7 – Breaking News & Latest Updates 2026
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NASA

Richard Lawler
Richard Lawler
A simple plan.

NASA and the European Space Agency are developing a plan to bring interplanetary rock samples — already collected by the Perseverance rover — from Mars back to Earth by 2033.

Watch as Lizzie Philip explains the plan, as it exists so far, for the Mars Sample Return Mission.

Mary Beth Griggs
Mary Beth Griggs
NASA just released the full report of its investigation into James Webb.

Naming the United States’ flagship space after James Webb, a former Administrator of NASA was a controversial choice. Webb was: a.) not a scientist, and b.) presided over NASA during a time in which people identifying as LGBTQ+ were discriminated against. NASA investigated Webb’s involvement in those practices last year, and released the full report today.

Based on the available evidence, the agency does not plan to change the name of the James Webb Space Telescope. However, the report illuminates that this period in federal policy – and in American history more broadly – was a dark chapter that does not reflect the agency’s values today.

Putting Amazon’s Alexa in space is harder than you think

We sent our smart home reviewer to check out an Alexa designed for space travel before it launched on its journey to the Moon.

Jennifer Pattison Tuohy
NASA’s Artemis 1 mission is finally headed toward the MoonNASA’s Artemis 1 mission is finally headed toward the Moon
Mary Beth Griggs and Andrew J. Hawkins
Mary Beth Griggs
Mary Beth Griggs
Liftoff!

NASA’s megarocket, the Space Launch System has launched!

Mary Beth Griggs
Mary Beth Griggs
We are go for launch!

The countdown clock has just started, we’re less than 8 minutes away from the launch of the Artemis 1 mission.

How to watch NASA’s Artemis I SLS megarocket launch

Emma Roth and Mary Beth Griggs
Mary Beth Griggs
Mary Beth Griggs
Please hold.

NASA’s Artemis 1 mission was scheduled to launch at 1:04AM ET. But the launch is now in a holding pattern while engineers try to figure out how much work still needs to be done after troubleshooting multiple issues, including an ‘intermittent’ hydrogen leak a ‘problematic’ ethernet cable.

Mary Beth Griggs
Mary Beth Griggs
The Red Crew is going in.

With just hours to go before the latest launch window opens for NASA’s Artemis 1 mission, a small team of technicians is about to enter the launch area to try to fix an intermittent hydrogen leak.

NASA says it should take the Red Crew about 15 minutes to “torque the packing nuts” at the base of the mobile launcher. Watch NASA’s coverage, or follow along with us as we watch the launch attempt.

NASA’s megarocket is about to blast off toward the Moon

Here’s a cheat sheet for the Artemis I mission

Mary Beth Griggs
Mary Beth Griggs
Mary Beth Griggs
It’s time to fuel up!

In a few minutes, NASA will start loading propellant into the SLS in preparation for its scheduled launch time at 1:04AM ET. Coverage has already started on NASA TV.

How to watch NASA’s Artemis I SLS megarocket launch

Emma Roth and Mary Beth Griggs
How to watch NASA’s Artemis I SLS megarocket launchHow to watch NASA’s Artemis I SLS megarocket launch
Emma Roth and Mary Beth Griggs
Mary Beth Griggs
Mary Beth Griggs
That’s no flying saucer.

It’s a giant inflatable heat shield, aka NASA’s Low-Earth Orbit Flight Test of an Inflatable Decelerator (LOFTID). It was just fished out of the Pacific Ocean this morning.

Richard Lawler
Richard Lawler
SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy is preparing for its first launch since 2019.

Falcon Heavy is back on the pad, preparing for a launch as early as October 31st, as it delivers... something into orbit for the US Space Force.

Mary Beth Griggs
Mary Beth Griggs
New ‘Pillars of Creation’ just dropped.

JWST’s latest shot takes on the iconic Hubble image ‘Pillars of Creation’, and the result is gorgeous. Also, so sparkly.

Towering pillars of orange and red dust soar against a midnight backdrop speckled with stars.
NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI; Joseph DePasquale (STScI), Anton M. Koekemoer (STScI), Alyssa Pagan (STScI)
Mary Beth Griggs
Mary Beth Griggs
A crew of astronauts will splashdown off the coast of Jacksonville very soon.

NASA has live coverage of their return streaming now, in case you’re looking for something to tune into on a Friday afternoon. Splashdown is expected around 4:50PM ET.

Mary Beth Griggs
Mary Beth Griggs
NASA has a new launch date for Artemis I.

Mark your calendars! The oft-delayed mission is going to make another launch attempt on November 14, at 12:07AM ET. First the rocket has to make its way back to the launchpad, a process that could start as soon as November 4.

If the 14th doesn’t work out, NASA has backup launch windows on November 16 and November 19.

The art behind NASA’s scientific space photos

Welcome to the aesthetics of space photography

Jay Castello
Richard Lawler
Richard Lawler
The history-making SpaceX Crew-5 launch is scheduled for noon ET.

SpaceX’s Dragon Endurance spacecraft is set to launch with four astronauts on board, two of whom will usher in firsts for space flight.

Nicole Mann will make history as the first indigenous woman from NASA to launch into space. She also will be the first female commander of the Dragon crew capsule. Roscosmos’ Anna Kikina will be the first Russian cosmonaut on the SpaceX Crew Dragon.

How to make a telescope out of the sunHow to make a telescope out of the sun
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Mary Beth Griggs
Mary Beth Griggs
NASA’s SLS rocket is secure as Hurricane Ian barrels towards Florida.

The rocket — and the Orion spacecraft on top — are now back inside the massive Vehicle Assembly Building. Facing menacing forecasts, NASA decided to roll it away from the launchpad yesterday.