Overview

On May 23, 2024, researcher Rhawn Gabriel Joseph, Ph.D., released a video titled “UFO‑UAP Plasmas in the Thermosphere: A Fourth Domain of Life.” In the presentation Joseph argues that a subset of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) observed by NASA’s space‑shuttle missions are not conventional debris or experimental hardware but living plasma‑based entities that occupy the Earth’s thermosphere. He frames these objects as a “fourth domain of life,” analogous to extremophiles that thrive in deep‑sea vents, but powered by electromagnetic energy rather than chemical metabolism.

Central Claims

Joseph’s thesis rests on three main observations. First, he describes intelligent‑like behavior—coordinated flight patterns, rapid acceleration, and what he interprets as predatory or mating displays. Second, he asserts that the objects are drawn to high‑energy events such as hurricanes and electromagnetic storms, allegedly feeding on the released energy. Third, he points to physical anomalies—trajectory changes, near‑light‑speed bursts, and abrupt decelerations near storms—that, in his view, cannot be explained by known space debris, ice crystals, or conventional aerodynamics. Joseph summarizes his position: “What we are seeing are self‑illuminating organisms that have evolved to exist where the atmosphere becomes a plasma sea.”

Evidence Cited

The video relies heavily on archival footage from several shuttle missions, most notably STS‑48, STS‑75 (the tether experiment), STS‑80, STS‑96, STS‑106, and STS‑115. Joseph highlights moments where bright, pulsating objects appear to interact with the shuttle or its tether, interpreting the behavior as “swarming” to harvest electrical currents. He references two articles he authored in the Journal of Modern Physics—“Extraterrestrial Life in the Thermosphere” and “Extraterrestrial Life: Plasmas”—and notes that flight‑path analysis was performed by Cary Martynuik. The presentation also classifies the observed shapes into three categories (sperm‑shaped “hunters,” donut‑shaped, and cone‑shaped) and speculates that they are non‑carbon‑based plasma structures lacking DNA.

NASA Transparency Allegations

Joseph alleges that NASA deliberately obscures these phenomena by inserting visual “noise” or “snow” into night‑time recordings and by shutting down camera feeds when objects approach the shuttle. He claims the agency’s actions are intended to hide evidence of a previously unknown biological ecosystem. NASA has not responded to these specific accusations, and no official documentation corroborates the existence of systematic footage manipulation. The agency’s public statements on UAPs emphasize ongoing data collection and analysis rather than concealment.

Scientific and Policy Context

While the video has generated discussion in fringe scientific circles, mainstream experts caution that the claims lack independent verification and have not undergone peer‑review beyond Joseph’s own publications. Astrobiologists note that plasma, by definition, consists of ionized gas rather than organized cellular structures, making the notion of a plasma‑based life form highly speculative. The U.S. Department of Defense’s recent UAP report and the establishment of the All‑Domain Anomaly Resolution Office underscore a broader governmental effort to assess aerial anomalies, but they stop short of endorsing biological interpretations. As one atmospheric physicist remarked, “Extraordinary observations require extraordinary evidence; without reproducible data, the plasma‑organism hypothesis remains an intriguing hypothesis, not a confirmed discovery.”

The discussion highlights a growing intersection between UAP investigations and astrobiology, prompting calls for rigorous, transparent research protocols that can separate genuine anomalous phenomena from misinterpretations of sensor artifacts

{ https://usubjects.com/  }

01-04-2026 om 00:43 geschreven door peter  

Avi Loeb reacts to JD Vance’s belief aliens are ‘demons’

Patrick Djordjevic

Avi Loeb reacts to JD Vance’s belief aliens are ‘demons’

(NewsNation) — Avi Loeb, a theoretical physicist and the Frank B. Baird Jr. Professor of Science at Harvard University, says he has “no issue” with Vice President JD Vance’s perspective on who aliens are.

In a recent interview with Benny Johnson, Vance was asked about the possibility of releasing more government files on UFOs and aliens.

The vice president, who is Catholic, said he does not believe they are beings from another planet; instead, he says, they are demons.

Vance noted many world religions have long acknowledged the existence of what he described as “weird things out there” that are difficult to explain.

