ScientistPankaj: Space & Physics: Artemis II launches into history

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 SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft lift off from Launch Complex 39B, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday, April 1, 2026.

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

A Space Launch System rocket and Orion crew capsule sit on a pad, awaiting launch. A banner with the words

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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Graphic shows the flight path of the Artemis II mission.

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

A sliver of moon behind the Orion spacecraft

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

On the left, an image of the sun shown releasing a bubble of material toward the center of the image. On the right, an image of Earth surrounded by a complicated sheath of lines indicating the magnetosphere.

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

A fragmented asteroid heads toward Earth

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

A silvery, angular spacecraft hurtling through space with Mars looming in the background.

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