Artemis

SpaceX has launched its Starship rocket toward orbit for the first time, a milestone for the company's next-generation heavy-lift vehicle. The test flight marks the first attempt to send the spacecraft on an orbital trajectory, a key step in Elon Musk's plans for lunar and Mars missions and NASA's Artemis program.

SpaceX is preparing to attempt the first orbital flight test of its Starship, the largest and most powerful rocket ever built, from its Starbase facility in Texas. The test is a key milestone in the company's push toward reusable deep-space transport, with NASA counting on a Starship variant to land astronauts on the Moon under the Artemis program.

NASA has laid out plans for a permanent moon base costing an estimated $20 billion, according to ABC News. The strategy would establish a long-term human presence on the lunar surface, building on the Artemis program. Details of the timeline, funding and partners remain under scrutiny as observers weigh what the ambitious proposal would require.

NASA is developing infrastructure for a lunar base ahead of sending astronauts back to the Moon, according to reports circulating widely online. The approach means hardware and habitat systems are being designed and staged before crews arrive, a shift in how crewed lunar missions are being planned. Commenters are weighing in on the timeline and whether the agency can deliver on its Artemis-era ambitions.

SpaceX has planned Starship's first orbital flight with the primary goal of testing the vehicle's critical systems. The test flight is intended to gather data on the rocket's performance under real launch conditions, a key step toward future deep-space missions. Space watchers are following the mission closely as Starship underpins NASA's Artemis lunar plans and SpaceX's long-term ambitions.

NASA's Artemis II mission is set to return astronauts to the Moon for the first time since Apollo 17 in 1972, prompting questions about why the gap lasted more than five decades. Commentators point to shifting political priorities, soaring costs, and the cancellation of earlier programs like Constellation as reasons the US pause extended so long.

Ahead of NASA's Artemis II mission to fly astronauts around the Moon, ABC News has published a guide explaining the key terms and jargon surrounding the flight. The explainer covers what the mission involves, the spacecraft and rocket hardware, and the meaning of phrases used in coverage. Interest in the Artemis program remains high as the crewed lunar flight approaches, prompting outlets to help readers follow mission terminology.

NASA has reportedly given a new mission to astronauts who previously flew around the Moon. The announcement has drawn attention from space watchers, coming as the agency continues preparations for its Artemis lunar exploration program. Further details about the crew and the specifics of the assignment were not provided in the reporting.

News circulating in French-language posts suggests Ivory Coast and San Marino are involved with the US-led Artemis Accords, the NASA-backed framework for cooperation on lunar exploration and the peaceful use of space. The item pairs the two countries with the United States and references space cooperation and exploration, though no further detail is provided about when or how the two states joined or engaged with the accords.

Three countries have signed the Artemis Accords, the US-led framework establishing rules for peaceful exploration of the Moon and beyond under NASA's Artemis programme. The additions expand the growing coalition of nations committing to transparency, interoperability and responsible conduct in space exploration, as international competition over lunar activity intensifies.

NASA says it is making progress toward Artemis III, the mission intended to return astronauts to the surface of the Moon. The Artemis program aims to land the first crew near the lunar south pole, and each step of preparation draws attention as the agency works toward its target launch window. Observers continue to watch for updates on the timeline and hardware milestones.

The Artemis Accords, NASA's framework for international cooperation on lunar exploration, has grown to 76 signatory nations. The coalition sets shared principles for missions to the Moon, including transparency, interoperability and the use of space resources. The growing membership shows how the United States is building broad international support for its vision of lunar governance, even as rival approaches to space rules emerge.

SpaceX's Starship suffered an engine failure during testing, and Reuters reports the setback could affect NASA's timeline for returning astronauts to the Moon. Starship is central to NASA's Artemis programme as the planned lunar lander, so any technical delay risks pushing back mission objectives. Observers are watching for official word from SpaceX and NASA on how the failure will influence upcoming test flights and launch schedules.

During its 14th test flight, several engines on SpaceX's Starship upper stage and its booster failed. The propulsion problems could affect planning for NASA's Moon missions, which rely on a Starship-derived lander. Observers are watching whether the failures will delay the Artemis programme's timeline.

Florida TODAY is leading its daily news roundup with three state stories: a lightning strike, the countdown to NASA's Artemis launch from the Kennedy Space Center area, and utility credits from Florida Power & Light. Miami Herald and The Palm Beach Post carried the same roundup, keeping Artemis and the FPL credits in focus for readers across Florida.

The four astronauts assigned to NASA's Artemis II mission, the first crewed flight to the vicinity of the Moon since Apollo, are drawing public attention. The crew includes commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch of NASA, and Jeremy Hansen of the Canadian Space Agency. Interest centres on the mission's historic crew and its role in returning humans to deep space.

NASA has announced the opening of its 2027 Human Lander Challenge focused on lunar communications, inviting participation in developing technologies that support human lander missions to the Moon. Details beyond the announcement are limited so far, but the initiative signals NASA's continued push to prepare communication systems for upcoming crewed lunar exploration under its Artemis-era plans.

Artemis won the race starts at the SailGP event in Geneva, and data from the regatta shows how the team gained the edge off the line. An analysis of start figures points to Artemis's positioning and timing as decisive factors. The performance has drawn attention in sailing circles following the Swiss stop of the series.

Boiron's Ambrosia Artemisiaefolia 30C, a single-medicine homeopathic pellet product marketed for hay fever and itchy eye relief, is being listed by retailers including Whole Foods Market in an 80-pellet size. The remedy is sold over the counter as a seasonal allergy option, though homeopathic products remain debated, as there is no robust scientific evidence supporting effectiveness beyond placebo.

SpaceX's Starship encountered an engine failure during its 14th test flight. The rocket completed several key mission objectives, but the malfunction of one of its engines cut the flight short by several hours. The failure could complicate NASA's Artemis program plans to land humans on the Moon using a Starship-derived lunar lander, and observers are assessing what the glitch means for the program's timeline.

Six months after the Artemis II mission, preparations are underway in Florida for the next crewed launch in NASA's Artemis program. A new crew of astronauts is training for the upcoming flight from the state's Space Coast, as the agency continues its effort to return humans to the Moon and build toward future deep-space missions.

Signatories of the Artemis Accords are set to meet to address how to manage debris on the Moon and how established space powers can assist countries with emerging space programs. The talks reflect growing operational activity around lunar missions and the need for shared norms as more nations participate in NASA-led exploration efforts.