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NASA • Charles G. Hatfield

L3Harris delivers modified Boeing 777 to NASA for next-generation airborne science lab; first test campaign slated for 2027

L3Harris has delivered a modified Boeing 777 research aircraft to NASA ahead of schedule, incorporating heavy structural modifications and hardware upgrades to convert a former commercial airliner into an airborne science laboratory. NASA says it will begin a first test campaign in 2027 and target its first science mission for January.

2026-04-22T13:39:18.717768-07:00

Space.com

JWST delivers first detailed images of planetary nebula Tc 1, revealing post–sun-like star “buckyball” structures

2026-04-23T10:07:19.384841-07:00

SpaceNews.com

Jordan signs the Artemis Accords as NASA’s 63rd partner nation

2026-04-23T08:25:57.651642-07:00

Space.com

Japan’s MMX mission to Mars’ moon Phobos reaches launch pad ahead of 2031 sample return

2026-04-23T06:06:00.960977-07:00

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Space.com

JWST delivers first detailed images of planetary nebula Tc 1, revealing post–sun-like star “buckyball” structures The James Webb Space Telescope has captured its first detailed images of the planetary nebula Tc 1, showing new features of what happens after a sun-like star dies. The observations highlight “buckyball” structures and provide fresh clues about the chemistry and morphology of late stellar evolution.

2026-04-23T10:07:19.384841-07:00

JWST delivers first detailed images of planetary nebula Tc 1, revealing post–sun-like star “buckyball” structures

SpaceNews.com

Jordan signs the Artemis Accords as NASA’s 63rd partner nation Jordan became the 63rd country to sign the NASA-led Artemis Accords in a ceremony at NASA headquarters in Washington. The agreement adds a sixth Middle East nation to the U.S.-led framework aimed at safety, transparency, and coordination for peaceful, sustainable lunar exploration.

2026-04-23T08:25:57.651642-07:00

Jordan signs the Artemis Accords as NASA’s 63rd partner nation

Space.com

Japan’s MMX mission to Mars’ moon Phobos reaches launch pad ahead of 2031 sample return JAXA’s Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) has arrived at the launch pad for its Phobos sample-return mission. The complex endeavor targets return of Phobos material to Earth in 2031, aiming to clarify the origins of Mars’ two small moons, Phobos and Deimos.

2026-04-23T06:06:00.960977-07:00

Japan’s MMX mission to Mars’ moon Phobos reaches launch pad ahead of 2031 sample return

Payload

Astrobotic conducts NASA Marshall hot-fire tests of Chakram engine prototype for lunar lander power Astrobotic tested one of its two Chakram engine prototypes with a continuous 300-second hot-fire at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. The run is part of a broader prototype test campaign intended to validate power-plant performance for future Moon missions.

2026-04-23T05:20:30.703779-07:00

Astrobotic conducts NASA Marshall hot-fire tests of Chakram engine prototype for lunar lander power

Lockheed Martin

Lockheed Martin backs Fortem with $25M investment to expand airspace security against counter-UAS Lockheed Martin announced a $25 million investment in Fortem Technologies, a provider of airspace security solutions, citing urgent demand tied to countering UAS threats. The move signals sustained defense-prime focus on scaling detection/mitigation capabilities for rapidly evolving drone risks.

2026-04-23T03:35:01.360735-07:00

Lockheed Martin backs Fortem with $25M investment to expand airspace security against counter-UAS

collectSPACE

Vast unveils custom flight suit and wearable timepiece for commercial space-station crews Vast says it has adopted a custom approach to astronaut apparel, unveiling its astronaut flight suit for use in commercial space-station operations. The company also revealed it is testing a timepiece tailored for the same program, continuing its push to standardize crew gear for in-orbit missions.

2026-04-22T19:50:53.912897-07:00

Vast unveils custom flight suit and wearable timepiece for commercial space-station crews

New York Times

Elon Musk recasts SpaceX’s roadmap—moon ambitions, Mars delay and AI-driven priorities As SpaceX prepares for an IPO, Elon Musk is proposing “moonshots” that move away from the company’s original Mars-centric framing. The shift adds AI as a central theme, signaling a changing long-term strategy even as SpaceX’s public-market push accelerates attention on its next investment narrative.

2026-04-22T17:57:39.994931-07:00

Elon Musk recasts SpaceX’s roadmap—moon ambitions, Mars delay and AI-driven priorities

NASA

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L3Harris delivers modified Boeing 777 to NASA for next-generation airborne science lab; first test campaign slated for 2027 L3Harris has delivered a modified Boeing 777 research aircraft to NASA ahead of schedule, incorporating heavy structural modifications and hardware upgrades to convert a former commercial airliner into an airborne science laboratory. NASA says it will begin a first test campaign in 2027 and target its first science mission for January.

2026-04-22T13:39:18.717768-07:00

L3Harris delivers modified Boeing 777 to NASA for next-generation airborne science lab; first test campaign slated for 2027

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Space Exploration & Science Missions News

L3Harris delivers modified Boeing 777 to NASA for next-generation airborne science lab; first test campaign slated for 2027

JWST delivers first detailed images of planetary nebula Tc 1, revealing post–sun-like star “buckyball” structures

Jordan signs the Artemis Accords as NASA’s 63rd partner nation

Japan’s MMX mission to Mars’ moon Phobos reaches launch pad ahead of 2031 sample return

News Timeline