Artemis II Crew Honoured as SpaceX Prepares for Roman Telescope Launch
The Artemis II crew is awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor, while SpaceX gears up to launch NASA's Roman Space Telescope.
NASA's Artemis II crew has been awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor, recognising their contributions to the US space programme. This accolade comes as President Trump signs an executive order to establish a US Space Academy, further solidifying the nation's commitment to space exploration. The Artemis II mission, part of NASA's ambitious return to the Moon, is a pivotal step in the Artemis programme, aiming to land humans on the lunar surface by the late 2020s.
SpaceX Prepares for Roman Telescope Launch
SpaceX is set to launch NASA's Roman Space Telescope on 30 August 2026. The telescope, named after pioneering astronomer Nancy Grace Roman, aims to explore dark energy, exoplanets, and infrared astrophysics. The launch is scheduled to take place from Cape Canaveral, Florida, with a precise timeline available on the Orbital Radar Launch Schedule.
Orbital Close Approaches
Recent data indicates several close approaches between satellites, including a minimum distance of 0.18 km between SUPERVIEW NEO-2 03 and SUPERVIEW NEO-2 04. Such events highlight the increasing congestion in low Earth orbit (LEO), which currently hosts 18,688 active satellites. The Orbital Radar Debris Map provides real-time tracking of these interactions, essential for collision avoidance strategies.
What to Watch
Space enthusiasts should mark their calendars for SpaceX's upcoming launch of the Roman Space Telescope. Additionally, the Starlink Tracker remains a valuable tool for observing the constellation's activity, with 11,045 active satellites in orbit. For those interested in celestial events, near-Earth object monitoring continues to be crucial, as highlighted by recent close approaches.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Artemis II mission?
When is SpaceX launching the Roman Space Telescope?
📎 Cite this article
Orbital Radar Newsroom. (2026). Artemis II Crew Honoured as SpaceX Prepares for Roman Telescope Launch. Orbital Radar. https://orbitalradar.com/blog/orbital-briefing-2026-05-24"Artemis II Crew Honoured as SpaceX Prepares for Roman Telescope Launch." Orbital Radar, 24 May 2026, https://orbitalradar.com/blog/orbital-briefing-2026-05-24.@misc{orbitalradar_orbital_briefing_2026_05_24,
title = {Artemis II Crew Honoured as SpaceX Prepares for Roman Telescope Launch},
author = {{Orbital Radar}},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {\url{https://orbitalradar.com/blog/orbital-briefing-2026-05-24}}
}
