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CNBC • Magdalena Petrova

China's rapid rise in space: Tiangong, Mars rover, lunar sample return and Beidou challenge U.S. industry

Over recent years China has executed a string of high‑profile space milestones — a low‑Earth‑orbit station (Tiangong), a Mars rover landing, the first sample return from the Moon’s far side and a global Beidou navigation system — positioning Beijing as a direct competitor to the U.S. space sector.

2026-03-07T13:22:22.465664-08:00

Universe Today

Astronauts Use Bacteria and Fungi to Harvest Metals in Space

2026-03-07T18:23:56.916229-08:00

NASA

NASA's DART mission becomes first to alter an asteroid's orbit around the Sun

2026-03-06T11:19:08.440074-08:00

NASA

Japan's first HTV‑X1 undocks from ISS Harmony and departs on March 6; NASA streams live

2026-03-06T08:59:50.791229-08:00

News Timeline

Universe Today

Astronauts Use Bacteria and Fungi to Harvest Metals in Space Astronauts are using bacteria and fungi to harvest metals in space, leveraging microbes that live on and in crew, surfaces and food. Understanding how these organisms respond to space conditions is critical for managing onboard microbiomes and could enable biological in‑situ resource utilization on long‑duration exploration missions.

2026-03-07T18:23:56.916229-08:00

Astronauts Use Bacteria and Fungi to Harvest Metals in Space

CNBC

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China's rapid rise in space: Tiangong, Mars rover, lunar sample return and Beidou challenge U.S. industry Over recent years China has executed a string of high‑profile space milestones — a low‑Earth‑orbit station (Tiangong), a Mars rover landing, the first sample return from the Moon’s far side and a global Beidou navigation system — positioning Beijing as a direct competitor to the U.S. space sector.

2026-03-07T13:22:22.465664-08:00

China's rapid rise in space: Tiangong, Mars rover, lunar sample return and Beidou challenge U.S. industry

Space.com

Long‑duration spaceflight shifts and deforms the human brain inside the skull A new study finds that long‑duration spaceflight causes the human brain to shift upward and backward and to deform within the skull. Researchers report measurable structural changes following extended microgravity exposure, raising questions about neurological effects on astronauts during prolonged missions.

2026-03-07T03:03:43.130135-08:00

Long‑duration spaceflight shifts and deforms the human brain inside the skull

NASA

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NASA's DART mission becomes first to alter an asteroid's orbit around the Sun Analysis of the 2022 DART impact on the binary system Didymos–Dimorphos shows the collision not only shortened Dimorphos's orbit around its larger companion but measurably changed the pair's heliocentric path — the first deliberate alteration of a celestial body's orbit around the Sun and a proof point for planetary defense.

2026-03-06T11:19:08.440074-08:00

NASA's DART mission becomes first to alter an asteroid's orbit around the Sun

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

NASA

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Japan's first HTV‑X1 undocks from ISS Harmony and departs on March 6; NASA streams live JAXA's first HTV‑X1 cargo spacecraft undocked from the ISS Harmony module and departed on March 6 at 12 p.m. ET after being grappled and released by Canadarm2. NASA provided live coverage on NASA+, Amazon Prime and its YouTube channel as Expedition 74 continued cargo transfers, spacewalk preparations and on‑station research.

2026-03-06T08:59:50.791229-08:00

Japan's first HTV‑X1 undocks from ISS Harmony and departs on March 6; NASA streams live

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

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Space Exploration & Science Missions News

China's rapid rise in space: Tiangong, Mars rover, lunar sample return and Beidou challenge U.S. industry

Astronauts Use Bacteria and Fungi to Harvest Metals in Space

NASA's DART mission becomes first to alter an asteroid's orbit around the Sun

Japan's first HTV‑X1 undocks from ISS Harmony and departs on March 6; NASA streams live

News Timeline