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Ryan Gosling stars as Ryland Grace in PROJECT HAIL MARY, from Amazon MGM Studios. Photo credit: Jonathan Olley © 2026 Amazon Content Services LLC. All Rights Reserved.

NPR

The real space science behind ‘Project Hail Mary’

by Tara Haelle April 12, 2026April 12, 2026

The science fiction blockbuster wowed audiences with its depiction of space travel and more. Here’s what NASA staff and other scientists say about the basis for the amazing events of the film.

In this handout image provided by NASA, a view of the moon taken by an Artemis II crewmember through the window of the Orion spacecraft on Friday, the third day of the mission.

NPR

What can Artemis II astronauts see that satellites haven’t captured?

by Ava Berger April 6, 2026April 6, 2026

The astronauts on Artemis II will observe parts of the moon rarely seen by human eyes. A NASA planetary scientist said it will offer a vital perspective for lunar research.

A view of Earth taken by NASA astronaut and Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman from the Orion spacecraft's window after completing the translunar injection burn on April 2, 2026.

NPR

NASA’s Artemis II crew are quite the photographers. See what they’ve snapped so far

by Ayana Archie April 3, 2026April 3, 2026

Many of the photos that have come out of the moon mission so far were taken by crew members. NASA says the crew is getting guidance from scientists on what to capture when they get closer to the moon.

A view of Earth from NASA's Orion spacecraft during the Artemis II test flight on Thursday.

NPR

NASA’s Artemis II has left Earth’s orbit, and 4 astronauts now head to the moon

by Nell Greenfieldboyce April 3, 2026April 3, 2026

With the last major firing of its engine, the Artemis II spacecraft is now on a path that will take it around the moon and back.

The US Navy's USS Cincinnati littoral combat ship (LCS) arrives for a port call at the Ream Naval base, located in Cambodia's southern coast in Preah Sihanouk province, on Jan. 24, 2026. Several vessels of the same class have been equipped for mine-clearing operations.

NPR

Is the U.S. Navy ready to clear sea mines in the Persian Gulf?

by Scott Neuman April 1, 2026April 1, 2026

Despite the danger of sea mines, experts say that mine clearing has received minimal attention and funding from the U.S. Navy — and it’s often overshadowed by more high-profile weapons systems.

NASA employees brief the media on Thursday at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. about the delayed Artemis II mission. The news conference focused on revisions and fixes being done to the rocket components.

NPR

NASA targets Artemis II crewed moon mission for April 1 launch

by Brendan Byrne March 12, 2026March 12, 2026

A six-day launch window opens on April 1 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The lunar orbital mission would be the first time humans have returned to the moon since Apollo 17 in 1972.

The mobile launcher containing the Artemis II Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft arrives at the Vehicle Assembly Building after a rollback that lasted over ten hours at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on February 25, 2026. NASA teams detected issues with the helium flow and removed the rocket from the launchpad.

NPR

NASA redirects Artemis moon mission program, postponing a planned astronaut landing

by Brendan Byrne February 27, 2026February 27, 2026

In shaking up its Artemis lunar program, NASA’s new moon plan looks more like the Apollo missions of the 1960s. Instead of landing on the surface on Artemis III, NASA hopes to do so on Artemis IV.

A report by a NASA review panel says a error in pointing software caused the Lunar Trailblazer spacecraft's solar panels to face away from the sun.

NPR

NASA lost a lunar spacecraft one day after launch. A new report details what went wrong

by Joe Palca February 26, 2026February 26, 2026

Why did a $72 million mission to study water on the moon fail so soon after launch? A new NASA report has the answer.

A day after NASA said it was eyeing a potential March 6 launch date for the Artemis II lunar mission, the space agency now says new complications could derail all of the March launch dates. The rocket, seen here at the Kennedy Space Center launch pad on Friday, may need to be rolled back to the Vehicle Assembly Building for additional tests.

NPR

NASA’s Artemis II lunar mission may not launch in March after all

by Russell Lewis February 21, 2026February 21, 2026

NASA says an “interrupted flow” of helium to the rocket system could require a rollback to the Vehicle Assembly Building. If it happens, NASA says the launch to the moon would be delayed until April.

NASA' says it's ready to launch four people on a trip around the moon on the Artemis II mission as early as March 6.

NPR

NASA eyes March 6 to launch 4 astronauts to the moon on Artemis II mission

by Nell Greenfieldboyce February 20, 2026February 20, 2026

The four astronauts heading to the moon for the lunar fly-by are the first humans to venture there since 1972. The ten-day mission will travel more than 600,000 miles.