Space & Physics: Artemis II launches into history

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April 2— This week, the biggest story by far is the launch of the Artemis II lunar mission, taking four astronauts on a historic trip around the moon. You can read all of our ongoing coverage here. But wait, that's not all! We also have stories about NASA's push for nuclear rocketry, new revelations about the shape of the universe, plans to smash Earth-threatening asteroids, and much more. Enjoy! Thoughts? Questions? Let me know via e-mail (lbillings@sciam.com), X or Bluesky. —Lee Billings, Senior Editor, Physical Sciences

Top Stories

NASA's Artemis II launches on first crewed moon mission of the 21st century A daring 10-day voyage will take four astronauts on a loop around the moon and set the stage for future forays to the lunar surface Nadia Drake

Artemis II's toilet is a moon mission milestone On their voyages to the moon, NASA's astronauts are finally getting some creature comforts of terrestrial toilets—such as having a door and being able to pee and poop simultaneously K. R. Callaway

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Artemis II's journey to the moon, day by day The four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft will carry out a packed schedule during their trip around the moon's far side Joseph Howlett

NASA's moon mission day one: a toilet mishap and spacecraft maneuvers The first day of the Artemis II mission saw the crew enter Earth orbit and prepare for their journey around the moon Jackie Flynn Mogensen

How NASA will keep the Artemis II astronauts safe from space weather A major solar storm during the Artemis II mission could harm astronauts. Here's how NASA is protecting them Meghan Bartels

Inside a bold plan to pulverize an Earth-bound asteroid Scientists are designing techniques to smash up space rocks that could be headed our way Sarah Scoles

Can NASA launch a nuclear mission to Mars by 2028? The U.S. space agency's Skyfall project calls for sending robotic helicopters to Mars on a nuclear-powered spacecraft before the end of Donald Trump's presidency David W. Brown

SpaceX Starlink satellite suffers mysterious 'anomaly' in orbit Elon Musk's space Internet company said this satellite, which appears to have blown to pieces, did not appear to pose a risk to the ISS or the upcoming NASA moon mission Claire Cameron

We thought we knew the shape of the universe. We were wrong Decades of data have suggested the universe is flat, much like an infinite plane. But a new analysis reveals deep flaws in that simple conclusion Paul M. Sutter

How physicists proved that quantum weirdness is a feature, not a bug Charles H. Bennett and Gilles Brassard, winners of the latest Turing Award, spent their lives touting the advantages of the quantum world Joseph Howlett

Did the very young universe make swarms of tiny black holes? Long ago, the cosmos might have been a black hole factory—and these primordial objects are even weirder than you think Phil Plait

How ultraprecise 'nuclear clocks' could transform timekeeping Superprecise timekeepers based on atomic nuclei could be tested as soon as this year Dan Garisto, Nature magazine

What We're Reading

Did Scientists Just Detect an Exploding Black Hole? | New York Times When Satellite Data Becomes a Weapon | WIRED SpaceX finally files for IPO, targets $1.75 trillion valuation | Ars Technica

From the Archive

If SpaceX Goes Public in 2026, What Does That Mean for Space Exploration? SpaceX is mulling an IPO in 2026. Here's how that could affect its work with NASA and the push to put humans on Mars Ramin Skibba

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Artemis 2 critical moment | toilet trouble | full moon photos

What happens today could make or break Artemis 2 | There was a bit of toilet trouble on Artemis 2 | Relive Artemis 2 launch to the moon in these stunning photos Created for ceo.studentlike.spuniv@blogger.com | Web Version   April 2, 2026 FOLLOW US FOLLOW US   Taking you out of this world, every day SIGN UP ⋅   WEBSITE   The Launchpad What happens today could make or break Artemis 2 Happy Thursday, space fans!  Today is a huge day for Artemis 2. The astronauts are in orbit and today's make-or-break engine burn will decide whether they head to the moon or stay closer to home! Read more about the critical maneuver below But that's not all! In today's issue, we've got a look at an unexpected toilet hiccup aboard Orion, a stunning gallery of the best Artemis 2 launch photos, a full moon photo roundup and everything you need to know about The Mandalorian & Grogu. The critical maneuver   Artemis 2: NASA's next moonshot There was a bit of toilet trouble on Artemis 2 Even on a historic journey to the moon, some problems are a little more... down to Earth.  Shortly after launch NASA's Artemis 2 crew ran into an issue with Orion's space toilet. The glitch briefly affected part of the toilet's urine collection system, but engineers worked with the crew to resolve the issue... phew! Toilet trouble Relive Artemis 2 launch to the moon in these stunning photos NASA's Artemis 2 mission roared into space on April 1 in a spectacular launch that lit up the Florida sky, marking a new era of human exploration.  From the fiery blastoff to crowds gathered across the Space Coast, these stunning images capture the scale and emotion of this historic moment. Launch pics Skywatching April full moon dazzles skywatchers worldwide As Artemis 2 heads toward its next major milestone, the moon itself has been putting on a show.  April's full 'Pink Moon' lit up skies around the world and photographers were ready to capture the moment.  From glowing city skylines to iconic landmarks, these stunning images show our lunar companion shining bright on a historic night for spaceflight. Look at that moon Will Comet MAPS survive its close encounter with the sun? A newly discovered comet is about to face its biggest test yet.  Comet C/2026 A1 (MAPS) will make a dramatic close pass of the sun on April 4, diving just above the solar surface in a high-speed "sungrazer" encounter that could determine its fate.  Whether it survives — and whether it might become visible in the daytime sky afterward — remains uncertain, but astronomers will be watching closely!   Comet close encounter Entertainment The Mandalorian & Grogu: Everything we know A new chapter in the Star Wars saga is heading to the big screen.  The Mandalorian & Grogu will bring Din Djarin and his young companion out of the Disney+ series and ito theaters, marking the franchise's first cinematic release since 2019. Take a peek Today in Space NASA's Artemis 2 moon launch seen from space NASA's Artemis 2 launch was spectacular from the ground — but from space, it looks rather incredible too!  A GOES-19 weather satellite captured the moment the Space Launch System rocket roared to life, leaving a long white plume stretching through Earth's atmosphere.  Check it out Editor's Note Happy Thursday! Thanks for reading! Stay with us for more live updates on Artemis 2 as it continues its journey around the moon.    Clear skies,  Daisy Dobrijevic Reference Editor, Space.com Stay up-to-date on all things space science, news, and entertainment by subscribing to our newsletters. Sign Up   Follow SPACE Contact Us: Feedback | Advertise Sign Up | Update Profile | Unsubscribe Privacy Policy | Cookies Policy | Terms and Conditions When you purchase through links in our content, we may earn an affiliate commission.   Future US LLC © Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY, 10036