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Space Exploration news
Research helps power safe return of astronauts in historic Orion splashdown
When NASA's Orion capsule splashed down in the Pacific Ocean April 10, completing a successful Artemis II mission milestone, a critical piece of the spacecraft's safe return traced back to research at Rice University.
Space Exploration
7 hours ago
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Artemis II crew used modern photography to tell the story of their lunar journey—and update some classic Apollo images
At this point in NASA's human spaceflight story, researchers have a substantial amount of material—documents, artifacts and images—with which to tell the stories of past flights to space. But with NASA's Artemis II mission ...
Space Exploration
Apr 13, 2026
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Space worms! A microscopic crew goes into orbit to support future moon missions
British scientists have launched a crew of microscopic worms to the International Space Station in a pioneering experiment that could help unlock the secrets of long-duration space travel—and support ambitions to reach the ...
Space Exploration
Apr 13, 2026
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As Artemis II is celebrated, the world faces hard questions about US leadership in space
The successful Artemis II trip around the moon was a historic achievement—the first crewed lunar fly-by in more than 50 years, and the greatest distance yet traveled by humans from our "pale blue dot."
Space Exploration
Apr 13, 2026
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NASA already has next Artemis flight in its sights following astronauts' triumphant moon flyby
Never-before-glimpsed views of the moon's far side. Check. Total solar eclipse gracing the lunar scene. Check. New distance record for humanity. Check.
Space Exploration
Apr 13, 2026
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How Artemis II's Earthset photo compares with the iconic Earthrise image from 1968
As NASA's Artemis II mission completed its lunar flyby, the astronauts sent back a stunning image of the colorful Earth setting behind the moon. This breathtaking photo, called Earthset, draws inevitable comparisons with ...
Space Exploration
Apr 12, 2026
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JAXA plans to bring back pristine early solar system samples from a comet
Japan's space agency, JAXA, has been knocking it out of the park with small-body exploration missions for decades. They had historic successes with both Hayabusa and Hayabusa2, and they are going to visit the Martian moons ...
Space Exploration
Apr 12, 2026
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Artemis crew urges unity on 'lifeboat' Earth
Artemis II astronauts expressed awe on Saturday over their record-setting lunar flyby mission, urging unity on Earth after witnessing the planet's isolation like a "lifeboat" in space.
Space Exploration
Apr 12, 2026
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Artemis II lunar mission draws flood of conspiracy theories
From false claims that a historic lunar fly-by was staged in a movie studio to unfounded narratives that footage of the crew was AI-generated, the Artemis II mission has been clouded by a blizzard of misinformation.
Space Exploration
Apr 11, 2026
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Top takeaways from the Artemis II mission
NASA's Artemis II mission sent four astronauts—three Americans and one Canadian—on the first lunar flyby in more than 50 years.
Space Exploration
Apr 11, 2026
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After Artemis II, NASA looks to SpaceX, Blue Origin for moon landings
With Artemis II successfully completing its historic lunar mission on Friday, NASA is banking on billionaires Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk for the next step: landing astronauts on the moon.
Space Exploration
Apr 11, 2026
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'Howl at the moon': NASA's bid to boost space enthusiasm
When NASA flight director Zebulon Scoville was working a shift during the uncrewed Artemis I test flight, he realized the US space agency wasn't consistently livestreaming the spacecraft's journey to Earth.
Space Exploration
Apr 11, 2026
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Artemis II's record-breaking journey around the moon ends with dramatic splashdown
Artemis II's astronauts closed out humanity's first lunar voyage in more than half a century with a Pacific splashdown on Friday, blazing new records near the moon with grace and joy.
Space Exploration
Apr 11, 2026
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Parachutes: A vital part of Artemis II's trip home
As the Orion spacecraft hurtles home, friction caused by reentry into Earth's atmosphere will drastically decrease its speed from a potential 25,000 miles per hour (40,000 kilometers per hour).
Space Exploration
Apr 10, 2026
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Artemis II's grand moon finale is almost here with a Pacific splashdown to cap NASA's lunar comeback
Their dramatic grand finale fast approaching, Artemis II's astronauts aimed for a splashdown in the Pacific on Friday to close out humanity's first voyage to the moon in more than half a century.
Space Exploration
Apr 10, 2026
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ESA's Celeste broadcasts first navigation signal from low Earth orbit
The European Space Agency has achieved a European first with Celeste, successfully transmitting a navigation signal from low Earth orbit, following the launch of the mission's first satellites on March 28.
Astronomy
Apr 10, 2026
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The Deep Space Network acquires Artemis II signal
The acquisition of the radio frequency signal from the Artemis II crewed mission to the moon by NASA's Deep Space Network (DSN) is indicated by the peak in the data signal shown on the top computer screen.
Space Exploration
Apr 10, 2026
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Artemis II: As humans return to the Moon, which of these 4 futures will we choose?
The four Artemis II astronauts who looped around the moon this week are expected to splash down soon. NASA's grand mission spells a return to human deep-space travel, with renewed interest in building a long-term moon base.
Space Exploration
Apr 10, 2026
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After reaching speeds of 10,657 meters per second, Artemis II hurtles home for make-or-break splashdown
The Artemis II astronauts conducted a historic lunar flyby, gathered invaluable data and took in unprecedented moon views, but one of the most crucial moments of their 10-day mission is still to come: Friday's splashdown.
Space Exploration
Apr 10, 2026
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Artemis astronauts to shed light on space health risks
While the Artemis II astronauts have been protected from the icy vacuum of space on their journey, their bodies have nonetheless been left exposed to possibly high levels of radiation—a danger of space travel that NASA is ...
Space Exploration
Apr 10, 2026
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Artemis mission approaches lunar loop for first flyby since 1972
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Smart cable sharing gives quantum computers a big boost
