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Space.com • Elizabeth Howell

NASA to unveil the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope April 21, setting out next-generation mission milestones

NASA will unveil the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope on April 21, with a live-streamed event to preview what’s next for the observatory. The reveal follows the program’s focus on enabling large-scale space astronomy beyond current survey capabilities.

2026-04-21T07:55:45.678464-07:00

Payload

NASA to start monthly uncrewed Moon missions under CLPS beginning next year

2026-04-21T07:50:14.811777-07:00

Space.com

Curiosity adds to Mars organic inventory with >20 molecule detections from Gale Crater

2026-04-21T04:25:36.472414-07:00

AeroTime

China conducts liquid-hydrogen propulsion in-flight test—signals growing confidence in cryogenic powertrains

2026-04-21T04:47:39.319658-07:00

News Timeline

Space.com

NASA to unveil the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope April 21, setting out next-generation mission milestones NASA will unveil the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope on April 21, with a live-streamed event to preview what’s next for the observatory. The reveal follows the program’s focus on enabling large-scale space astronomy beyond current survey capabilities.

2026-04-21T07:55:45.678464-07:00

NASA to unveil the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope April 21, setting out next-generation mission milestones

Payload

NASA to start monthly uncrewed Moon missions under CLPS beginning next year NASA says it plans to conduct monthly uncrewed lunar missions using CLPS starting next year, scaling how often payloads can be delivered to the Moon. The move is a major cadence change for commercial lunar services as NASA’s broader lunar architecture and lander options remain in flux.

2026-04-21T07:50:14.811777-07:00

NASA to start monthly uncrewed Moon missions under CLPS beginning next year

AeroTime

China conducts liquid-hydrogen propulsion in-flight test—signals growing confidence in cryogenic powertrains A Chinese firm has reportedly completed a successful in-flight test of liquid hydrogen propulsion. The coverage focuses on what is publicly known so far, placing the effort in the broader context of China’s rapid experimentation with hydrogen-powered aerospace systems and potential scalability for future vehicles.

2026-04-21T04:47:39.319658-07:00

China conducts liquid-hydrogen propulsion in-flight test—signals growing confidence in cryogenic powertrains

Space.com

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Curiosity adds to Mars organic inventory with >20 molecule detections from Gale Crater NASA’s Curiosity rover reports more than 20 organic molecules detected in clay-bearing sandstones at Glen Torridon in Gale crater, based on three drill samples analyzed by the Sample Analysis at Mars instrument suite. The team says the chemistry is the most diverse organics set found on Mars to date.

2026-04-21T04:25:36.472414-07:00

Curiosity adds to Mars organic inventory with >20 molecule detections from Gale Crater

SpaceNews.com

NASA inspector general: Artemis lunar spacesuits and ISS xEMU upgrades face delays into the 2031 window NASA’s inspector general warns that new spacesuits required for Artemis lunar missions—and related suits supporting International Space Station operations—may not be ready until 2031. The assessment flags further schedule risk as NASA’s human lunar program continues to reshape architectures and milestones for the near term.

2026-04-20T20:02:21.781111-07:00

NASA inspector general: Artemis lunar spacesuits and ISS xEMU upgrades face delays into the 2031 window

Universe Today

eROSITA disentangles Solar System soft X-ray emission, clarifying its impact on the X-ray sky Using the eROSITA space telescope, MPE researchers have isolated the X-ray glow originating within the Solar System and quantified how it contributes to the observed soft X-ray sky. The result improves interpretation of diffuse X-ray backgrounds and separates local emission from astrophysical sources.

2026-04-20T17:57:57.572722-07:00

eROSITA disentangles Solar System soft X-ray emission, clarifying its impact on the X-ray sky

Space.com

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NASA powers down Voyager 1’s LECP instrument to conserve energy and extend interstellar mission life On April 17, engineers at NASA’s JPL sent commands to deactivate the Low-energy Charged Particles (LECP) experiment aboard Voyager 1 to preserve power. The 48-year-old spacecraft is now about 24 billion kilometers from Earth and is continuing its interstellar journey by turning off additional systems as batteries fade.

2026-04-20T15:00:02.164662-07:00

NASA powers down Voyager 1’s LECP instrument to conserve energy and extend interstellar mission life

SpaceWatch Africa

ispace and KACST sign Saudi strategic partnership to develop lunar exploration technologies ispace, Inc. and Saudi Arabia’s King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) have signed a strategic partnership to collaborate on developing lunar exploration technologies in Saudi Arabia, including cooperation aimed at building local lunar capability. The agreement expands ispace’s Saudi industrial and technology footprint.

2026-04-20T08:53:09.118030-07:00

ispace and KACST sign Saudi strategic partnership to develop lunar exploration technologies

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Space Exploration & Science Missions News

NASA to unveil the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope April 21, setting out next-generation mission milestones

NASA to start monthly uncrewed Moon missions under CLPS beginning next year

Curiosity adds to Mars organic inventory with >20 molecule detections from Gale Crater

China conducts liquid-hydrogen propulsion in-flight test—signals growing confidence in cryogenic powertrains

News Timeline