Loeb told “Jesse Weber Live” Vance’s theory is not new based upon scientific findings and Judeo-Christian beliefs.

Loeb told “Jesse Weber Live” Vance’s theory is not new based upon scientific findings and Judeo-Christian beliefs.

“I don’t see necessarily a conflict between religious beliefs and science as long as everyone agrees that we should attend to the evidence that should guide us,” Loeb said.

“If the U.S. government cannot figure out what these objects are, then of course, people have their own speculations or theories, or they connect them to some past traditional thoughts.”

• Gen. McCasland disappearance may be ‘foul play’: Ross Coulthart

Vance’s comments came as the Trump administration has signaled interest in releasing more information on UFOs and unidentified aerial phenomena.

Loeb suggested that labeling aliens as evil entities may be too far for his taste.

“All I’m saying is we should be open-minded to the possibility that we’re not at the top of the food chain within the Milky Way galaxy,” he said.

{ https://www.yahoo.com/news/ }

01-04-2026 om 00:31 geschreven door peter  

Ahead of the launch of the Artemis-2 mission, experts have once again raised concerns about issues with the Orion spacecraft’s heat shield. It is designed to protect the astronauts as they re-enter Earth’s atmosphere upon returning from their journey around the Moon. 

Problems with the heat shield in past missions

The Artemis-2 mission covers a distance of a quarter of a million miles, but the last five minutes of it are likely to cause the greatest concern regarding the astronauts’ safety. 

During the uncrewed test of the Orion spacecraft in 2022, problems with the heat shield were identified for the first time. This is the part of Orion that bears the brunt of the intense heat the capsule is exposed to as it enters Earth’s atmosphere. 

When engineers inspected the Orion heat shield from the 2022 Artemis-1 mission, they discovered that large pieces of material had fallen off. The concern was that if this were to happen again during the Artemis-2 crewed mission, it could expose the interior of the capsule to dangerously high temperatures. From the very beginning of manned spaceflight, engineers have protected capsules from extreme heat during atmospheric reentry using so-called “abrasive” heat shields made of a material that burns away uniformly as the capsule penetrates the atmosphere. 

To meet the requirements for a reusable spacecraft, NASA developed an incredible heat shield system made from ultra-light tiles of glass-coated silica fibers. Although this heat shield possessed exceptional thermal properties, it was also very fragile and required careful maintenance after every flight. Damage to this fragile and unprotected heat shield was the cause of the tragic loss of the space shuttle Columbia in 2003. For the Artemis program, NASA has returned to the concept of an abrasive heat shield.

New heat shield design for the Orion spacecraft

The Orion capsule’s heat shield is made of a material called Avcoat, which is based on a material originally developed for the Apollo program. Although NASA considered other, newer materials for the Orion heat shield, the material ultimately chosen was one that had already proven its reliability during the Apollo missions. 

However, the structure of the Orion heat shield differs from those used during the Apollo program. The Apollo heat shield consisted of a single honeycomb-structured matrix containing approximately 320,000 individually filled hexagonal segments. To make the Orion heat shield more effective and easier to reproduce in production, NASA chose a configuration consisting of approximately 180 individual segments.

This heat shield was first tested in 2014, when the Orion uncrewed capsule was launched by a Delta IV rocket to an apogee of 3,600 miles. On reentry, the capsule passed through the atmosphere at a temperature of about 2,200 °C (4,000 °F), but the heat shield proved capable of withstanding such extreme heat.

The next test for the Orion capsule was the Artemis-1 mission in 2022. This was the first flight of the powerful Space Launch System rocket and an uncrewed demonstration of the mission planned for Artemis II. As it flew through Earth’s atmosphere at a much greater distance than during the first test, the spacecraft reached a temperature of about 2,800 °C (5,000 °F). The first concerns regarding the Avcoat heat shield arose at this point.

Instead of burning away evenly across the entire surface, sections of the Artemis-1 heat shield unexpectedly fell off in irregular pieces. Such uneven ablation makes it difficult to predict thermal loads during atmospheric reentry and increases the probability that the Orion capsule could heat up to dangerous levels. 

