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ESA orbiters record record‑breaking solar superstorm striking Mars and altering its atmosphere

ESA's Mars orbiters logged a rare solar superstorm that struck Mars — producing the largest atmospheric response observed there to date — and confirmed the same event also impacted Earth. Instruments recorded changes in the Red Planet's upper atmosphere, yielding new data on storm interactions with non‑magnetized planets.

2026-03-06T11:07:21.750724-08:00

Ars Technica

Orion cleared for Artemis launch as NASA reshuffles rockets; lunar lander question remains

2026-03-06T07:58:27.800025-08:00

European Spaceflight

ESA loses contact with one of PROBA‑3 pair after anomaly forces spacecraft into survival mode

2026-03-06T04:27:23.383967-08:00

SpaceNews.com

China elevates aerospace to 'emerging pillar industry' in five‑year economic blueprint, sets deep‑space goals

2026-03-06T02:21:09.331043-08:00

News Timeline

Space.com

ESA orbiters record record‑breaking solar superstorm striking Mars and altering its atmosphere ESA's Mars orbiters logged a rare solar superstorm that struck Mars — producing the largest atmospheric response observed there to date — and confirmed the same event also impacted Earth. Instruments recorded changes in the Red Planet's upper atmosphere, yielding new data on storm interactions with non‑magnetized planets.

2026-03-06T11:07:21.750724-08:00

ESA orbiters record record‑breaking solar superstorm striking Mars and altering its atmosphere

Ars Technica

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Orion cleared for Artemis launch as NASA reshuffles rockets; lunar lander question remains NASA has reorganized its Artemis launch vehicles and confirms Orion is ready to fly on the upcoming Artemis mission, but the agency has not resolved who will provide a crewed lunar lander. The move advances the flight schedule while leaving surface access and contractor selection unsettled.

2026-03-06T07:58:27.800025-08:00

Orion cleared for Artemis launch as NASA reshuffles rockets; lunar lander question remains

Universe Today

Century-long solar records reveal patterns to sharpen near-term solar-activity forecasts A new study reanalyzed more than a century of solar observations to uncover connections in sunspot and magnetic behavior that improve short-term predictions of solar activity. The work aims to reduce uncertainty in when solar storms and coronal mass ejections will occur, enhancing near-term space‑weather forecasting skill.

2026-03-06T07:40:49.504508-08:00

Century-long solar records reveal patterns to sharpen near-term solar-activity forecasts

Ars Technica

United Launch Alliance to build additional upper stages for NASA's SLS United Launch Alliance will build additional upper stages for NASA's Space Launch System, increasing ULA's production role in SLS sustainment. The decision adds hardware capacity for upcoming Artemis-class missions and shifts near-term workload and supplier demand onto ULA's manufacturing lines.

2026-03-06T04:57:37.101570-08:00

United Launch Alliance to build additional upper stages for NASA's SLS

European Spaceflight

ESA loses contact with one of PROBA‑3 pair after anomaly forces spacecraft into survival mode The European Space Agency said it lost contact with one of the two PROBA‑3 spacecraft after an anomaly put the vehicle into survival mode. PROBA‑3 is a dual‑satellite demonstration of close‑proximity formation flying for a coronagraph in low Earth orbit; ESA teams are analysing the cause.

2026-03-06T04:27:23.383967-08:00

ESA loses contact with one of PROBA‑3 pair after anomaly forces spacecraft into survival mode

SpaceNews.com

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China elevates aerospace to 'emerging pillar industry' in five‑year economic blueprint, sets deep‑space goals China's draft national economic blueprint names aerospace an 'emerging pillar industry' and sets major objectives for the next five years, elevating deep‑space ambitions alongside broader sector development. The move signals Beijing's intention to prioritise aerospace in industrial policy and planning during the coming Five‑Year period.

2026-03-06T02:21:09.331043-08:00

China elevates aerospace to 'emerging pillar industry' in five‑year economic blueprint, sets deep‑space goals

SpaceNews.com

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Matt Anderson sails through Senate hearing for NASA deputy administrator; committee vote set for March 12 Matt Anderson, the White House nominee for NASA deputy administrator, received bipartisan support and faced little pushback at his March 5 Senate Commerce Committee confirmation hearing. The committee is scheduled to vote on his nomination March 12, advancing a key senior post under Administrator Jared Isaacman.

2026-03-05T15:15:28.851667-08:00

Matt Anderson sails through Senate hearing for NASA deputy administrator; committee vote set for March 12

Ars Technica

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Congress extends ISS funding, tells NASA to accelerate transition to commercial LEO stations Congress extended funding for the International Space Station and directed NASA to accelerate the transition to commercially operated low‑Earth‑orbit stations, signalling renewed legislative commitment to post‑ISS commercialization. The move provides near‑term program certainty for NASA and commercial station developers as the agency shifts responsibilities to industry.

2026-03-05T11:33:18.844222-08:00

Congress extends ISS funding, tells NASA to accelerate transition to commercial LEO stations

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Space Exploration & Science Missions News

ESA orbiters record record‑breaking solar superstorm striking Mars and altering its atmosphere

Orion cleared for Artemis launch as NASA reshuffles rockets; lunar lander question remains

ESA loses contact with one of PROBA‑3 pair after anomaly forces spacecraft into survival mode

China elevates aerospace to 'emerging pillar industry' in five‑year economic blueprint, sets deep‑space goals

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