A peer-reviewed paper in Chinese Space Science and Technology highlights critical design flaws in China's lunar mission engine systems, noting a lack of backup engines. This contrasts with US approaches and could reflect differing values placed on human life in space exploration.
NASA, Artemis III görevi için 3 ABD'li ve 1 İtalyan astronot seçti. Görev, Ay'a iniş öncesi SpaceX Starship ve Blue Origin Blue Moon araçlarını Dünya yörüngesinde test edecek.
Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket exploded during a test fire, destroying Launch Complex 36 at Kennedy Space Center. The incident could delay NASA's Artemis moon missions and affect other clients like Amazon and AST SpaceMobile.
SpaceX's Starship rocket completed its 12th test flight with a controlled splashdown in the Indian Ocean, despite engine malfunctions and an unsuccessful orbital insertion. The mission tested a new design and deployed mock satellites.
US lawmakers at a congressional hearing identified China as the 'most consequential threat and competitor in space,' warning that Beijing leverages its space capabilities 'as a tool of diplomacy and influence.' The two superpowers are in a tight race to the moon, with China targeting a 2030 crewed lunar landing and the US aiming to return astronauts by 2028 via the Artemis programme. A CSIS expert testified that the nation setting space standards will 'set the terms by which information flows, networks interoperate, and how the world is seen.'
Japan’s JAXA has invested at least US$78.5 million to build components for NASA’s Lunar Gateway project, which NASA announced on March 24 it was freezing to focus on constructing a moon surface base with future Mars missions in mind. The project, part of NASA’s Artemis programme aimed at returning astronauts to the moon for the first time since 1972, faced cost concerns from the Office of Management and Budget last May, though US$2.6 billion in funding was earmarked under President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act last July.
NASA'nın Artemis II mürettebatı, Ay yörüngesindeki görevlerini başarıyla tamamlayarak insanlık tarihinin en uzak noktasına ulaştı ve Apollo 13'ün rekorunu kırdı. Ekip, Dünya'ya dönüş yolunda Pasifik Okyanusu'na iniş yapmaya hazırlanıyor.
