Sam's News — space — 2026-08-13¶
Space¶
7 NASA's Perseverance Rover Images Earth Disappearing from Mars Surface¶
NASA's Perseverance rover on Mars recorded a striking first: Earth vanishing behind the moon Phobos from 195 million miles away.
Sources: ScienceDaily RSS, sciencedaily.com Web Search
7 Northrop Grumman to repurpose canceled lunar station tech for Artemis moon base¶
Northrop Grumman plans to adapt technology from the canceled HALO lunar space station module to support NASA's Artemis moon base development.
Sources: Space.com RSS, space.com Web Search
6.5 NASA invites India to participate in Moon Base construction program¶
NASA is seeking India's involvement in its lunar base development initiative.
Sources: The Hindu RSS Update to: NASA Invites ISRO to Join Artemis Moon Base Program
6.5 NASA highlights Rocketdyne's mission-critical role in space exploration¶
NASA has emphasized the critical importance of Rocketdyne's engines for its space missions.
Sources: axios.com RSS
6.5 NASA radiation vest tested on lunar missions shows promise for reducing astronaut solar storm exposure¶
A radiation protection vest tested during NASA's moonshot missions can significantly reduce astronauts' exposure during solar storms, according to a new study.
Sources: Decatur Daily RSS Update to: Radiation-shielding vest tested on Artemis I could protect astronauts from solar storms
6.5 Supermassive black hole jets extend 300,000 light years into space¶
A supermassive black hole is releasing energy through jets that span 300,000 light years, three times the diameter of the Milky Way galaxy.
Sources: Space.com RSS
6.5 NASA proposes using microscopic light-driven tracers to map the edge of space¶
NASA is developing a concept to use microscopic particles propelled by sunlight to map the boundary region at the edge of space.
Sources: universetoday.com RSS Update to: NASA plans to use light-based microspheres to map the upper atmosphere
Space Exploration¶
7 NASA Advances Mars Mission Timeline with New Thruster Technology¶
NASA receives a boost from new thruster technology that could accelerate human missions to Mars.
Sources: FOX Weather RSS
7 NASA advances Mars crewed missions with breakthrough electric thruster technology¶
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory achieved a breakthrough in lithium-vapor-powered electromagnetic thrusters, reaching 120 kilowatts—over 25 times more powerful than current NASA thrusters. The technology uses up to 90% less propellant than chemical rockets, increasing confidence in faster Mars crewed missions.
- Lithium-vapor electromagnetic thrusters tested
- 120 kilowatts power: 25× more powerful than Psyche Mission thrusters
- Tungsten electrode exceeded 5,000 degrees Celsius
- Uses up to 90% less propellant than chemical rockets
- Current goal: 500 kW to 1 megawatt; Mars mission requires 2–4 MW for 23,000+ hours
- Technology researched since 1960s, never flown operationally
Sources: Fox Weather AI Web Searched, foxweather.com Web Search
6.5 NASA Outlines Strategy for Building a Permanent Base on the Moon¶
NASA released details of its plan to construct a sustainable base on the lunar surface as part of the Artemis program.
Sources: - The Southern Maryland Chronicle RSS