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Universe Today • Andy Tomaswick

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

Universe Today

ESA's JUICE to study Jupiter's 94 'minor' moons alongside Ganymede, Europa and Callisto; arrives 2031

2026-03-19T06:58:25.082231-07:00

SpaceNews.com

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

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

Space.com

Artemis II rolls back to Launch Complex 39B as final launch preparations resume

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

News Timeline

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

Universe Today

ESA's JUICE to study Jupiter's 94 'minor' moons alongside Ganymede, Europa and Callisto; arrives 2031 ESA’s JUICE, arriving at Jupiter in 2031, will focus on Ganymede, Europa and Callisto — mapping Ganymede’s magnetic field — but a Space Science Reviews paper by Tilmann Denk shows the probe will also gather significant 'bonus' science from Jupiter’s other 94 moons.

2026-03-19T06:58:25.082231-07:00

ESA's JUICE to study Jupiter's 94 'minor' moons alongside Ganymede, Europa and Callisto; arrives 2031

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 back to Launch Complex 39B as final launch preparations resume On March 19, NASA rolled the Artemis II SLS‑Orion stack from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Complex 39B — a roughly four‑mile, up-to-12‑hour move on crawler‑transporter 2 — advancing final preparations ahead of a targeted April 1, 10‑day crewed lunar flyby after recent repairs to the vehicle’s upper stage.

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

Artemis II rolls back to Launch Complex 39B as final launch preparations resume

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

NASA Spaceflight

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SpaceX completes Starbase Pad 2 activation and hot‑fire of Super Heavy V3 as Booster 19 and Ship 39 finish cryo and static tests SpaceX has completed activation of Starbase Pad 2 and run an initial hot‑fire of Super Heavy V3, with Booster 19 finishing cryogenic proof and static‑fire tests. The campaign debuts Block 3 hardware and Raptor 3 engines and primes Ship 39 and Booster 19 for Flight 12, targeted early April 2026.

2026-03-18T12:18:18.049549-07:00

SpaceX completes Starbase Pad 2 activation and hot‑fire of Super Heavy V3 as Booster 19 and Ship 39 finish cryo and static tests

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Space Exploration & Science Missions News

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

ESA's JUICE to study Jupiter's 94 'minor' moons alongside Ganymede, Europa and Callisto; arrives 2031

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

Artemis II rolls back to Launch Complex 39B as final launch preparations resume

News Timeline