Civil
New House space subcommittee chair plans to address commercial space issues
The new chair of the House space subcommittee says she’s looking forward to working with the commercial space industry on a number of issues, including oversight of non-traditional space activities.
Final fiscal year 2019 budget bill secures $21.5 billion for NASA
An appropriation bill signed into law Feb. 15 gives NASA $21.5 billion for fiscal year 2019, $1.6 billion above the administration’s original request.
NASA seeks to accelerate work on lunar missions
NASA is now emphasizing speed in its lunar exploration plans, including seeking to fly payloads on commercial lunar landers before the end of this year as it works with industry on lander concepts.
NASA selects infrared astronomy survey mission
NASA has selected for development a mission that will perform a spectroscopic survey of the entire sky at near-infrared wavelengths to study the origins of solar systems, galaxies and the universe.
NASA declares Opportunity Mars rover mission over
NASA announced Feb. 13 that it was ending efforts to restore contact with the Opportunity Mars rover, bringing its mission to an end more than 15 years after it landed on the planet.
SpaceX protests NASA launch contract award
SpaceX has filed a protest over the award of a launch contract to United Launch Alliance for a NASA planetary science mission, claiming it could carry out the mission for significantly less money.
New FAA commercial space head promises transparency with industry
The new leader of the commercial space transportation office within the Federal Aviation Administration pledged to be open and “over-communicate” with industry as it works on new regulatory proposals.
Former astronaut to run for U.S. Senate seat
Former NASA astronaut Mark Kelly announced Feb. 12 his intent to run for a United States Senate seat in Arizona.
NASA minimizes threat of JWST delay from shutdown
As NASA marks the latest milestone in the ongoing testing of the James Webb Space Telescope, agency officials are downplaying any additional delay to the troubled mission caused by the recent government shutdown.
CASIS seeks to increase awareness of ISS national lab with name change
The organization that runs the portion of the International Space Station designated a U.S. national laboratory hopes that a change in branding will increase the awareness, and utilization, of the facility.
NASA center director nominated to lead NRO
The White House has nominated a longtime NASA center director and former acting administrator to be the next director of the National Reconnaissance Office.
Op-ed | Remembering America’s lost space pioneers
Today is the NASA Day of Remembrance, an opportunity for Americans everywhere to reflect on the service of the men and women of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration who helped lead our nation into the heavens and never came home.
Commercial crew test flight schedule slips again
NASA announced Feb. 6 another set of delays to the schedule of commercial crew test flights by Boeing and SpaceX, increasing concerns that the vehicles won’t be ready to starting transporting astronauts to the International Space Station by the end of this year.
Mars cubesats fall silent
The twin cubesats that played a key role in NASA’s most recent Mars lander mission have been out of contact with the Earth for more than a month, suggesting their trailblazing mission has come to an end.
Shutdown delays proposed revisions to launch licensing regulations
The partial government shutdown caused the Federal Aviation Administration to miss a Feb. 1 deadline for releasing a draft of revised launch licensing regulations.
