NASA Announces Winners for 2026 Human Lander Challenge - NASA

• NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope observed the edge-on starburst galaxy Messier 82, also known as the Cigar Galaxy or NGC 3034. • By peering through cosmic dust, the telescope pinpointed 16.5 million stars and revealed the galaxy's distended disk structure.

• China's top-secret "Shenlong" (divine dragon) space plane has deployed another unidentified object into low Earth orbit. • This latest release brings the total number of mysterious payloads deployed by the spacecraft to at least nine.

• Firefly Aerospace is pursuing a $110 million loan to scale up its spacecraft production capabilities. • Astronomers have revealed that comet 3I/ATLAS is approximately 12 billion years old, providing a rare glimpse into the early universe.

• NASA's Roman Space Telescope arrived in Florida between June 20 and June 26, 2026, marking a key milestone in its deployment process. • Researchers have developed a new non-surgical treatment for knee osteoarthritis, offering a potential alternative to invasive procedures for pain relief.

• China's Einstein Probe has detected a mysterious cosmic explosion characterized by two unusual double flares. • The event is considered unique because the signal matches no known types of space eruptions currently documented by scientists.

• This week's science highlights include a massive earthquake that may have physically shifted the position of Japan. • Researchers have achieved a "cosmic first" by using observations to study black-hole horizons, a feat previously considered science fiction.

• NASA is investing $30 million in the "Swift Boost" mission, scheduled to launch on June 27, to rescue the aging Swift observatory. • The nearly 22-year-old telescope is currently being dragged toward Earth's atmosphere, risking a premature reentry and destruction.

• Governor Gavin Newsom hosted the first public preview of the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, a new addition to the California Science Center. • The facility is designed to honor California's history of aviation and space exploration, highlighting the contributions of engineers, astronauts, and scientists.

• NASA is testing a new refueling device designed to enable in-orbit cryogenic refueling between two spacecraft. • This technology addresses one of the most difficult engineering challenges in spaceflight, as transferring cryogenic fuels in zero gravity has not yet been achieved.

• NASA's Perseverance rover has detected the most complex organic chemistry ever found on Mars within mudstones located in the Jezero Crater. • This discovery follows similar findings by the Curiosity rover in Gale Crater, situated over 2,175 miles (3,500 kilometers) away.

• Governor Gavin Newsom hosted the first public preview of the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, a new addition to the California Science Center. • The facility is designed to showcase California's history of aviation and space exploration, highlighting the contributions of local engineers, astronauts, and scientists.