Civil
Pence calls for human return to the moon by 2024
Vice President Mike Pence directed NASA to return humans to the surface of the moon by 2024, a dramatic acceleration of the agency’s human space exploration plans but a directive accompanied by few technical or fiscal details.
Spacesuit issue cancels first all-female spacewalk
A spacesuit sizing issue has prompted NASA to reshuffle assignments for a pair of upcoming spacewalks at the International Space Station, cancelling a first-ever all-woman spacewalk and in the process turning what had been an accidental public relations coup for the agency into a headache.
Chairman of House appropriations subcommittee that funds NASA to retire
As a House appropriations subcommittee gears up for a series of hearings this week on budget requests for science agencies, including NASA, the chairman of that subcommittee said he will not run for reelection because of health issues.
U.S.-Brazil agreement goes beyond launch
While a recent agreement signed between the United States and Brazil has been touted as enabling American launches from a Brazilian spaceport, the agreement’s biggest effect may be on other aspects of aerospace cooperation between the two nations.
Space Council seeks urgency in NASA exploration plans
The National Space Council will likely press NASA at its upcoming meeting to speed up its plans to return humans to the moon as the agency continues to study alternative approaches for the next flight of its Orion spacecraft.
Canada pledges additional support for LEO broadband satellites
The Canadian government has vowed to increase the level of funding for the development of low Earth orbit satellites that can bring internet services to rural parts of the country.
National Space Council to meet to discuss exploration plans
The National Space Council will hold its next public meeting March 26 to discuss NASA’s human space exploration plans.
Op-ed | Commercializing Space: Before a commercial LEO market can flourish, the ISS must be retired
I’m a firm believer that the commercialization of space is absolutely essential for the growth of the space economy and achieving all of the goals we espouse for human activities in space.
Engineers still studying problem with InSight heat flow probe
Engineers are still trying to understand why one of the main instruments on NASA’s InSight Mars lander is stuck just below the Martian surface.
NASA dealing with cost growth on planetary science flagship missions
While NASA’s overall planetary sciences program is enjoying record funding levels, the agency is grappling with cost growth in two of its largest missions.
Bridenstine reiterates commitment to SLS
A day after announcing that NASA was studying the possibility of shifting an Orion mission from the Space Launch System rocket to commercial vehicles, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said he and the agency still support development of the SLS.
Chang’e-4 spacecraft enter third lunar night, Yutu-2 reaches design lifetime
The Chang’e-4 lander and Yutu-2 have powered down for a third lunar nighttime on the far side of the moon, with the rover reaching its design lifetime.
Industry and lawmakers go to defense of SLS
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine’s surprise announcement March 13 that NASA is considering moving Exploration Mission 1 off of the Space Launch System took many in the industry by surprise, but some have reacted by defending the use of the SLS.
Lawmakers urge FCC to postpone March 14 spectrum auction
Leaders of the House Science Committee and three House Appropriations subcommittees are calling on the FCC to delay the auction of 5G radio frequency spectrum scheduled for March 14 due to concern about interference with space-based weather sensors.
NASA considering flying Orion on commercial launch vehicles
NASA is considering moving the Orion spacecraft that was to fly on the first Space Launch System mission to a commercial rocket to keep that mission on schedule for mid-2020.
NASA criticized for proposed budget cuts
NASA’s fiscal year 2020 budget request is facing scrutiny from nearly all quarters for its proposals to cut science missions and education programs as well as defer work on an upgraded version of the Space Launch System.
