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Space.com • Mike Wall

Artemis II heat shield “trial by fire” impresses crew during return

NASA says Artemis II’s heat shield appeared to perform “wonderful” during a trial by fire—per crew observations focused on the thermal protection system after reentry exposure. The assessment reinforces confidence in Orion’s return hardware as the mission transitions fully into splashdown readiness.

2026-04-17T06:14:26.590771-07:00

Ars Technica

NASA confirms SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch for ESA’s Rosalind Franklin Mars rover in 2028

2026-04-16T20:29:50.516542-07:00

SpaceNews.com

Commercial LEO space-station developers push back on NASA’s “market not yet emerged” assessment

2026-04-16T19:32:32.780706-07:00

SpaceNews.com

All Points Logistics signs NASA Kennedy Space Center deal for multi-user spacecraft payload processing facilities

2026-04-16T11:18:20.889288-07:00

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Space.com

Artemis II heat shield “trial by fire” impresses crew during return NASA says Artemis II’s heat shield appeared to perform “wonderful” during a trial by fire—per crew observations focused on the thermal protection system after reentry exposure. The assessment reinforces confidence in Orion’s return hardware as the mission transitions fully into splashdown readiness.

2026-04-17T06:14:26.590771-07:00

Artemis II heat shield “trial by fire” impresses crew during return

Ars Technica

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NASA confirms SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch for ESA’s Rosalind Franklin Mars rover in 2028 NASA says it will support ESA’s ExoMars/“Rosalind Franklin” Mars rover mission, including a first-class launch with SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy. The selection sets the 2028 launch plan for Europe’s rover effort after prior schedule setbacks, positioning SpaceX as the entry vehicle provider for the Mars payload.

2026-04-16T20:29:50.516542-07:00

NASA confirms SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch for ESA’s Rosalind Franklin Mars rover in 2028

SpaceNews.com

Commercial LEO space-station developers push back on NASA’s “market not yet emerged” assessment Executives from three commercial space-station developers argued at the Space Symposium that the low-Earth-orbit (LEO) market is real and they can be ready by 2030, when the International Space Station is scheduled for retirement. Their remarks directly counter NASA’s claim that a commercial station market has yet to develop.

2026-04-16T19:32:32.780706-07:00

Commercial LEO space-station developers push back on NASA’s “market not yet emerged” assessment

SpaceNews.com

All Points Logistics signs NASA Kennedy Space Center deal for multi-user spacecraft payload processing facilities All Points Logistics has signed an agreement with NASA’s Kennedy Space Center to construct satellite payload processing facilities on center property, including an exclusive lease for 64 acres. The project calls for a ~266,000-square-foot Spaceport Logistics Center and a ~275,000-square-foot Spacecraft Processing Center.

2026-04-16T11:18:20.889288-07:00

All Points Logistics signs NASA Kennedy Space Center deal for multi-user spacecraft payload processing facilities

SpaceNews.com

NASA seeks commercial and exploration partnerships to enable next-generation Earth science missions NASA is pursuing new Earth science mission concepts with “commercial” and “exploration” linkages, signaling an intent to integrate externally sourced capabilities and cross-mission technology needs. The approach reframes how Earth observation payloads and supporting services may be procured and delivered.

2026-04-16T09:24:52.550685-07:00

NASA seeks commercial and exploration partnerships to enable next-generation Earth science missions

SpaceWatch Global

Space Symposium 2026 spotlights Artemis momentum, global scale-up, and next-gen launch/supply-chain concepts SpaceWatch.GLOBAL’s coverage of the Space Symposium frames Houston 2029 as a new focal point for the Artemis-era space economy. Organizers cite record submissions (8,300 abstracts) and a rapidly expanding, transatlantic participation push, as sessions pivot from agility to autonomy and explore emerging “supply chain” enablers like electromagnetic launch concepts.

2026-04-16T05:35:43.174877-07:00

Space Symposium 2026 spotlights Artemis momentum, global scale-up, and next-gen launch/supply-chain concepts

Aerospace Testing Intnl

NASA X-59 completes first wheels-up flight, reaching 6,096 m and 740 km/h in Mojave quiet supersonic tests NASA’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft logged its first wheels-up flight over the Mojave Desert on April 3, 2026, reaching 6,096 meters and 740 km/h. The sortie demonstrates progress toward lower sonic-boom overland supersonic operations.

2026-04-16T03:09:45.117503-07:00

NASA X-59 completes first wheels-up flight, reaching 6,096 m and 740 km/h in Mojave quiet supersonic tests

SpaceWatch Global

Ubotica and Open Cosmos team with NASA JPL for FAME flight demonstration of an autonomous intelligent satellite network Ubotica and Open Cosmos have partnered with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) to collaborate on the Flight Demonstration of the FAME program. The effort targets demonstration work for an autonomous intelligent satellite network, building on each company’s satellite automation capabilities under JPL guidance.

2026-04-16T00:15:33.256055-07:00

Ubotica and Open Cosmos team with NASA JPL for FAME flight demonstration of an autonomous intelligent satellite network

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NASA News

Artemis II heat shield “trial by fire” impresses crew during return

NASA confirms SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch for ESA’s Rosalind Franklin Mars rover in 2028

Commercial LEO space-station developers push back on NASA’s “market not yet emerged” assessment

All Points Logistics signs NASA Kennedy Space Center deal for multi-user spacecraft payload processing facilities

News Timeline