Causes of uneven burning of heat shields

The investigation determined that the cause of the uneven ablation was the irregular release of gases trapped within the heat shield material, which was exacerbated by the “skip re-entry” profile adopted for this mission. 

Following the “skip” profile, Orion first lightly touches the edge of the atmosphere to slow down. It then uses the capsule’s aerodynamic lift to skip back out of the atmosphere, before re-entering it for its final descent to Earth. The “skip” profile got its name because it somewhat resembles a stone skipping across the surface of a pond.

NASA researchers found that as the heating rate decreased between atmospheric re-entries, thermal energy accumulated within the Avcoat material. This led to the accumulation of gases and, in turn, to an increase in internal pressure, which resulted in the formation of cracks and uneven delamination of the material.

Necessary improvements

Based on the experience gained during the Artemis-1 mission, NASA has taken a number of measures to protect the Artemis-2 crew. For the first crewed flight under the program, NASA retained the Avcoat heat shield material but updated the tile design to facilitate gas venting during atmospheric reentry. 

In addition, NASA has now chosen a more direct re-entry profile for the Orion capsule instead of the “skip” profile. This reduces uncertainty in the heating profile and means that the trapped gases will be exposed to peak temperatures for a shorter period of time, thereby reducing the risk of damage to the heat shield; however, it also means that the crew will experience greater deceleration upon re-entry.

Safety first

At the most dramatic moment in the film Apollo 13, Mission Control Director Gene Kranz says his famous line to the Mission Control team: “Failure is not an option.” Although this phrase was actually coined by the film’s screenwriters, it has become not only the second most popular quote from the movie, but also a kind of motto for NASA.

Nowhere is this truer than in the case of the Artemis-2 heat shield. In the final phase of the Artemis-2 mission, there is no backup plan, no contingency plan, and no chance of escape. The four astronauts on board will rely on a few centimeters of resin-coated silica to protect themselves from temperatures approaching half that of the Sun’s surface. 

Human spaceflight has always involved calculated risks, but at the same time it has given us a unique human perspective on our place in the Universe. The Artemis-2 mission will make its crew the first people in over half a century to see the blue globe of Earth in all its glory with their own eyes.

The crew will carry the hopes and aspirations of an entire new generation of explorers. Their safe return will depend on the meticulous work of thousands of scientists and engineers, and they will bring back with them a new human perspective not only on the Moon, but also on the planet we call home.

• According to phys.org

• Posted in News, Science

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{https://universemagazine.com/en/articles-en/ }

01-04-2026 om 00:18 geschreven door peter  

We Could Be Hit By Five Building-sized Asteroids By The End Of The Century - So What Are We Going To Do About It?

By Andy Tomaswick 

{ https://www.universetoday.com/ }

31-03-2026 om 23:48 geschreven door peter  

{ https://www.universetoday.com/ }

31-03-2026 om 23:29 geschreven door peter  

Could the so-called tic-tac UFOs be the result of a long-standing, mutually beneficial exchange agreement between the “Tall White” aliens and human military forces, along with private aerospace companies, an arrangement that may date back to at least the 1950s? 

In this scenario, the propulsion systems would be supplied by the Tall Whites, while the structural design and hulls are developed by human engineers, alongside the exchange of other advanced technologies. 

While this idea may sound far-fetched, author Charles Hall, a former weather observer, has claimed that he lived and worked in close proximity to a group of Tall Whites during the 1960s in the Nevada desert. These beings, often associated with the so-called Nordic or Pleiadian archetype, are typically described as human-like in appearance, standing between 5 and 9 feet tall, with pale skin and white hair. Hall further alleged that such entities operated for decades near military installations like Nellis Air Force Base and Edwards Air Force Base. 

The video in question is of poor quality, making it difficult to determine whether it captures a genuine tic-tac UFO or a fabricated one. However, the real issue may not be the authenticity of the footage itself, but rather the broader question it raises: to what extent, if any, are claims of collaborative agreements between extraterrestrial beings and human institutions grounded in reality? 

Adding another layer to this speculation are statements made by Donald Trump, who has repeatedly suggested that the United States possesses highly advanced military and artificial intelligence technologies, capabilities that, to some, seem almost unbelievable.

