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NOAA issues solicitation for commercial radio occultation data
For the first time, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is soliciting proposals for commercial radio occultation satellite data to feed operational weather forecast models.
New NASA office coordinates rideshare launches of smallsat science missions
NASA has established an office to coordinate rideshare launch opportunities for its growing number of smallsat science missions, taking advantage of excess capacity on launches of larger spacecraft.
Loft Orbital to fly Canadian quantum communications satellite
Loft Orbital on Aug. 4 announced a contract to provide the spacecraft platform and arrange a launch for a Canadian quantum communications experiment.
Cubesat demonstrates Earth science instrument
A cubesat launched earlier this year has successfully tested a version of an instrument that will fly on a larger NASA mission in development.
Ball Aerospace wrapping up green propellant smallsat demo mission
Ball Aerospace says it has successfully flight-tested a green propellant developed by the Air Force, and is lowering the satellite’s altitude so that it deorbits in the coming weeks.
Crew Dragon splashes down to end successful test flight
SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico Aug. 2, successfully completing a test flight and crossing the finish line of the decade-long commercial crew program.
Crew Dragon undocks from space station
A SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft carrying two NASA astronauts on a test flight undocked from the International Space Station Aug. 1 ahead of a splashdown less than 24 hours later.
Op-ed | Lunapolitics: 10 points to consider
Renewed competition for the moon is the basis for the rise of Lunapolitics: where political and economic interests intersect with the topography and physical properties of the moon, from its subsurface through to cislunar space.
Weather could postpone Crew Dragon return
NASA and SpaceX are ready to wrap up a test flight of the company’s Crew Dragon spacecraft, but poor weather could delay the return of the spacecraft and its two-person crew.
Senate pandemic relief bill offers $1.5 billion for NASA
A coronavirus pandemic spending package introduced in the Senate this week would provide $1.5 billion in supplemental funding for NASA, although agency leadership says the exact amount of money the agency needs to cover its costs remains to be determined.
NASA and ESA outline cost of Mars sample return
NASA and the European Space Agency expect to spend at least $7 billion to collect samples of Mars and return them to Earth, a process that will start with the impending launch of NASA’s Mars 2020 mission.
Inhofe blocks nomination of FCC commissioner over Ligado order
Inhofe said he would block O’Rielly until the nominee “publicly commits to vote to overturn the current Ligado order.”
Mars 2020 ready for launch
NASA’s Mars 2020 mission has passed its final review ahead of a July 30 launch that will kick off an ambitious effort to return samples of the red planet to Earth.
For Mars sample return, Perseverance is required
Mars scientists know the importance of perseverance. given the setbacks. That’s especially true of the quest to retrieve samples from the Red Planet.
NASA’s blueprint for the Red Planet
SpaceNews brought together a trio of experts to discuss Perseverance, the search for life, and future human exploration of Mars.
