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NASA's Mars Sample Return mission has been declared dead, according to a report in Science. The flagship program, meant to bring samples collected by the Perseverance rover back to Earth, had already faced ballooning costs and schedule delays. Commenters are reacting to the apparent cancellation of one of NASA's most ambitious planetary science efforts and debating what it means for the future of Mars exploration.
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SpaceX's Starship, the largest rocket ever built, has achieved orbit for the first time, a milestone in the development of the fully reusable launch system intended for missions to the Moon and Mars. The successful flight marks a breakthrough after earlier test flights ended in failure, and is being widely covered as a major moment for the space industry and NASA's lunar plans.
- 3SpaceX Starship deploys Starlinks on orbital debut flight●SpaceX's Starship makes orbital debut deploying Starlinks before early ending
SpaceX's Starship completed its first orbital-class mission deploying Starlink satellites before the flight ended early. The test demonstrated the vehicle's ability to carry payloads to orbit for the first time, a key milestone for SpaceX's plans to expand its satellite internet constellation and for NASA's lunar ambitions, even though the mission did not run its full duration.
- 4SpaceX's Starship reaches orbit for first time in early-ending flight●SpaceX's supersized Starship launches into orbit for first time but flight ending early
SpaceX's supersized Starship, the largest rocket ever built, has launched into orbit for the first time. The test flight from the company's Texas facility ended earlier than planned, but the launch marks a major milestone in Elon Musk's effort to develop a fully reusable vehicle for missions to the Moon and Mars. The flight is being closely watched as a test of NASA's Artemis lunar program plans.
- 5SpaceX Starship splashes down after first orbital flight test●SpaceX Starship splashes down after successful 1st orbital flight test
SpaceX's Starship has splashed down after completing its first orbital flight test, a milestone for the company's next-generation rocket. The flight marks a step forward in SpaceX's efforts to develop a fully reusable spacecraft intended for missions to the Moon and eventually Mars. Observers are watching closely as each test flight brings the program closer to operational use, with NASA counting on a Starship variant for its Artemis lunar landing plans.
- 6SpaceX's Starship lifts off in make-or-break orbital test flight●SpaceX’s Starship lifts off in make-or-break orbital test flight
SpaceX launched its Starship rocket on a critical orbital test flight, a milestone the company has framed as make-or-break for the vehicle's development. The giant rocket lifted off from the company's Texas launch site as engineers evaluated its performance. The flight is being closely watched because Starship is central to SpaceX's future plans, including deep-space missions and NASA's lunar ambitions.
- 7NASA says ISS robotic arm is temporarily out of action●NASA, for the time being, is unable to move the space station's large robotic arm https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/09/
NASA reports that the Canadarm2, the International Space Station's large robotic arm, has stopped working and cannot be moved for the time being. Engineers are assessing the fault on the critical system used for capturing cargo vehicles and moving equipment around the station. Observers are watching closely for updates on whether operations can be restored and what the malfunction means for station logistics.
- 8Artemis Accords surpass 75 signatories●NASA Celebrates as Artemis Accords Surpasses 75 Signatories https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-celebrates-as-artemis
NASA announced that the Artemis Accords, its international framework for cooperative lunar and deep space exploration, has surpassed 75 signatory nations. The agency celebrated the milestone as evidence of growing global support for its Artemis program, which aims to return astronauts to the Moon and build a framework for peaceful, transparent space operations. The accord commits signatories to standards on interoperability, emergency assistance and preservation of space heritage.
- 9NASA to Introduce Artemis II Crew at Houston Public Event●Meet NASA’s Artemis II Crew During Houston Public Event
NASA is inviting the public to meet the four astronauts assigned to Artemis II, the upcoming crewed mission that will fly around the Moon. The event in Houston offers a rare chance to hear directly from the crew about preparations for the flight, which is set to be the first crewed lunar mission since Apollo 17 more than fifty years ago.
- 10NASA unable to move space station's robotic arm●NASA, for the time being, is unable to move the space station’s large robotic arm
NASA says it is currently unable to move the International Space Station's large robotic arm, the Canadarm2, for the time being. The arm is essential for capturing cargo spacecraft, moving equipment and supporting spacewalks outside the orbiting laboratory. Few further details about the cause of the problem or expected repair timeline have been released, and observers are waiting for updates from the agency.
- 11New findings point to possible life on Saturn's moon Enceladus●Promising discoveries about the potential for life on one of Saturn’s icy moons
Researchers led by a team at Freie Universität Berlin have reported promising new evidence that Saturn's icy moon Enceladus could support life. Building on data from NASA's Cassini mission, the study suggests conditions beneath the moon's frozen surface, including its subsurface ocean, may be hospitable to microbes. The findings, published in Science, are drawing wide attention from the scientific community and space enthusiasts.