This raises an intriguing question: could such remarks be indirectly referencing technologies similar to the tic-tac UFOs? And if so, might they hint knowingly or unknowingly at a deeper level of cooperation between human organizations and non-human entities?

{ http://ufosightingshotspot.blogspot.com/ }

31-03-2026 om 23:21 geschreven door peter  

UFO shoots out of sky, Nashville, Tennessee, USA March 30, 2026 UAP Paranormal Alien breaking news.

Date of sighting: March 30, 2026 9pm

Location of sighting: Nashville, Tennessee, USA

Source: Email report scwaring @yahoo.com

 

This report just in. An eyewitness was driving home and recorded this UFO coming down from the sky. The UFO actually hesitated in the sky for a split second and then continued on its way, be it began to curve and fly away from the eyewitness car. Meteors don't change direction, but this object did. There is no doubt about this object. It's 100% alien technology.

Scott C. Waring - UFO Sightings Daily 

 

Eyewitness states: 

I was driving home from work and saw this strange thing I thought was a crashing plane. I got it on car cam so maybe someone can make heads or tails of this. 

 

{ https://www.ufosightingsdaily.com/ }

31-03-2026 om 23:18 geschreven door peter  

Shroud of Turin mystery deepens: Scientists discover DNA from 'multiple people' on the material said to be wrapped around Jesus' body

• READ MORE: The Shroud of Turin was not laid on Jesus' body, scientists reveal

By SHIVALI BEST, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY EDITOR 

The Shroud of Turin mystery has deepened yet again, as a new analysis has uncovered DNA from 'multiple sources' on the material.  

For centuries, Catholics have flocked to the Italian city of Turin to be in the presence of its famous shroud. 

The venerated piece of linen bears a faint image of the front and back of a man – interpreted by many as Jesus Christ. 

Believers say it was used to wrap the body of Christ after his crucifixion, leaving his bloody imprint, like a photographic snapshot. 

In their new study, researchers from the University of Padova found DNA from several sources on the cloth.

This includes multiple humans, as well as animals, plants, and fungi. 

'This research provides original insights into the diversity of DNA extracted from samples collected in 1978 from the Turin Shroud, revealing its biological complexity through rigorous DNA and metagenomic analyses,' the researchers explained.

'Our findings highlight its preservation conditions and environmental interactions, offering valuable perspectives into the identified genetic variants, which originated from multiple biological sources.'

The Shroud of Turin mystery has deepened yet again, as a new analysis has uncovered DNA from 'multiple sources' on the material 

In their new study, researchers from the University of Padova found DNA from several sources on the cloth. This includes multiple humans, as well as animals, plants, and fungi

Currently stored at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Turin, the Shroud of Turin is a 14ft–long linen cloth with a faint image of a man.

The image on the shroud is believed to reflect the story of Jesus' crucifixion, giving rise to the belief that the cloth is the burial shroud of Jesus himself.

However, the authenticity of the shroud has been frequently brought into question over the years. 

Writing in their study, published as a preprint in bioRxiv, the researchers, led by Gianni Barcaccia, said: 'The true nature of the Shroud has been highly debated among historians, theologians, and scientists.

'Several hypotheses regarding its origin have been proposed, but as of today, no one has yet been able to establish to any degree of certainty when and where this textile originated from.'

To get to the bottom of it, the researchers analysed DNA extracted from 12 samples collected from the shroud in 1978.  

Given how many people have handled the shroud, the researchers were unsurprised to discover 'clear signatures' of modern DNA contamination. 

However, what was more surprising was the amount of older human DNA on the shroud. 

Currently stored at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Turin, the Shroud of Turin is a 14ft–long linen cloth with a faint image of a man

The image on the shroud is believed to reflect the story of Jesus' crucifixion, giving rise to the belief that the cloth is the burial shroud of Jesus himself 

'Our analyses revealed several human mtDNA lineages, including one common in Western Eurasia and another prevalent in the Near East,' the researchers explained. 

Unfortunately, this suggests we may never be able to find out if the shroud really was used to wrap Jesus' body, according to the experts. 

