Saturday, April 18, 2026

My favorite newsletter on the citadel - Watch This Space - April 2026

My favorite newsletter on the citadel | Where should we send a real 'Hail Mary' spacecraft? A new study has the answers | 'Project Hail Mary' author Andy Weir reveals his favorite scenes in the movie, praises Ryan Gosling's amazing performance, & more (interview)
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April 17, 2026
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It's been a busy month for Space… Not really sure why, something about a rocket launch, mankind's return to the moon, and the revitalization of humanity's interest in space travel. Who cares about that Artemis 2 business, though? We've got sci-fi to talk about.*


You know, sci-fi games are like buses; you wait years for a Mass Effect sequel, and then two spiritual successors come along at once. Both Exodus and The Expanse: Osiris Reborn were announced ages ago, but April gave us a proper look at the gameplay of both of them, and yep — that's Mass Effect, alright.


There's not a hint of malice in that comparison either; Mass Effect is one of the best sci-fi RPG series of all time, and while EA and BioWare drag their feet on the franchise's return, we're thrilled that some new studios are taking up the mantle. Sure, the space might seem a little crowded, but both titles are taking things in a unique direction. Exodus looks a bit more fantastical, with space bears and magic-powers-in-disguise, while Osiris Reborn has that hard sci-fi edge that fans of The Expanse TV series know and love.


On the movie front, we're still sitting in the warm glow of Project Hail Mary's magnificence. We got to chat to Andy Weir and get his thoughts on the movie, and checked out a study that looked at 45 potentially habitable planets nearby, to see how likely it is that the Tau Ceti system is harbouring alien life. And if you're wondering how much the Project Hail Mary movie differs from the book, we've listed the 10 biggest differences.


For All Mankind season 5 dropped this month, too, offering some more delicious hard sci-fi goodness. We chatted to the creators about their approach to realism and the real-world parallels between settling Mars and the colonial era here on Earth. Apple TV+ really does have all the best sci-fi right now, and with spin-off Star City on the way next month, that's not stopping anytime soon.


We also calibrated our nostalgia goggles and glanced back at two forgotten gems of the past: Forbidden Planet turned 70, and we think it was staggeringly ahead of its time, writing the blueprint for the modern space opera. Sci-fi shooter Defender hit 45 years old, too, and we lamented just how hard it is to play the iconic arcade game these days.


We also ranked the best Stargate SG-1 episodes of all time, because we're all massive Stargate nerds here at Space. We struggled to pick just ten, but they're all bangers (and for once we're pretty sure you'll agree with our top spot).


Oh, and one final thing. Somehow, Strange New Words will return next month. Our monthly short-story book club took a tiny hiatus because Artemis 2's launch left us a little thin on time, but we're back for May. 


See you out there,

Ian Stokes, Entertainment Editor, Space


P.S. Got any feedback for us? Drop us an email at community@space.com. Be nice, or we'll set a Krogan on you.


* I am, of course, being facetious; huge congratulations to NASA, and be sure to check out our team's amazing
Artemis 2 coverage.
 
 
 
 
Watch This Space
 
Space.com
Where should we send a real 'Hail Mary' spacecraft? A new study has the answers
A new atlas of 45 potentially habitable planets makes us think of the new film "Project Hail Mary," based on the book by Andy Weir.
 
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'Project Hail Mary' author Andy Weir reveals his favorite scenes in the movie, praises Ryan Gosling's amazing performance, & more (interview)
'Seeing Ryan add all these layers, I'm like, 'Oh good, he’s covering the things that I didn’t do.''
 
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'They’re not shipping cows up to Mars': 'For All Mankind' creators talk scientific accuracy and colonial inspirations behind season 5 (interview)
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'Maul – Shadow Lord' is the darkest and most focused animated 'Star Wars' show yet
Darth Maul's own series instantly sets itself apart from its relatives with a killer pitch, but it suffers from familiar debut season frustrations.
 
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Fantasy game 'Crimson Desert' lets you stab your way up to space, showcasing a remarkably detailed cosmos
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We've finally seen 'Exodus' gameplay, and it's 'Mass Effect' with a space grappling hook
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'The Expanse: Osiris Reborn' has lots of 'Mass Effect' DNA, but its developers are teasing a far more grounded sci-fi RPG
Owlcat Games' take on The Expanse is wearing its influences proudly, while also carving out its own hard sci-fi identity.
 
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'Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 4': Release window, plot, factions, & everything else we know about the upcoming 40K strategy game
In the grim darkness of the future, there's only real-time strategy as the venerable Dawn of War series returns for a fourth entry.
 
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10 major differences between the 'Project Hail Mary' book and movie
Ryland Grace's world-saving adventure saw a few changes during the jump from the page to the screen; here are ten big differences we spotted.
 
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The 10 best Stargate SG-1 episodes, ranked
Chevron seven, locked!
 
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10 iconic William Shatner 'Star Trek' moments to celebrate his 95th birthday
In honor of Shatner's 95th birthday, here's ten signature Kirk scenes from 'Star Trek' history.
 
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'Forbidden Planet' at 70: Why the original sci-fi blockbuster is still out of this world
The movie that took Shakespeare to the stars, and wrote the blueprint for movie space opera.
 
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Defender at 45: How an icon of space gaming is in danger of being lost to history
The iconic arcade shooter is 45 in 2026, but 'Defender' needs preserving if it's going to see 50.
 
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