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Bloomberg • Ed Ludlow, Julie Johnsson, Loren Grush

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

Space.com

Artemis II rolls to Launch Complex 39B for final pad processing ahead of April lunar flyby

2026-03-19T03:09:44.789352-07:00

SpaceNews.com

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

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

Universe Today

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

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

News Timeline

Bloomberg

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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

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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

Space.com

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Artemis II rolls to Launch Complex 39B for final pad processing ahead of April lunar flyby On March 19 NASA rolled the Artemis II Space Launch System and Orion four miles from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Complex 39B using crawler‑transporter 2. The move follows recent repairs and completes final pad processing ahead of the crewed lunar flyby mission.

2026-03-19T03:09:44.789352-07:00

Artemis II rolls to Launch Complex 39B for final pad processing ahead of April lunar flyby

Reuters

Perseverance detects buried ancient river delta in Jezero — some of the oldest evidence of flowing water on Mars Using ground-penetrating radar in Jezero Crater, NASA's Perseverance rover has detected a buried ancient river delta that predates surface deposits seen from orbit. The discovery provides some of the oldest direct evidence that liquid water flowed on Mars billions of years ago and reveals deeper fluvial architecture for future sampling.

2026-03-18T15:09:26.934756-07:00

Perseverance detects buried ancient river delta in Jezero — some of the oldest evidence of flowing water on Mars

Space.com

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Meir and Williams complete 7‑hour EVA to install solar‑array modification kit, prepping ISS for roll‑out arrays NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Chris Williams completed a 7‑hour, 2‑minute spacewalk to install a solar array modification kit on the ISS, marking Williams’ first EVA and Meir’s fourth. NASA called the operation highly productive as it prepares the station’s 2A power channel for new roll‑out arrays.

2026-03-18T13:35:29.516201-07:00

Meir and Williams complete 7‑hour EVA to install solar‑array modification kit, prepping ISS for roll‑out arrays

Universe Today

NASA's SPARCS CubeSat returns first-light images, launches M‑dwarf habitability campaign NASA's Star-Planet Activity Research CubeSat (SPARCS) has returned first-light images and begun an observing campaign targeting M‑dwarf stellar activity. The smallsat will chart ultraviolet output and energetic flares from the galaxy’s most common stars to inform assessments of exoplanet habitability.

2026-03-18T12:40:41.290441-07:00

NASA's SPARCS CubeSat returns first-light images, launches M‑dwarf habitability campaign

SpaceNews.com

NASA forced to choose which planetary missions to keep as program faces funding shortfall NASA’s planetary science program is confronting a budget shortfall that agency leaders say will require “strategic choices” about which missions to continue. The shortfall is driving a program-wide reprioritization as NASA evaluates ongoing and planned planetary projects against constrained funding.

2026-03-18T05:18:40.243901-07:00

NASA forced to choose which planetary missions to keep as program faces funding shortfall

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NASA News

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

Artemis II rolls to Launch Complex 39B for final pad processing ahead of April lunar flyby

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

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

News Timeline