Sam's News — space — 2026-08-18¶
Space Exploration¶
7.5 French astronaut Sophie Adenot makes historic spacewalk¶
European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot on August 18 became the first French woman to conduct a spacewalk.
- Sophie Adenot, European Space Agency astronaut, first French woman spacewalker
- Altitude: ~400 km (250 miles); duration: 6.5 hours
- Mission: replaced space-to-ground antenna for ISS-Houston communications
- Adenot: engineer, former test pilot; second Frenchwoman in space (February 2026)
- Last French spacewalker: Thomas Pesquet (six prior spacewalks)
Sources: Space.com RSS, Yahoo News AI Web Searched, Phys.org RSS
Space¶
7.5 NASA Extends Voyager 2 Operations in Interstellar Space for Additional Year¶
NASA extended Voyager 2's mission in interstellar space for at least one additional year by switching off non-essential powered devices and replacing their functions with lower-power alternatives. After nearly 49 years in space and traveling 13.2 billion miles from Earth, the spacecraft's radioisotope thermoelectric generators now power three remaining science instruments. Communications with the distant probe involve approximately 40-hour round-trip signal delays.
- Launched 1977, approaching 49-year milestone on August 20, 2026
- Located 13.2 billion miles (143 AU) from Earth, moving at ~34,000 mph
- Crossed heliopause into interstellar space November 5, 2018 at 119.7 AU
- Power-management fix named 'Big Bang' preserves three science instruments
- 40-hour round-trip communication delay, powered by radioisotope generators
Sources: Aerospace, Defence and Security News (AGN) AI Web Searched, Aerospace Global News Web Search
7.5 NASA Administrator Expresses Confidence in 2027 Artemis 3 Mission Timeline¶
NASA leadership is extremely confident in the Artemis 3 mission occurring in 2027, requiring three sequential rocket launches within approximately a year.
Sources: Spaceflight Now Web Search Update to: NASA Administrator confident in 2027 Artemis 3 mission launch
7 NASA extends Voyager 2 operations after 49 years in interstellar space¶
NASA has found a way to extend Voyager 2's operational lifespan after 49 years of operation in interstellar space.
Sources: Aerospace Global News Web Search Update to: NASA Extends Voyager 2 Operations for Another Year of Science
6.5 NASA identifies cause of Mars's 'spider' surface formations¶
NASA has determined the explanation for the unusual spider-like surface features observed on Mars.
Sources: ZME Science RSS
6.5 NASA Invites India to Join Lunar Base Development Program¶
NASA has extended an invitation to India to participate in its lunar base program.
Sources: Tempo.co English RSS Update to: NASA invites India's ISRO to join Artemis lunar base program
6.5 Artemis II Pilot Praises NASA for Opportunity to Manually Pilot Orion¶
An Artemis II crew member expressed gratitude to NASA and its contractors for the opportunity to pilot the Orion spacecraft manually during the mission.
Sources: Space Web Search
6.5 NASA Awards Three Additional Lunar Missions Through Commercial Services Program¶
NASA plans to issue three more lunar task orders this year through its commercial services program, including an orbiter to replace the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter.
Sources: SpaceNews Web Search Update to: NASA CLPS awards three more lunar missions including orbiter replacement for LRO
6.5 SpaceX Launches Its 100th Mission of 2025 Tonight¶
SpaceX will conduct its 100th orbital launch of the year on August 18, 2025.
Sources: Space.com RSS
Astronomy¶
6.5 Ancient Galaxy Collision Transformed Milky Way's Structure and Composition¶
The Milky Way's history includes a series of galaxy mergers that fundamentally shaped its current structure, as revealed by recent astronomical discoveries.
Sources: Space.com RSS