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Space.com • Keith Cooper

Study recommends delaying Artemis II lunar launch to late 2026 over solar superflare risk

A new study warns elevated solar activity increases the chance of a solar "superflare" during Artemis II’s current launch window and recommends postponing the crewed lunar flyby until late 2026, saying forecasts indicate a later date would substantially lower radiation and operational risks.

2026-02-27T03:01:23.001193-08:00

Universe Today

NASA's CaRD Demonstration Validates Carbothermal Oxygen Extraction from Lunar Regolith

2026-02-26T16:14:41.214029-08:00

New York Times

The new space race: Can NASA and SpaceX get humans to Mars and beyond?

2026-02-26T13:13:08.599219-08:00

Ars Technica

Leaked memo: NASA kept next Mars orbiter objectives non-public as internal doc flags science may be deprioritized

2026-02-26T07:14:03.347965-08:00

News Timeline

Space.com

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Study recommends delaying Artemis II lunar launch to late 2026 over solar superflare risk A new study warns elevated solar activity increases the chance of a solar "superflare" during Artemis II’s current launch window and recommends postponing the crewed lunar flyby until late 2026, saying forecasts indicate a later date would substantially lower radiation and operational risks.

2026-02-27T03:01:23.001193-08:00

Study recommends delaying Artemis II lunar launch to late 2026 over solar superflare risk

Universe Today

NASA's CaRD Demonstration Validates Carbothermal Oxygen Extraction from Lunar Regolith NASA's Carbothermal Reduction Demonstration (CaRD) has validated a process to extract oxygen from lunar regolith, completing a key technology step for in‑situ resource utilization. The result advances plans to produce propellant and life‑support consumables on the Moon and reduce logistics mass for sustained Artemis operations.

2026-02-26T16:14:41.214029-08:00

NASA's CaRD Demonstration Validates Carbothermal Oxygen Extraction from Lunar Regolith

New York Times

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The new space race: Can NASA and SpaceX get humans to Mars and beyond? With growing private‑sector momentum and NASA’s renewed deep‑space goals, the central question is whether a government–commercial partnership—anchored by SpaceX and NASA—can overcome technical, physiological and programmatic hurdles to land and sustain humans on Mars and extend exploration beyond the Moon.

2026-02-26T13:13:08.599219-08:00

The new space race: Can NASA and SpaceX get humans to Mars and beyond?

Ars Technica

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Leaked memo: NASA kept next Mars orbiter objectives non-public as internal doc flags science may be deprioritized A leaked internal NASA document shows the agency chose not to publicly release the science objectives for its next Mars orbiter and indicates science may be deprioritized in mission planning. The decision reduces early-stage transparency for a high-profile planetary mission.

2026-02-26T07:14:03.347965-08:00

Leaked memo: NASA kept next Mars orbiter objectives non-public as internal doc flags science may be deprioritized

SpaceNews.com

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NASA replaces Commercial Crew leadership after critical Starliner report; Montalbano, Hutcherson named Following a critical NASA report on Boeing's Starliner, the agency has replaced two senior Commercial Crew leaders: Ken Bowersox is retiring and Steve Stich is out, while Joel Montalbano and Dana Hutcherson were named acting heads of key human spaceflight roles. The changes follow promises of accountability.

2026-02-26T02:13:51.394881-08:00

NASA replaces Commercial Crew leadership after critical Starliner report; Montalbano, Hutcherson named

Reuters

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Senate panel backs two-year ISS extension and reworks moon-base policy to speed Artemis and buy industry time The Senate Commerce Committee will consider extending the International Space Station’s operational life by two years while revising NASA’s lunar-base policy to accelerate Artemis-era infrastructure. Lawmakers say the moves buy commercial developers more runway to field replacement stations and sharpen U.S. strategy as China’s space activity grows.

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

Senate panel backs two-year ISS extension and reworks moon-base policy to speed Artemis and buy industry time

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

Universe Today

Curiosity examines 'spiderweb' boxwork ridges on Mount Sharp; fourth sample sent to lab NASA's Curiosity rover has imaged and sampled hilly 'spiderweb' boxwork ridges on Mount Sharp, capturing its fourth drilled sample from the feature set. Pending geochemical results aim to clarify Gale Crater's watery history and put recent organic detections into stratigraphic context.

2026-02-25T12:54:31.214123-08:00

Curiosity examines 'spiderweb' boxwork ridges on Mount Sharp; fourth sample sent to lab

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NASA News

Study recommends delaying Artemis II lunar launch to late 2026 over solar superflare risk

NASA's CaRD Demonstration Validates Carbothermal Oxygen Extraction from Lunar Regolith

The new space race: Can NASA and SpaceX get humans to Mars and beyond?

Leaked memo: NASA kept next Mars orbiter objectives non-public as internal doc flags science may be deprioritized

News Timeline