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Limited work continues on JWST
While NASA has resumed some work on the James Webb Space Telescope, project officials say even that limited level of activity will soon come to a halt because of the coronavirus pandemic.
NASA planning reorganization of human spaceflight directorate
NASA is planning to implement changes in the structure of its human spaceflight directorate in the coming weeks, including moving a scientific research program to another part of the agency.
NASA and ESA to fund coronavirus projects
NASA and ESA are separately soliciting proposals to either do research related to the coronavirus pandemic or to help provide relief services.
NASA selects astronauts for Crew Dragon mission
NASA has completed the crew for the first operational SpaceX commercial crew mission to the International Space Station, one that will not include any Russian cosmonauts after Roscosmos officials said they would not fly on what they consider an unproven vehicle.
NASA selects space science cubesat mission
NASA announced March 30 it will fund the development of a cluster of six cubesats that will fly in formation above geostationary orbit to study solar storms.
Budget constraints to delay start of NASA Earth science Explorer program
Limited budgets will force NASA to delay implementation of one major recommendation from an Earth science decadal survey for a smaller class of missions.
SpaceX wins NASA commercial cargo contract for lunar Gateway
NASA announced March 27 it has selected SpaceX to provide cargo transportation services for the agency’s planned lunar Gateway.
French space agency donates 90,000 face masks to hospitals
Hospitals in Toulouse, France, received 90,000 face masks from the French space agency CNES this week in an effort to help limit the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, according to the agency’s president.
NASA requesting proposals for Orion engine
NASA is seeking bids to develop a new engine for its Orion spacecraft that will effectively be a plug-in replacement for the shuttle-era engine used on the spacecraft’s initial missions.
ESA puts four science missions on hold during pandemic
The European Space Agency announced March 24 it is suspending regular operations of four of its missions, including one recently launched spacecraft, to reduce staffing needs during the coronavirus pandemic.
U.S. government aims for better coordination in space weather campaign
After decades of fighting to be taken seriously, meteorologists say space weather is beginning to get the attention it deserves.
NASA to hand off spacecraft communications to industry
NASA is preparing to hand off to the private sector much of the work of communicating with spacecraft in Earth and lunar orbit.
Starliner flight raises profile of Space Network
The Space Network continues to offer reliable global coverage 24-hours a day for missions led by NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other government agencies, said Ted Sobchak, NASA Space Network project manager.
NASA to participate in SpaceX engine anomaly investigation
NASA representatives will be part of an ongoing SpaceX investigation into an engine anomaly on a recent Falcon 9 launch as the company prepares for a Crew Dragon mission carrying two NASA astronauts.
Venezuela’s flagship communications satellite out of service and tumbling
Venezuela’s first and only state-owned communications satellite has been out of service since March 13 when a series of maneuvers left it tumbling in an unusable orbit.
Chinese new-generation spacecraft mission proceeding despite coronavirus, Long March 7A failure
The launch of a Long March 5B heavy-lift rocket carrying a Chinese new-generation spacecraft is going ahead despite the coronavirus outbreak.
