Crew from NASA's simulated Mars mission emerges after 378 days in isolation - Reuters

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• Crew from NASA's simulated Mars mission emerges after 378 days in isolation

  Operating out of a specialized habitat at Johnson Space Center in Houston, the four-person CHAPEA team concluded the research to evaluate human endurance under strict interplanetary conditions. Their daily routines, spanning simulated farming and communications lags, provide vital baseline data on the physical and psychological toll of extended deep-space travel. These findings will directly inform operational planning as the agency targets eventual crewed landings on Mars.

  2 min read
• How SpaceX rocket bookings halt is a ‘huge problem’ for Canadian satellite firms

  Commercial operators in Canada face a severe launch shortage as SpaceX prepares to transition fully to its larger Starship vehicle. The abrupt restriction forces satellite developers to address mounting investor concerns regarding future access to orbit. Without viable domestic or international substitutes in place, smaller companies face major obstacles in testing new hardware and maintaining flight schedules.

  2 min read
• The "Moon Trees"

  A collaborative project between NASA and the U.S. Forest Service sent thousands of botanical seeds into lunar orbit during the Apollo 14 mission in early 1971. Despite an accidental vacuum exposure during post-flight decontamination, the surviving specimens were cultivated and distributed globally for planting around the 1976 American bicentennial. Decades of subsequent study revealed that these orbital travelers grew identically to standard Earth-bound controls.

  12 min read