Space Exploration & Science Missions News

Space.com • Keith Cooper

Cassini finds complex organics in Enceladus plumes, strengthening case for life-search missions

Reanalysis of Cassini plume and E-ring data reveals complex organic molecules venting from Enceladus’ subsurface ocean, indicating active prebiotic or life-like chemistry. The detection bolsters scientific and programmatic arguments for targeted missions—including ESA studies—to directly assess the moon’s habitability.

2025-10-02T03:03:39.907774-07:00

Space.com

Perseverance's potential biosignature sample raises stakes as China's Tianwen‑3 aims to return Mars material

2025-10-01T05:08:11.589447-07:00

nasawatch.com

Government shutdown furloughs ~15,000 NASA staff; Kennedy, science work halted while ISS and select missions continue

2025-09-30T18:38:36.250173-07:00

Space.com

Chang'e-6 far-side samples show Moon's hemispheres differ — far side colder and compositionally distinct

2025-09-30T14:06:34.311939-07:00

Space Exploration & Science Missions News Timeline

Space.com

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Cassini finds complex organics in Enceladus plumes, strengthening case for life-search missions Reanalysis of Cassini plume and E-ring data reveals complex organic molecules venting from Enceladus’ subsurface ocean, indicating active prebiotic or life-like chemistry. The detection bolsters scientific and programmatic arguments for targeted missions—including ESA studies—to directly assess the moon’s habitability.

2025-10-02T03:03:39.907774-07:00

Cassini finds complex organics in Enceladus plumes, strengthening case for life-search missions

investors.intuitivemachines.com

Intuitive Machines completes $30M acquisition of KinetX to boost deep‑space navigation and Moon‑to‑Mars data relay Intuitive Machines has finalized a $30 million acquisition of KinetX, integrating the company's deep‑space navigation and mission‑operations expertise with Intuitive Machines' Data Service Platform. The deal expands constellation management and navigation capabilities to accelerate delivery of secure data‑relay services from the Moon toward Mars.

2025-10-01T06:28:26.712880-07:00

Intuitive Machines completes $30M acquisition of KinetX to boost deep‑space navigation and Moon‑to‑Mars data relay

Space.com

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Perseverance's potential biosignature sample raises stakes as China's Tianwen‑3 aims to return Mars material Perseverance's recent analysis of Jezero's 'Sapphire Canyon' mudstones finds organics plus iron‑phosphate and iron‑sulfide nodules that resemble microbial textures, but definitive identification requires Earth laboratory study. China’s Tianwen‑3 sample‑return campaign could be the first mission to deliver Martian material to Earth for that analysis.

2025-10-01T05:08:11.589447-07:00

Perseverance's potential biosignature sample raises stakes as China's Tianwen‑3 aims to return Mars material

Space.com

Perseverance detects microbial-like mineral textures at Cheyava Falls, Jezero Crater NASA’s Perseverance rover has identified mineral textures at Cheyava Falls in Jezero Crater that closely resemble those produced by microbes on Earth, a study led by NASA with contributions from Imperial College and Stony Brook scientists says — researchers call it the strongest evidence yet for possible ancient Martian life.

2025-10-01T03:05:33.067339-07:00

Perseverance detects microbial-like mineral textures at Cheyava Falls, Jezero Crater

GeekWire

Blue Origin and Luxembourg launch Project Oasis — Oasis‑1 to map lunar water ice, helium‑3 and radionuclides Blue Origin and Luxembourg partners announced Project Oasis, a multi‑phase campaign to identify and exploit lunar resources. Oasis‑1, the first mission, will produce the most detailed orbital and ground maps yet of lunar water ice, helium‑3 and radionuclides, and feed downstream in‑situ resource‑utilization efforts.

2025-09-30T19:32:45.955048-07:00

Blue Origin and Luxembourg launch Project Oasis — Oasis‑1 to map lunar water ice, helium‑3 and radionuclides

nasawatch.com

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Government shutdown furloughs ~15,000 NASA staff; Kennedy, science work halted while ISS and select missions continue A federal government shutdown that began at 12:01 a.m. ET has forced NASA into an orderly closure, furloughing about 15,000 employees and suspending most work at centers including Kennedy. Only operations tied to the ISS, select satellites and Artemis support will continue.

2025-09-30T18:38:36.250173-07:00

Government shutdown furloughs ~15,000 NASA staff; Kennedy, science work halted while ISS and select missions continue

Space.com

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Chang'e-6 far-side samples show Moon's hemispheres differ — far side colder and compositionally distinct China's Chang'e-6 returned the first samples from the Moon's far side, and early analyses show that the far hemisphere is colder and compositionally distinct from the near side. The findings constrain lunar thermal history and interior differentiation, reshaping models for formation and planning of future missions.

2025-09-30T14:06:34.311939-07:00

Chang'e-6 far-side samples show Moon's hemispheres differ — far side colder and compositionally distinct

SpaceNews.com

China schedules late‑2025 high‑stakes tests for crewed Moon programme and reusable launchers China plans a series of high‑stakes tests and launches in the final quarter of 2025 that are pivotal to its crewed lunar programme and to validating reusable commercial launchers. Results will influence taikonaut mission timelines and the commercial viability of China's reusable‑rocket sector.

2025-09-30T10:36:43.439105-07:00

China schedules late‑2025 high‑stakes tests for crewed Moon programme and reusable launchers

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