Sam's News — space — 2026-09-09¶

Space Exploration¶

7.5 NASA's Roman Space Telescope will directly image exoplanets¶

NASA's newly launched Roman Space Telescope will be capable of directly imaging exoplanets, marking a new observational capability.

Sources: Space.com RSS, Space RSS

6.5 NASA seeks proposals to accelerate lunar surface technology development¶

NASA has issued a call for research proposals aimed at accelerating the development of technologies needed for sustained lunar surface operations.

Sources: space & defense RSS

6 Artemis astronauts join NASA's emeritus program following historic lunar mission¶

Astronauts from the Artemis mission have been inducted into NASA's emeritus program after their historic flight around the moon.

Sources: Central Florida Public Media RSS

Climate¶

7.5 UN warns global warming approaching 1.5-degree threshold¶

The UN reports that the world is about to exceed the 1.5-degree Celsius global warming limit.

Sources: Space.com RSS

Space¶

7.5 Astronomers Observe Two Stars Merge Into Binary System in Real Time¶

Using ALMA, astronomers detected two stars coalescing to form a massive stellar binary system, an event that began approximately 60 years ago.

Sources: Space.com RSS

7 China plans Tianwen 3 Mars sample-return launch in 2028¶

China is progressing toward a 2028 launch of its Tianwen 3 Mars sample-return mission, with plans to return Red Planet soil and rock samples to Earth by 2031.

Sources: Space.com RSS

6.5 ESA selects Vast for historic first Greek astronaut mission to ISS¶

The European Space Agency has signed an agreement with Vast to send the first Greek astronaut to the International Space Station as part of a private mission in partnership with NASA.

Sources: Business Wire RSS

6.5 Spacetime warp may explain previously forbidden black hole merger¶

New research suggests a spacetime warp could explain a black hole merger previously thought impossible, with revised calculations showing the black holes were smaller than initially believed.

Sources: Space.com RSS

6 Artemis II commander and pilot retire from NASA astronaut corps¶

The commander and pilot assigned to NASA's Artemis II moon mission are retiring from astronaut service.

Sources: The Killeen Daily Herald RSS, bozemandailychronicle.com RSS, The Tribune-Democrat RSS, Phys.org RSS, Mankato Free Press RSS, ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos RSS

6 NASA Astronaut Victor Glover Returns Full-Time to Cal Poly Following Artemis II Mission¶

NASA Astronaut Victor Glover has returned full-time to his alma mater Cal Poly following the historic Artemis II mission.

Sources: calpoly.edu RSS, Cal Poly RSS