- 12Space Station Starts Week of Advanced Health Research Ahead of Crew-13●Advanced Health Research Begins Week as Station Awaits Crew-13 Mission
The International Space Station's crew kicked off a week focused on advanced health research while preparations continue for the upcoming SpaceX Crew-13 mission. NASA says the studies aboard the orbiting laboratory continue to inform medicine on Earth, with the new crew rotation expected to bring additional scientific work to the station once it arrives.
- 13NASA turns to AI to mine decades of scientific data●At NASA, AI is helping scientists unlock discoveries hidden in decades of data
NASA scientists are using artificial intelligence to analyse decades' worth of archived mission data, uncovering discoveries that earlier tools missed. By applying modern machine learning to vast historical datasets, researchers hope to extract new insights from past observations at lower cost than new missions. The work highlights how AI is becoming a standard research tool across space science.
- 14NASA and SpaceX Prepare Crew-13 Mission to Space Station●What You Need to Know About NASA’s SpaceX Crew-13 Mission
NASA has published details on its SpaceX Crew-13 mission, outlining what to expect from the next crewed flight to the International Space Station. The overview covers the mission's crew, launch plans and objectives. It continues the regular rotation of astronaut transport flights operated by SpaceX under NASA's commercial crew programme, keeping the station staffed and research running.
- 15NASA's SpaceX Crew-13 Rocket Arrives at Launch Pad●NASA’s SpaceX Crew-13 Rocket Arrives at Launch Pad
The rocket that will carry NASA's SpaceX Crew-13 mission to the International Space Station has arrived at its launch pad, a standard step ahead of liftoff. The milestone signals final preparations are underway for the next crew rotation flight, with launch expected once preflight checks and reviews are complete.
- 16Odds of Being Hit by Falling Space Junk Are Rising●"For now, people are more likely to be struck by lightning than by falling space junk. But those odds are shifting. Sean
Experts, including former NASA administrator Sean O'Keefe, warn that while a person is currently more likely to be struck by lightning than by falling space debris, those odds are shifting as orbital traffic grows. They argue governments and companies should be required to use materials that fully burn up on reentry, amid rising concern about the environmental and safety costs of the growing amount of junk reentering the atmosphere.
- 17NASA to Introduce Artemis II Crew at Houston Public Event●Meet NASA's Artemis II Crew During Houston Public Event https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/meet-nasas-artemis-ii-crew-dur
NASA has announced a public event in Houston where audiences can meet the Artemis II crew, the four astronauts assigned to the upcoming lunar flyby mission. The agency is inviting the public to hear directly from the astronauts ahead of the flight, which will be the first crewed mission around the Moon since Apollo. Space enthusiasts are sharing the news and discussing the mission's significance.
- 18James Webb captures vast panorama of IC 348 star-forming region▼🌠 Beyond citizen science: the James Webb Space Telescope (NASA/ESA/CSA) has captured one of its largest panoramas yet -
The James Webb Space Telescope, operated by NASA, ESA and CSA, has released one of its largest panoramic images to date: the IC 348 star-forming region, filled with hundreds of young stars and brown dwarfs. Astronomy enthusiasts say the observation offers a valuable window into the earliest stages of star and planet formation.
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NASA is developing infrastructure for a permanent lunar base ahead of sending astronauts back to the Moon. Work on surface systems and habitat components is being advanced so that facilities are ready when crewed Artemis missions land. Space watchers are discussing the strategy of building support structures on the Moon in advance of human arrival.
- 20Hubble Completes 200,000th Orbit of Earth●Happy 200,000th, Hubble! This month marked the Hubble telescope’s 200,000 orbit around Earth. That’s a lot of laps! NASA
NASA is marking a milestone for the Hubble Space Telescope, which this month completed its 200,000th orbit around Earth. To celebrate, the agency released a striking new image taken by the observatory. Hubble has now been operating in space for more than 36 years and continues to produce scientific discoveries despite its age, drawing fresh admiration for its endurance.
- 21NASA Details Lessons From Swift Orbit-Boost Mission●NASA Highlights Lessons Learned From Swift Boost Mission
NASA has published a rundown of lessons learned from the mission that boosted the orbit of its Swift observatory, a space telescope that studies gamma-ray bursts. The agency says the operation offered practical insights into prolonging the life of aging satellites, and space-science watchers are passing the findings around.
- 22NASA seeks volunteer reviewers for science proposals●NASA’s Science Mission Directorate Seeks Volunteer Reviewers
NASA's Science Mission Directorate is inviting volunteers to serve as reviewers for its science proposals. The call gives researchers and interested experts a chance to help evaluate grant applications across the directorate's science programs, and it is being circulated among the space science and astrobiology community, where participation in review panels is seen as a valuable professional service.