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Payload • Jacqueline Feldscher

Latvia signs the Artemis Accords, becoming the 62nd signatory

Latvia has signed the U.S.-led Artemis Accords at NASA headquarters in Washington, pledging to support sustainable, peaceful lunar exploration under the framework. The country is the 62nd to join, following a ceremony with NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman and Latvian Education and Science Minister Dace Melbārde.

2026-04-20T07:02:10.092194-07:00

Payload

SpaceX tasked to fly ESA’s Rosalind Franklin rover by late-2028 as US FY2027 NASA budget request flags possible Mars cuts

2026-04-19T19:56:04.984050-07:00

Ars Technica

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

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

Space.com

Artemis II Orion heat shield “aces” lunar reentry after Integrity splashdown

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

News Timeline

Universe Today

NASA SPHEREx begins first data delivery, mapping the sky to track cosmic ices that inform future planet formation NASA’s SPHEREx medium-class survey telescope is now operating, with initial data starting to flow. The mission is mapping the entire sky on a six-month cadence, aiming to characterize “cosmic ices” whose composition and distribution are linked to the inputs for planet formation.

2026-04-20T08:52:45.989909-07:00

NASA SPHEREx begins first data delivery, mapping the sky to track cosmic ices that inform future planet formation

Payload

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Latvia signs the Artemis Accords, becoming the 62nd signatory Latvia has signed the U.S.-led Artemis Accords at NASA headquarters in Washington, pledging to support sustainable, peaceful lunar exploration under the framework. The country is the 62nd to join, following a ceremony with NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman and Latvian Education and Science Minister Dace Melbārde.

2026-04-20T07:02:10.092194-07:00

Latvia signs the Artemis Accords, becoming the 62nd signatory

Payload

SpaceX tasked to fly ESA’s Rosalind Franklin rover by late-2028 as US FY2027 NASA budget request flags possible Mars cuts SpaceX has been assigned the job of launching ESA’s Rosalind Franklin rover as soon as late-2028, reportedly for $175.7M. However, the White House’s FY2027 NASA budget request indicates potential cancellation of NASA’s participation in the broader Mars mission, leaving downstream roles and program continuity uncertain.

2026-04-19T19:56:04.984050-07:00

SpaceX tasked to fly ESA’s Rosalind Franklin rover by late-2028 as US FY2027 NASA budget request flags possible Mars cuts

NASA

NASA and OPM launch NASA Force hiring portal to recruit “mission-critical” engineers for short-term stints NASA and the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) have launched the “NASA Force” website, opening applications for roles aimed at recruiting top engineers and technologists to support America’s air and space program. The initiative targets mission-critical positions and includes one-to-two-year assignments alongside permanent and temporary appointment pathways.

2026-04-17T10:19:26.110140-07:00

NASA and OPM launch NASA Force hiring portal to recruit “mission-critical” engineers for short-term stints

Space.com

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Artemis II Orion heat shield “aces” lunar reentry after Integrity splashdown NASA reports that the Orion “Integrity” heat shield performed “wonderfully” during Artemis II’s lunar return, meeting or exceeding expectations despite extreme reentry conditions (~2,800°C and ~40,000 km/h). Crew inspections shortly after splashdown found the shield in better-than-expected condition, supporting mission readiness for subsequent Artemis flights.

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

Artemis II Orion heat shield “aces” lunar reentry after Integrity splashdown

Ars Technica

❗️

NASA commits to SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch for ESA’s Rosalind Franklin Mars rover in 2028 NASA has confirmed its support for ESA’s Rosalind Franklin (ExoMars) mission, selecting SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy to launch the European Mars rover in 2028. The decision formalizes a key transatlantic roles mix—NASA backing the mission and SpaceX providing the class-leading heavy-lift ride—after years of program uncertainty.

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

NASA commits to 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

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NASA News

Latvia signs the Artemis Accords, becoming the 62nd signatory

SpaceX tasked to fly ESA’s Rosalind Franklin rover by late-2028 as US FY2027 NASA budget request flags possible Mars cuts

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

Artemis II Orion heat shield “aces” lunar reentry after Integrity splashdown

News Timeline