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NASA's Artemis II mission is set to carry astronauts around the moon for the first time in more than five decades, marking the first crewed lunar flight since Apollo 17 in 1972. Coverage examines why the United States took so long to return, pointing to shifting political priorities, funding cycles and the complexity of building new deep-space systems after the Apollo programme ended.

NASA has presented a strategy for establishing a moon base, with an estimated cost of $20 billion. The plan outlines what a sustained human presence on the lunar surface could look like, drawing attention from space watchers and policy observers following the agency's Artemis program ambitions.

UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has signalled a possible rethink of migrants' right to remain, according to BBC News. The reported shift suggests the government may reassess how long migrants must wait or under what conditions they can secure settled status in Britain. The announcement lands amid ongoing political debate over immigration policy and pressure on the government to reduce migration numbers.

Angela Rayner has publicly criticised Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood's plans to make it harder for migrant workers to obtain settled status in the UK, warning the move would "change the goalposts" for people already living and working in the country. The communities secretary and former deputy prime minister also stood by her earlier description of the policy, exposing a clear split at the top of the government over immigration rules.

NASA is reportedly developing lunar base infrastructure ahead of sending astronauts to the Moon, with equipment and habitat systems being readied in advance of crewed landings under the Artemis program. The approach would allow robotic systems to prepare the surface before humans arrive. Commenters are debating whether the agency can stay on schedule and whether autonomous pre-positioning of a Moon base is realistic.

NASA has reportedly given a new mission to astronauts who previously flew around the Moon. The announcement has drawn attention from space watchers, coming as the agency continues preparations for its Artemis lunar exploration program. Further details about the crew and the specifics of the assignment were not provided in the reporting.

The European Space Agency's JUICE mission, bound for Jupiter and its icy moons, passed at less than 10,000 km overhead around 13:45 CEST during its second Earth gravity assist, prompting a heads-up to ships in the Indian Ocean beneath its flight path. The spacecraft will return for one final Earth slingshot in 2029 before heading to the outer solar system.

Scientists report that conditions on Enceladus, Saturn's icy moon with a subsurface ocean, could support microbial life. The findings strengthen the case that the moon is one of the most promising places in the solar system to search for living organisms beyond Earth. The research is drawing attention among space and astrobiology enthusiasts discussing future exploration missions to Enceladus.

Despite relatively strong headline economic indicators, American voters remain anxious about prices and living costs, and that sour mood could hurt Donald Trump and his party in the November elections. Commentators argue that perception matters more than statistics, with many voters still feeling squeezed by high costs, making the economy a central risk factor for Trump's political standing this fall.

Scientists say one of Saturn's ice-covered moons could be capable of hosting alien life. The claim, reported by BBC Sky at Night Magazine, points to conditions beneath the moon's frozen surface that may be suitable for living organisms. The finding adds to growing interest in icy moons as potential habitats beyond Earth, though no life has actually been detected.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has suggested the government may scale back controversial plans to restrict visas for overseas care workers, in comments reported by the Guardian. The proposed rules had drawn criticism from the social care sector, which relies heavily on migrant staff, and Mahmood's remarks hint at a possible climbdown amid pressure over workforce shortages.

Moonshot AI, the Chinese artificial intelligence firm behind the Kimi models, is reportedly seeking access to additional Nvidia Blackwell chips. The report comes roughly a week after a Trump administration official flagged a potential breach of US export controls on advanced semiconductors. The case highlights ongoing tension between Washington's restrictions on cutting-edge chip exports to China and Chinese AI companies' demand for leading-edge hardware to train their models.

Ahead of NASA's Artemis II mission to fly astronauts around the Moon, ABC News has published a guide explaining the key terms and jargon surrounding the flight. The explainer covers what the mission involves, the spacecraft and rocket hardware, and the meaning of phrases used in coverage. Interest in the Artemis program remains high as the crewed lunar flight approaches, prompting outlets to help readers follow mission terminology.

A spacecraft built to explore icy moons where life could exist is flying close by Earth, using the planet's gravity to adjust its course. The maneuver is part of a long journey toward the outer solar system, where scientists hope to study oceans beneath the moons' surfaces. The flyby has drawn attention as a milestone in the search for conditions suitable for life beyond our planet.

NASA is testing and practicing safe landing techniques for spacecraft headed to the Moon and eventually other destinations beyond. The work supports upcoming crewed and robotic missions under the agency's lunar exploration plans, where a controlled descent remains one of the riskiest phases of any landing. The agency highlighted the training and technology efforts aimed at touching down safely on the lunar surface.

Scientists report new findings on how tidal forces from the Sun and Moon can trigger earthquakes. The research reportedly explains the mechanism by which gravitational stresses from these celestial bodies may nudge faults already under strain, setting off quakes. The claim has drawn attention as a potential step forward in understanding earthquake timing.

New research indicates that Earth microbes can survive under simulated conditions of the ocean beneath the ice of Saturn's moon Enceladus, suggesting life there is not out of the question. Scientists see the finding as encouraging for the search for life beyond Earth, since Enceladus's subsurface ocean is considered one of the most promising places to look.

Space-related stocks including SpaceX-linked names, AST SpaceMobile and Rocket Lab appear to have found a floor after steep losses in July. Sentiment got a boost from Elon Musk, who said NASA's vision of a permanent Moon base 'will happen'. Investors are watching whether renewed Moon ambition translates into sustained recovery for the sector.

ScienceDaily has published a report that, according to the headline, gives the phrase 'Dark Side of the Moon' a whole new meaning, in connection with quantum physics and astrophysics research. Beyond that, no details from the study itself are available, so the substance of the finding and how scientists are responding to it remain unknown.

A newly formed crater named McGetchin has been spotted on the Moon, created between April 11 and May 22, 2024, when an asteroid or comet roughly the size of a multi-story building struck the lunar surface. The crater measures about 222 meters wide and 43 meters deep, and astronomers note it is among the larger fresh impacts recorded in recent years.