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Space.com • Leonard David

NASA backs flying Artemis II with Orion's existing heat shield after Artemis I anomaly

After a heat-shield anomaly on Artemis I, NASA and partners say they will proceed with Artemis II using the current Orion heat shield. Agency officials and contractors expressed confidence the flaw has been understood and mitigated and are committed to a safe launch and crewed return.

2026-02-17T03:09:55.730969-08:00

Spaceflight Now

NASA targets Feb. 19 for second Artemis II wet dress rehearsal to fully fuel SLS/Orion

2026-02-16T16:36:23.392567-08:00

SpaceNews.com

The space nuclear power bottleneck — and how to fix it

2026-02-16T06:12:44.830314-08:00

SpaceNews.com

NASA pauses work on multiple agency priorities pending White House executive order; Isaacman to provide details

2026-02-16T08:32:56.295669-08:00

News Timeline

Space.com

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NASA backs flying Artemis II with Orion's existing heat shield after Artemis I anomaly After a heat-shield anomaly on Artemis I, NASA and partners say they will proceed with Artemis II using the current Orion heat shield. Agency officials and contractors expressed confidence the flaw has been understood and mitigated and are committed to a safe launch and crewed return.

2026-02-17T03:09:55.730969-08:00

NASA backs flying Artemis II with Orion's existing heat shield after Artemis I anomaly

Spaceflight Now

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NASA targets Feb. 19 for second Artemis II wet dress rehearsal to fully fuel SLS/Orion NASA is targeting Feb. 19 for a second wet dress rehearsal to fully fuel the Space Launch System and Orion in advance of the Artemis II test flight. Engineers at the Florida launch site will attempt another full countdown and propellant load — more than 700,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen and oxygen.

2026-02-16T16:36:23.392567-08:00

NASA targets Feb. 19 for second Artemis II wet dress rehearsal to fully fuel SLS/Orion

Universe Today

Bennu amino acids point to an alternate formation pathway, challenging origin-of-life models Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania report that some amino acids detected on asteroid Bennu likely formed via a different chemical pathway than previously believed. The result challenges prevailing models for extraterrestrial prebiotic synthesis and narrows constraints on origins-of-life scenarios.

2026-02-16T15:53:33.724711-08:00

Bennu amino acids point to an alternate formation pathway, challenging origin-of-life models

SpaceNews.com

NASA pauses work on multiple agency priorities pending White House executive order; Isaacman to provide details NASA has paused work on several agency priorities pending a White House executive order, Administrator Jared Isaacman said. He expects to provide details in the coming weeks about which programs are affected and the timeline for resumption, creating short‑term uncertainty for schedules and contractors.

2026-02-16T08:32:56.295669-08:00

NASA pauses work on multiple agency priorities pending White House executive order; Isaacman to provide details

SpaceNews.com

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The space nuclear power bottleneck — and how to fix it This analysis identifies bottlenecks constraining spacecraft nuclear power — limited production of reactors and radioisotope sources, constrained test facilities, and regulatory hurdles — and proposes steps to expand manufacturing, testing and licensing. Accelerating these fixes is framed as essential to enable high‑power satellites, nuclear propulsion and future deep‑space missions.

2026-02-16T06:12:44.830314-08:00

The space nuclear power bottleneck — and how to fix it

Washington Post

NASA must address physical and psychological limits to enable deep-space human exploration NASA's push beyond low Earth orbit requires more than engineering fixes; the agency must prioritise human physiology and psychology to make long‑duration lunar and Mars missions viable. Radiation protection, countermeasures for bone and muscle loss, neurocognitive changes, and sustained mental health support need programmatic funding and operational integration.

2026-02-16T03:15:19.678268-08:00

NASA must address physical and psychological limits to enable deep-space human exploration

Bloomberg

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Artemis II crew to test Orion on first crewed lunar flyby in over 50 years NASA will return astronauts to the lunar neighborhood for the first time in more than 50 years with Artemis II, a crewed lunar flyby that will validate the Orion spacecraft systems and operational procedures central to future Artemis lunar-return missions.

2026-02-15T19:59:39.920485-08:00

Artemis II crew to test Orion on first crewed lunar flyby in over 50 years

Universe Today

JWST detects hydrogen sulfide on four HR 8799 planets, settles planet vs. brown dwarf debate Using the James Webb Space Telescope, astronomers have detected hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in the atmospheres of four massive, Jupiter-like planets orbiting HR 8799 — the first identification of H2S beyond the Solar System. The finding indicates sulfur was delivered by solids during formation, resolving a planet vs. brown dwarf debate.

2026-02-15T17:10:53.172083-08:00

JWST detects hydrogen sulfide on four HR 8799 planets, settles planet vs. brown dwarf debate

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NASA News

NASA backs flying Artemis II with Orion's existing heat shield after Artemis I anomaly

NASA targets Feb. 19 for second Artemis II wet dress rehearsal to fully fuel SLS/Orion

The space nuclear power bottleneck — and how to fix it

NASA pauses work on multiple agency priorities pending White House executive order; Isaacman to provide details

News Timeline