'The occurrence of an unusually high number of human heteroplasmies and the coexistence of different mtDNA variants confirm that the Shroud came into contact with multiple individuals, thereby challenging the possibility of identifying the original DNA of the Shroud,' the team added. 

As well as human DNA, the researchers found traces from multiple animals, including cats, dogs, chickens and cows. 

While this might not sound like much, it could help to unravel the mystery of where the shroud came from.  

'Concerning the Shroud’s journey, the presence of red coral, livestock (e.g. chickens, cows, pigs, goats, sheep, rabbits, horses), and domestic cats and dogs suggest Mediterranean origins or transit through Mediterranean regions,' the team explained. 

What's more, the cloth was found to contain DNA traces of carrots and cereals – crops that aren't usually associated with the Middle East. 

'The prevalence of Mediterranean crops and the absence of typical Middle Eastern flora raise questions about the agricultural landscape when the Shroud was created or used as a burial cloth,' the researchers added. 

'Comparative analyses with other ancient textiles and artifacts could further illuminate cultural and historical interactions with plants and animals.'

READ MORE

• Scientist finds earliest evidence the Shroud of Turin was NOT wrapped around Jesus' crucified body

Overall, the findings suggest that the Turin Shroud has a 'complex history'. 

'The overall DNA results – derived from rigorous methodological handling in clean rooms and metagenomic analyses supported by robust bioinformatics – suggest a diverse mosaic of genetic traces,' the team concluded. 

The Daily Mail has contacted the researchers for further comment on the implications of the findings.  

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{ https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/index.html }

31-03-2026 om 21:34 geschreven door peter  

Is NASA's Artemis II mission safe? Scientists raise concerns about the Orion capsule's heat shield – and warn 'there's no chance of escape' for the astronauts if anything goes wrong

• READ MORE: The 5 worst–case scenarios for NASA's Artemis II, revealed

By SHIVALI BEST, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY EDITOR 

Scientists have raised safety concerns about the Orion capsule's heat shield ahead of NASA's long–awaited Artemis II mission. 

Set to launch as early as 1 April, the mission will see four astronauts – Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen – blast off on a 10–day mission to the moon. 

During the mission, the astronauts will travel around our lunar satellite on board Orion – a cramped capsule measuring just 11ft x 16.5ft. 

Now, Ed Macaulay, a lecturer in Physics and Data Science at Queen Mary University of London, has voiced his fears about Orion's heat shield, which bears the brunt of the searing heat during re–entry through Earth's atmosphere.

Dr Macaulay points out that during Artemis I, large chunks of material were found to have been lost from the heat shield. 

Should this happen again on Artemis II, it could expose the crew to 'dangerously high temperatures'. 

'During the final phase of the Artemis II mission, there's no backup, no contingency, and no chance of escape,' Dr Macaulay explained in an article for The Conversation. 

'The four astronauts on board will be depending on a few inches of resin–coated silica to shield themselves from temperatures approaching half that of the surface of the Sun.'

The most dangerous moment will occur during re–entry, as Orion's heatshield is subjected to enormous temperatures due to friction with the atmosphere. Pictured: Orion's heatshield after re–entry during Artemis I

During 2022's unmanned Artemis I test, NASA found that Orion's heat shield was cracked and cratered with unexpected damage.

The heat shield material, known as Avcoat, is designed to burn away during re–entry to help dissipate the heat. 

However, the damage was well beyond what NASA had expected.

'Instead of burning away evenly over the whole surface, parts of the Artemis I heat shield were lost unexpectedly in uneven chunks,' Dr Macaulay explained. 

'This uneven ablation makes modelling the thermal loads of re–entry more unpredictable, and raises the possibility that the Orion capsule could be exposed to dangerous levels of heating.'

Further investigation found that the problem was that the Avcoat layer wasn't permeable enough, so gases built up in pockets and blasted off entire chunks.  

Following the mission, Dr Danny Olivas, a former NASA astronaut who served on review team that investigated the incident, told CNN: 'There's no doubt about it: This is not the heat shield that NASA would want to give its astronauts.'

Surprisingly, NASA has decided not to change the heat shield going into Artemis II. 

