Space dominated this week's science news, with NASA announcing its imminent next steps in plans to develop a permanent moon base being slightly overshadowed by the spectacular explosion of a rocket intended to carry its payloads.
Three uncrewed missions targeted for later this year will involve private companies carrying payloads to the lunar surface ahead of astronauts' return by 2028. Nonetheless, some experts have voiced skepticism about NASA's highly ambitious timeline, with the gigantic detonation of Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket during a static "hotfire" test likely prompting significant delays.
