Sam's News — space — 2026-09-21¶

Space¶

8 NASA Activates Roman Space Telescope's 300-Megapixel Infrared Camera¶

NASA successfully powered up the Roman Space Telescope's 300-megapixel infrared camera and coronagraph, advancing the mission toward full science operations.

Sources: ScienceDaily RSS Update to: NASA's Roman Space Telescope completes first successful test imaging with 300-megapixel camera

7 NASA images new lunar impact crater from rare event¶

NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter discovered crater McGetchin, the largest newly formed impact crater in the solar system at 728 feet wide and 141 feet deep, formed between April and May 2024. The impact, caused by a 3–6 story asteroid, represents a rare lunar event occurring roughly once per century.

Crater McGetchin: 728 feet wide, 141 feet deep
Formed April 11–May 22, 2024
Impactor estimated 3–6 stories tall
Such large impacts occur approximately once every 132 years
Three times larger than previous record holder from a decade earlier
Material ejected over 66 miles across lunar surface
Findings published September 16, 2026 in Science Advances

Sources: Chicago Star Media AI Web Searched, KSL.com News AI Web Searched, Tech Explorist AI Web Searched, facebook.com RSS

6.5 China Implements NASA's StarNAV Technology for Jupiter Mission¶

China has successfully adapted NASA's StarNAV autonomous navigation concept, bringing itself closer to launching a Jupiter mission.

Sources: South China Morning Post RSS

5.5 New Lunar Impact Crater Creates NASA Planning Challenges¶

Discovery of a recent impact crater on the Moon presents fresh complications for NASA's lunar exploration and infrastructure plans.

Sources: The Boca Raton Tribune RSS

4.5 ISS cargo and crew operations continue with ongoing maintenance¶

International Space Station operations continue with cargo missions, crew rotations, and routine maintenance activities.

Sources: NASA (.gov) Web Search

4 Johnson Space Center Showcases Space Exploration at Houston Japan Festival¶

NASA's Johnson Space Center participated in Houston's 33rd annual Japan Festival to promote space exploration interest.

Sources: NASA (.gov) Web Search

Space Science¶

7.5 NASA reveals complex water systems on early Mars¶

NASA announced new evidence of complex water systems on ancient Mars, revealing intricate water circulation patterns during the planet's early period and contributing to understanding of Mars's climate and geological history.

Finding: Complex, intricate water circulation systems on early Mars
Significance: Advanced understanding of Mars's hydrological history
Period: Early Mars, ancient timeframe

Sources: NASA AI Web Searched, NASA (.gov) RSS

Space History¶

2.5 NASA artifacts from 66 years ago unearthed and documented¶

Historic NASA artifacts from decades past have been discovered and cataloged.

Sources: PRINT Magazine RSS