted after cockpit warning as low‑boom campaign begins NASA’s X‑59 low‑boom demonstrator returned to base minutes into its second flight after a cockpit warning light prompted an early landing. NASA and Lockheed Martin are investigating the technical anomaly while preparing an expanded multi‑flight 2026 test campaign to validate the aircraft’s quiet sonic‑boom signature.

2026-03-20T14:04:13.531590-07:00

X-59 second flight aborted after cockpit warning as low‑boom campaign begins

Ars Technica

NASA issues draft RFI to study relocating Space Shuttle Discovery or an Orion capsule NASA has issued a draft request for information seeking proposals to assess the feasibility, cost and logistics of relocating a spacecraft — either Space Shuttle Discovery or an Orion crew capsule — to a new public display site. The agency has not set a target date or destination.

2026-03-20T13:38:38.228208-07:00

NASA issues draft RFI to study relocating Space Shuttle Discovery or an Orion capsule

Ars Technica

NASA conducts controlled methalox rocket explosions to quantify blast hazards NASA detonated methalox‑fueled rocket hardware at a remote test site, intentionally exploding stages while recording blast overpressure, acoustic signatures and physical damage to quantify explosion hazards. It aims to produce empirical blast metrics for launch and range safety.

2026-03-20T10:29:26.358347-07:00

NASA conducts controlled methalox rocket explosions to quantify blast hazards

Space.com

❗️

NASA holds out hope for silent MAVEN Mars orbiter: 'We're still looking for it' NASA says it has not officially declared the MAVEN Mars orbiter lost and continues efforts to reestablish contact, despite a prolonged outage; mission managers say "we're still looking for it." The agency's search will determine whether MAVEN can resume its role in Mars science and communications relay.

2026-03-20T06:01:03.961296-07:00

NASA holds out hope for silent MAVEN Mars orbiter: 'We're still looking for it'

Space Intel Report

NASA to convene Artemis international partners in Washington as ESA updates cooperation and ISS plans NASA will convene international Artemis partners in Washington next week to discuss the agency's new Artemis plan, ESA Director General Josef Aschacher said. The meeting follows ESA Council endorsements of a new crewed ISS mission concept and intensified NASA–ESA coordination after the Mars Earth Return Orbiter shutdown.

2026-03-19T11:38:52.482394-07:00

NASA to convene Artemis international partners in Washington as ESA updates cooperation and ISS plans

Bloomberg

❗️

NASA shifts lunar-orbit propulsion to SpaceX Starship, trims Boeing's role in Artemis NASA is revising its Artemis lunar-landing architecture, cutting Boeing's role and elevating SpaceX's Starship to perform the lunar-orbit propulsion task previously assigned to Boeing systems, according to people familiar with the agency's plans — a significant reshuffle of contractor responsibilities for upcoming crewed Moon missions.

2026-03-19T11:38:50.690926-07:00

NASA shifts lunar-orbit propulsion to SpaceX Starship, trims Boeing's role in Artemis

Universe Today

As 100+ lunar missions loom, experts urge protection of human-made heritage on the Moon A Smithsonian–AIAA summit paper warns that protecting lunar heritage is urgent: more than 100 metric tons of human-made material already rests on the Moon and NASA predicts 100+ new lunar missions this decade. The paper catalogs risks to historic sites and proposes policy and operational safeguards.

2026-03-19T07:20:11.986724-07:00

As 100+ lunar missions loom, experts urge protection of human-made heritage on the Moon

SpaceNews.com

❗️

NASA proposes sharp increase in robotic lunar-lander cadence, opening market for commercial providers NASA has proposed a sharp increase in the cadence of robotic lunar lander missions, a move that has energized commercial providers while puzzling parts of the space community. The proposal signals expanded procurement and operational demand for landers and related services as NASA reshapes Artemis-era plans.

2026-03-19T05:12:23.169591-07:00

NASA proposes sharp increase in robotic lunar-lander cadence, opening market for commercial providers

Menu

NASA News

X-59 second flight aborted after cockpit warning as low‑boom campaign begins

NASA issues draft RFI to study relocating Space Shuttle Discovery or an Orion capsule

NASA holds out hope for silent MAVEN Mars orbiter: 'We're still looking for it'

NASA conducts controlled methalox rocket explosions to quantify blast hazards

News Timeline