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SpaceNews.com • Andrew Jones

China names near‑Earth asteroid target for December 2027 kinetic‑impactor test

China has identified a near‑Earth asteroid as the target for its first planetary‑defense kinetic‑impactor mission, set to launch in December 2027. The test will attempt a high‑speed impact to validate kinetic deflection as a means to alter an asteroid's trajectory and inform future planning.

2026-03-18T05:52:22.600459-07:00

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NASA forced to choose which planetary missions to keep as program faces funding shortfall

2026-03-18T05:18:40.243901-07:00

Space.com

Rainfall, rivers and seas on Titan: what Earth analogues teach mission planners

2026-03-18T05:18:38.707088-07:00

Space.com

NASA delays ISS spacewalk after onboard medical evacuation; EVA now slated for ~8 a.m. EDT (1200 GMT)

2026-03-17T21:07:20.621685-07:00

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China names near‑Earth asteroid target for December 2027 kinetic‑impactor test China has identified a near‑Earth asteroid as the target for its first planetary‑defense kinetic‑impactor mission, set to launch in December 2027. The test will attempt a high‑speed impact to validate kinetic deflection as a means to alter an asteroid's trajectory and inform future planning.

2026-03-18T05:52:22.600459-07:00

China names near‑Earth asteroid target for December 2027 kinetic‑impactor test

SpaceNews.com

NASA forced to choose which planetary missions to keep as program faces funding shortfall NASA’s planetary science program is confronting a budget shortfall that agency leaders say will require “strategic choices” about which missions to continue. The shortfall is driving a program-wide reprioritization as NASA evaluates ongoing and planned planetary projects against constrained funding.

2026-03-18T05:18:40.243901-07:00

NASA forced to choose which planetary missions to keep as program faces funding shortfall

Space.com

Rainfall, rivers and seas on Titan: what Earth analogues teach mission planners Despite extreme cold and a hydrocarbon chemistry, Titan hosts rainfall, rivers and seas that mirror Earth's hydrological processes. Researchers are using terrestrial analogues and Earth-based observations to interpret Titan's surface, reduce mission risk, and refine landing-site and payload requirements for future Saturn-system exploration.

2026-03-18T05:18:38.707088-07:00

Rainfall, rivers and seas on Titan: what Earth analogues teach mission planners

Space.com

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NASA delays ISS spacewalk after onboard medical evacuation; EVA now slated for ~8 a.m. EDT (1200 GMT) NASA postponed a planned International Space Station extravehicular activity following an in-orbit medical evacuation and now expects the spacewalk to begin at about 8 a.m. EDT (1200 GMT). Mission managers will provide live coverage while they revise timelines and confirm crew readiness for external work.

2026-03-17T21:07:20.621685-07:00

NASA delays ISS spacewalk after onboard medical evacuation; EVA now slated for ~8 a.m. EDT (1200 GMT)

Space.com

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Ryugu sample from Hayabusa2 contains all five canonical nucleobases Laboratory analysis shows a sample returned by JAXA's Hayabusa2 from asteroid Ryugu contains all five canonical nucleobases — adenine, guanine, cytosine, thymine and uracil — the molecular components of DNA and RNA, providing direct evidence asteroids can carry life's genetic building blocks.

2026-03-17T11:12:20.704340-07:00

Ryugu sample from Hayabusa2 contains all five canonical nucleobases

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Tissue chips flown to model astronaut organ responses on the ISS Micro-scale tissue chips are being flown to the International Space Station to act as surrogates for human organs, enabling controlled study of cellular and tissue responses to microgravity and space radiation. Data will inform crew medical care and countermeasures for long-duration missions.

2026-03-17T04:12:24.080116-07:00

Tissue chips flown to model astronaut organ responses on the ISS

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Melagen Labs and Satlyt to Demonstrate Radiation‑Resilient In‑Orbit Computing and Advanced Shielding on the ISS Melagen Labs and Satlyt will fly a joint technology demonstration to the International Space Station to validate radiation‑resilient in‑orbit computing and next‑generation shielding. The ISS experiment aims to test hardware and software resilience for autonomous on‑orbit processing and to inform future commercial satellite and manufacturing designs.

2026-03-16T09:32:26.411625-07:00

Melagen Labs and Satlyt to Demonstrate Radiation‑Resilient In‑Orbit Computing and Advanced Shielding on the ISS

SpaceNews.com

Investing in student programs is essential for America’s lead in space The author argues expanding and funding student programs is essential to sustain America’s leadership in space. Scaled internships, university partnerships and K–12 STEM outreach are needed to produce engineers, technicians and mission planners for upcoming government and commercial missions and to preserve industrial competitiveness.

2026-03-16T06:02:22.900980-07:00

Investing in student programs is essential for America’s lead in space

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Space Exploration & Science Missions News

China names near‑Earth asteroid target for December 2027 kinetic‑impactor test

NASA forced to choose which planetary missions to keep as program faces funding shortfall

Rainfall, rivers and seas on Titan: what Earth analogues teach mission planners

NASA delays ISS spacewalk after onboard medical evacuation; EVA now slated for ~8 a.m. EDT (1200 GMT)

News Timeline