Japan-U.S. Aerospace Cooperation Seminar 2022

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) will hold its annual New Year’s event, “Japan-U.S. Aerospace Cooperation Seminar 2022,” on Thursday, Jan. 27, at 11 a.m. (EST)/ Friday, Jan. 28, at 1 a.m. (JST).

The Japanese government ha…

Op-ed | NASA Needs a Lead Program Office for Artemis

It’s time to stand up an Artemis Program Office, modeled after the Apollo Program Office, with the long-term strategic vision for human exploration of Mars as its guiding star, but with a near-term laser focus on getting us back to the moon to stay — safely, on schedule, and within budget.  

NASA foresees gap in lunar landings after Artemis 3

After landing astronauts on the moon in the mid-2020s for the first time in more than a half-century, NASA will wait at least two more years before making a second crewed lunar landing as part of the Artemis program.

NASA safety panel recommends agency review how it manages human spaceflight programs

NASA’s safety advisers are calling on the agency to reexamine how it manages human spaceflight programs to reflect the changing relationship with industry and to better run its core exploration effort.

NASA inspector general warns astronaut corps may be too small

The size of NASA’s astronaut corps may soon fall below the minimum level the agency needs to support space station and Artemis missions and other activities, the agency’s inspector general warns.

Japan wants a JAXA astronaut to be first “non-American” to join a NASA lunar landing

Japan’s recently elected prime minister set an end-of-the-decade goal for sending Japanese astronauts to the moon as part of the U.S.-led Artemis program. 

Engine computer problem delays first SLS launch

A malfunctioning computer in one of the four main engines of the Space Launch System will delay that vehicle’s first launch to no earlier than March.

NASA announces new astronauts as safety panel recommends strategic planning for space exploration

NASA announced a new class of astronauts that will be eligible for missions to the moon on the same day the agency’s safety advisers called for strategic planning to ensure success in those exploration efforts.

Japan to recruit first new astronauts in 13 years to support Artemis program 

Japan’s space agency is set to recruit astronaut candidates for the first time in 13 years as part of efforts to support the NASA-led Artemis lunar exploration program. 

Northrop-led team proposes Artemis lunar rover

An industry team led by Northrop Grumman has unveiled the design of a lunar rover it proposes to develop for NASA’s Artemis program.

NASA inspector general warns of further delays in returning humans to the moon

NASA’s plans to return humans to the moon, which it already pushed back to at least 2025, could be further delayed, the agency’s inspector general warned Nov. 15.

NASA delays human lunar landing to at least 2025

NASA leadership has formally given up on the goal of returning humans to the moon by 2024, pushing back a landing by NASA astronauts on the lunar surface to at least 2025.

NASA to provide Artemis update

NASA will provide an update on its plans for the Artemis program as the new head of the agency’s exploration efforts works to get up to speed on both near-term and long-term priorities.

NASA sets Artemis 1 launch for no earlier than February

NASA officials said they’re now targeting no earlier than February for the Artemis 1 launch as the completed vehicle enters the final phase of launch preparations.

NASA expects vaccination mandates to have little impact on Artemis 1 preparations

As NASA prepares to install the Orion spacecraft on the first Space Launch System rocket, agency officials played down any effect coronavirus vaccine mandates will have on final preparations for the launch.

Australia to provide rover for future NASA lunar lander mission

NASA and its Australian counterpart have agreed to cooperate on a future robotic lander mission where Australia will provide a small rover as part of a test of resource utilization technologies.

Nelson remains confident regarding funding for Artemis

NASA’s administrator says he remains confident that Congress will provide the agency with funding to allow it to select a second lunar lander developer despite a lack of public progress on funding and concerns raised elsewhere in the agency about the effect an ongoing protest could have on congressional support for the program.

First SLS launch likely to slip to 2022

A top NASA official says the agency will soon set a target launch date for the first Space Launch System mission, but that it’s “more than likely” it will slip into early 2022.

NASA selects five companies for lunar lander studies

NASA will provide $146 million to five companies, representing the three teams that previously competed to develop the Artemis lunar lander, to perform studies for future lunar lander concepts.

SLS cubesats arrive for Artemis 1 launch

While most of the cubesats manifested to launch as secondary payloads on the first Space Launch System mission have arrived, at least one of them will miss its flight.