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Space.com • Elizabeth Howell

NASA Roman Space Telescope nears launch: fully assembled, set for September 2026 lift-off, eight months ahead of schedule and un

NASA says the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is fully assembled and will launch as early as September 2026—eight months ahead of schedule and under cost. The mission will test new space-based planet-hunting technologies, including a coronagraph, to image exoplanets and dusty disks in the infrared.

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

Space.com

Curiosity rover finds its most diverse suite yet of organic molecules on Mars, including new detections from Glen Torridon clay-

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

Payload

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

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

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

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NASA Roman Space Telescope nears launch: fully assembled, set for September 2026 lift-off, eight months ahead of schedule and un NASA says the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is fully assembled and will launch as early as September 2026—eight months ahead of schedule and under cost. The mission will test new space-based planet-hunting technologies, including a coronagraph, to image exoplanets and dusty disks in the infrared.

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

NASA Roman Space Telescope nears launch: fully assembled, set for September 2026 lift-off, eight months ahead of schedule and un

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 rover finds its most diverse suite yet of organic molecules on Mars, including new detections from Glen Torridon clay- NASA’s Curiosity has identified more than 20 organic molecules from clay-bearing sandstones in Gale Crater’s Glen Torridon using its Sample Analysis at Mars suite. Three drill samples taken during the rover’s work there returned diverse organics, including some never seen before, deepening the astrobiology case while not proving life.

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

Curiosity rover finds its most diverse suite yet of organic molecules on Mars, including new detections from Glen Torridon clay-

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 Roman Space Telescope nears launch: fully assembled, set for September 2026 lift-off, eight months ahead of schedule and un

Curiosity rover finds its most diverse suite yet of organic molecules on Mars, including new detections from Glen Torridon clay-

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

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

News Timeline