NASA has not altered the heatshield for Artemis II, but has adjusted the trajectory so that Orion will spend less time at critical temperatures 

The heatshield coating is designed to burn away during re–entry, however, NASA found that the coating had chipped and deteriorated far more than expected during Artemis I

Instead, it has made some important changes to the mission itself. 

Instead of 'skipping' back to Earth – a technique that sees the capsule act like a stone bouncing on water as it dips and lowers itself into the atmosphere – NASA will use a more direct re–entry model for the crewed Orion capsule. 

This should reduce the uncertainty in the heating profile, and will mean less time at peak temperatures for trapped gases to damage the heat shield. 

'[It] also means that the crew will be subjected to increased deceleration on re–entry,' Dr Macaulay added. 

As the astronauts return to Earth, the heat shield is all that will protect them – so NASA's tweaks to the mission could prove vital.  

'Human spaceflight has always brought with it calculated risks, but it has also provided a uniquely human perspective on our place in the cosmos,' Dr Macaulay added.

'The Artemis II mission will make its crew the first humans in over half a century to observe the blue marble of planet Earth in its entirety with their own eyes.

'The crew will carry with them the hopes and aspirations of a whole new generation of explorers. 

'They will be depending on the meticulous work of thousands of scientists and engineers for their safe return, bringing with them a renewed human perspective on not just the Moon, but the planet we all call home.'

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{ https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/index.html }

31-03-2026 om 21:05 geschreven door peter  

NASA's Artemis II gets the green light for April 1: Step–by–step graphic reveals exactly what will happen as four astronauts venture to the moon for the first time in over 50 YEARS

• READ MORE: NASA astronaut details 20–minute medical crisis in space 

By XANTHA LEATHAM, EXECUTIVE SCIENCE EDITOR

NASA's Artemis II mission has been given the green light to launch, sending four astronauts to the moon for the first time in over 50 years.

The 32–storey Space Launch System (SLS) rocket is set to blast off from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida tomorrow.

It will send Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Jeremy Hansen and Christina Koch on a mammoth 10–day 685,000–mile (1.1 million km) trip around the moon and back.

At a briefing by NASA yesterday, space agency chiefs said the mission is 'ready to go'.

'As we enter the pre–launch phase, the teams are in a strong posture, and the mission remains on track,' NASA's associate administrator Amit Kshatriya said.

'The vehicle is ready. The system is ready. The crew is ready.

'I have complete confidence in this team. 53 years ago humanity left the Moon and did not return. Now we go back.'

Here, the Daily Mail's step–by–step graphic reveals exactly what will happen during the mission.

NASA ​has said the launch window opens on April 1, with multiple backup opportunities ⁠available over the following days depending on weather, technical readiness and range availability.

The SLS rocket itself consists of several parts, including a launch system and the Orion capsule that sits atop it.

During take–off, four RS–25 engines will fire non–stop for 8.5 minutes. 

Along with two boosters, this will produce 8.8 million pounds of thrust – more than any rocket in history.

After launch, the ​Orion crew capsule will separate from the rocket's upper stage and enter a highly elliptical orbit around ​Earth.

The crew will then spend the first few days conducting extensive systems checks.

These include testing Orion's life–support, propulsion, navigation and communications systems to ensure the spacecraft is ​ready to head into deep space.

Once checkouts are complete, Orion's propulsion system will perform ​a critical engine burn known as translunar injection, sending the spacecraft out of Earth orbit and onto a trajectory ‌toward ⁠the moon.

NASA's SLS rocket with the Orion spacecraft sits on its launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center

NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman (left), Victor Glover (second left), Christina Koch (second right) and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen (right)

Orion will pass ​behind the moon on a 'free–return' ​trajectory — a path that ⁠naturally swings the spacecraft back toward Earth without requiring additional propulsion.

It will reach its greatest distance from Earth during this phase.

After the lunar flyby – during which the crew will photograph and analyse the lunar surface – the spacecraft will spend several days ​heading home.

As Orion approaches Earth, it will separate key components before plunging into the ⁠atmosphere ​at speeds of about 25,000 miles per hour (40,233 kph).

Testing ​the capsule's heat shield during high–energy re–entry is one of the mission's primary objectives – as well as one of its most dangerous.

