Second crewed lunar mission under NASA's Artemis program
NASA's Artemis II mission has successfully returned after sending four astronauts farther into space than any humans have traveled since 1972. The Orion capsule Integrity has splashed down off Southern California on April 11, completing a 10-day journey around the moon. The mission has tested critical systems for future lunar landings planned for 2028 and marked historic firsts for crew diversity.
The Artemis II crew has completed a 10-day mission, traveling further from Earth than any humans have before. They have safely splashed down off California, with their Orion capsule enduring extreme reentry temperatures. The mission confirms the spacecraft's systems and paves the way for future lunar landings.
The Artemis II crew has completed a nearly 10-day lunar flyby, breaking Apollo 13's distance record and returning safely to Earth on April 10, 2026. The mission has tested NASA's Orion spacecraft, provided critical data for Artemis III's planned moon landing in 2027, and energized plans for a sustainable lunar base. The astronauts have shared their experiences and undergone medical checks at NASA's Johnson Space Center.
The Artemis II crew has returned to Earth after a record-breaking lunar flyby, and NASA is pivoting to surface-based lunar exploration. Axiom Space and Northrop Grumman acknowledge corrosion issues in habitat modules, while agencies push toward a 2028 lunar landing and a 2030 Moon base timeline, despite ongoing technical hurdles.
The royal couple have used their New York stop to honor 9/11 victims, meet families, and participate in cultural and economic engagements. Tensions over the Iran war and private interactions with New York officials are shaping the visit.
NASA has selected Lunar Outpost and AstroLab to build lunar terrain vehicles for a moon base program and announced private partners will lead the first uncrewed lunar landers and cargo missions this year, with iterative demonstrations planned toward a permanent lunar outpost.
Blue Origin has lost a New Glenn rocket in a catastrophic engine test at Cape Canaveral, producing a fireball that damaged the LC‑36A pad and generated seismic waves. Jeff Bezos and CEO Dave Limp have said key propellant tanks and some hardware survived and the company has begun a pad rebuild, while NASA is offering technical support for Artemis-related schedules.
NASA has named Randy Bresnik, Luca Parmitano, Frank Rubio and Andre Douglas as the Artemis III crew for a mid‑2027, two‑week Earth‑orbit test flight to practice docking with prototype lunar landers from Blue Origin and SpaceX. The all‑male selection has drawn online criticism and questions about whether Blue Origin’s May New Glenn explosion will delay the program.
The World Cup opener slate shows Morocco, Brazil, and Germany launching campaigns with competitive results. Messi leads Argentina to a commanding win in Group; Portugal, DR Congo draw; Ivory Coast beats Ecuador; Japan draws with the Netherlands; Germany crush Curacao; Brazil and Morocco draw in a tactically fraught encounter.
Netherlands dominates Sweden with five goals as Cody Gakpo and Brian Brobbey lead the attack; Germany secures a late win over Côte d’Ivoire to top Group E, setting up a knockout-round clash as 48-team World Cup format continues.
NASA and partners are pursuing a high‑risk salvage to boost the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory into a higher, stable orbit. A Katalyst Space Technologies robot will capture Swift and lift it from 224 miles to about 373 miles, extending its life as solar activity threatens its destruction in October.
The Reflecting Pool renovation amid America’s 250th celebrations has exposed ongoing problems. Algae blooms reappeared after a $14 million upgrade, while officials cite sabotage and lawmakers probe no‑bid contracts and the costs tied to the milestone.
Donald Trump has used Mount Rushmore addresses to frame communism as a mortal threat while casting progressive Democrats as a broader political risk, as the US marks its 250th anniversary amid heat waves and large-scale political events.
Trump addresses the National Mall amid heat and a thunderstorm evacuation, touting the nation’s achievements while calling for voting restrictions and warning against a rise of communism. The event blends patriotism with partisan politics, drawing international responses and domestic scrutiny.
Trump has delivered a July 4 address in Washington after storms forced a two-hour evacuation of the National Mall. He has honored veterans, touted military campaigns, and renewed calls for voting restrictions, while leaning into a partisan message ahead of the midterms. The event saw a staged finale with fireworks as heat warnings persisted.