Nasa

NASA has announced a strategy for establishing a permanent moon base, with an estimated price tag of $20 billion. The plan outlines infrastructure for sustained human presence on the lunar surface, building on the Artemis programme. Coverage is focused on what the base would involve, how it would be funded, and what it means for future crewed missions to the Moon and eventually Mars.

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.

SpaceX is reportedly targeting an aggressive launch cadence for its Starship program, with three flights planned within roughly five weeks. Space commentators note the schedule would mark a major step up in testing pace for the vehicle, which SpaceX needs to fly repeatedly to prove reusability and meet timelines for NASA's Moon landings. Observers are weighing whether the company can realistically achieve such a rapid turnaround between launches.

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.

SpaceX is preparing its Starship rocket for a 14th test flight, according to AP News. The reusable vehicle, central to Elon Musk's plans for missions to the Moon and Mars, continues its series of incremental flight tests. Each launch draws attention as the company works toward full reusability and upcoming NASA lunar missions.

Jared Isaacman, the billionaire entrepreneur and private astronaut nominated to lead NASA, spoke about the agency's direction at a Wall Street Journal event, discussing what he calls a new era for the space agency. The remarks drew wide attention amid debate over commercial space partnerships, lunar and Mars ambitions, and the future of NASA's leadership under his potential tenure.

The US Federal Aviation Administration has cleared SpaceX to proceed with the 14th flight of its Starship rocket. The regulator's approval removes the last major hurdle for the next test launch from SpaceX's Texas facilities. Starship is central to NASA's lunar landing plans and Elon Musk's ambitions for deep-space travel, and each flight test draws close attention from space watchers and industry analysts.

NASA's Perseverance rover has found that Jezero Crater on Mars was more complex than once believed, revealing evidence beyond its known history as an ancient lake. The discovery suggests the crater experienced a richer and more varied geological past, with implications for the search for signs of ancient microbial life on the Red Planet.

Experts, including former NASA administrator Sean O'Keefe, warn that while a person is still more likely to be struck by lightning than by falling space debris, the odds are shifting as more objects re-enter the atmosphere. They argue governments and companies should be required to use materials that fully burn up on re-entry to reduce the risk.

NASA's Crew-13 astronauts have arrived at Kennedy Space Center in Florida ahead of their launch to the International Space Station, targeted for October 1. The crew will travel to the orbital outpost as part of NASA's ongoing commercial crew rotation program. Arrival at the launch site marks the final stage of pre-flight preparations, including training reviews and vehicle checks with SpaceX hardware.

A private spacecraft sent to service or boost an aging NASA telescope failed in its mission and has burned up in Earth's atmosphere. The attempt, which would have extended the observatory's life, ended without a rescue, raising questions about the telescope's future and the risks of commercial deep-space servicing missions.

Nasa scientists are travelling to observe a rare solar eclipse, according to BBC News. Eclipses offer researchers a brief window to study the Sun's corona and test instruments that cannot gather this data at any other time. Teams often deploy to remote viewing paths for just minutes of totality, making each event a costly, carefully planned scientific operation drawing public curiosity.

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.