The spacecraft is expected to splash down ​in the Pacific Ocean, where recovery teams will retrieve the crew.

'Our team has worked extremely hard to get us to this moment', said launch director Charlie Blackwell–Thompson.

'Certainly all indications are right now we are in excellent, excellent shape.'

The rocket itself consists of several parts, including a launch system and the Orion capsule (pictured) that sits atop it

Crew members will strap sleeping bags to the wall to catch some shut–eye, as shown in this mock–up image

Crewed moon missions 

Orbit and test missions

Apollo 8: December 21–27, 1968

Apollo 10: May 18–26, 1969

Moon landing missions

Apollo 11: July 16–24, 1969

Apollo 12: November 14–24, 1969

Apollo 14: January 31 – February 9, 1971

Apollo 15: July 26 – August 7, 1971

Apollo 16: April 16–27, 1972

Apollo 17: December 7–19, 1972 

NASA's Artemis II mission should have launched in February, but was grounded by hydrogen fuel leaks.

The leaks were fixed, but then a helium pressurization line became clogged, forcing a return to the hangar late last month.

NASA has the first six days of April to launch Artemis II before standing down until the end of the month.

Tomorrow's launch window opens at 6:24pm EDT (11:24pm BST).

'Our teams in mission control and our crew members have been spent the last two years dedicated to training for this particular mission, developing all of the products associated with this flight, and they are ready to go,' chief flight director Emily Nelson said.

'The opportunity is immense for us to finally send our crew farther than anyone's gone before.'

While the astronauts will not actually touch down on the lunar surface, it will still mark the first time humans will return to the vicinity of the moon since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972.

During the lunar flyby, the Orion spacecraft will travel around 4,700 miles (7,500 km) beyond the far side of Earth's natural satellite, setting a new record.

In this photo provided by NASA, astronaut Charles M. Duke Jr. collects lunar samples during the first Apollo 16 extravehicular activity at the Descartes landing site on April 21 1972

NASA says the mission paves the way for a future lunar landing – planned for 2028 – and will also inform planning for longer missions such as to Mars.

It is also historically significant because it will send the first woman and the first Black person on a lunar mission.

British astronaut Major Tim Peake has said Europe, including the UK, is heavily involved in the Artemis programme.

'We were there on Artemis I... we built the European service module which powers the Orion spacecraft that provides all the electrical power, the life support systems, the propellant,' he said.

He hopes the mission can help inspire young people in the UK to consider a career related to space.

Goonhilly Earth Station, near Helston, Cornwall, will also help to track the capsule on its epic celestial voyage.

Read More

Moon munchies! NASA's Artemis II crew MENU is revealed - including 43 cups of coffee, 58 tortillas, and 5 different hot sauces 

Artemis II: Key facts 

Launch date: NASA initially identified three possible launch windows for Artemis II: From February 6 to February 11, from March 6 to March 11, and from April 1 to April 6. The space agency is now targeting the April window. 

Mission objective: To complete a lunar flyby, passing the 'dark side' of the moon and test systems for a future lunar landing.

Total distance to travel: 685,000 miles (1.1 million km)

Mission duration: 10 days 

Estimated total cost: $44billion (£32.5billion)

NASA Space Launch System rocket: $23.8billion (£17.6billion)

Orion deep–space spacecraft: $20.4billion (£15billion)

Crew: 

+ Commander Reid Wiseman

+ Pilot Victor Glover

+ Mission Specialist Christina Koch

+ Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen

Mission Stages:

1. Launch from Kennedy Space Centre Launch Pad 39B Manoeuvre in orbit to raise the perigee using the Cryogenic Propulsion Stage

2. Burn to raise apogee using the Cryogenic Propulsion Stage

3. Detach from Cryogenic Propulsion Stage and perform translunar injection

4. Fly to the moon over four days

5. Complete lunar flyby at a maximum altitude of 5,523 miles (8,889 km) above the moon's surface

6. Return to Earth over four days

7. Separate the crew module from the European Service Module and the crew module adapter

8.Splashdown in the Pacific Ocean  

31-03-2026 om 20:48 geschreven door peter