The 2020 Humans to Mars Summit

Are missions to the Moon by 2024 and Mars by 2033 achievable?
How will the 2020 Mars Rover advance the goal of getting humans to Mars?
If we find life on Mars, what next?

These are just a few of the questions that will be explor…

NASA looks for ways to keep Artemis on track regardless of budget outcome

As the fiscal year 2020 appropriations process approaches its endgame, NASA leadership says it will find ways to keep efforts to return humans to the moon by 2024 on track even if the agency doesn’t get all the funding it’s requested.

NASA to seek ideas for an Artemis lunar rover

NASA plans to issue a call for ideas for a lunar rover that could be used by future crewed missions to the moon and, like many other elements of the Artemis program, be developed in a partnership with industry.

House committee raises doubts about Artemis

With growing bipartisan skepticism that NASA’s current plan to return humans to the moon by 2024 is achievable, members of the House Science Committee used a Nov. 13 hearing to advocate for a different, and arguably more conventional, approach.

NASA warns budget uncertainty could slow exploration programs

A NASA official warned that extended delays in finalizing a fiscal year 2020 budget for the agency could have implications for its ability to stay on schedule for returning humans to the moon in 2024.

White House warns Congress about Artemis funding

The White House warned Congress in a recent letter that without funding increases for its exploration programs, NASA won’t be able to achieve the goal of landing humans on the moon in 2024.

Artemis missions face sample return crunch

NASA is emphasizing the science that astronauts will do when they return to the moon in the Artemis program, but agency officials acknowledge that the initial missions might be limited in how many lunar samples they can return.

Stopgap funding bill could impair NASA’s lunar ambitions

The prospect of another stopgap funding bill, one that could stretch well into next year, is raising concerns in industry it could slow down work on NASA’s Artemis program to return humans to the moon by 2024.

Blue Origin, Lockheed, Northrop join forces for Artemis lunar lander

Blue Origin is joining forces with three other major aerospace firms in a “national team” to develop a human lunar lander for NASA.

Japan to join Artemis program

The Japanese government plans to join NASA in its Artemis program of lunar exploration, although the details about how it will contribute remain to be worked out.

Key House appropriator remains skeptical about Artemis

The chairman of the House appropriations subcommittee that funds NASA said he remains unconvinced of the need to accelerate NASA’s plans to return humans to the moon because of its uncertain cost.

Astronaut organization seeks role advising Artemis

An organization of current and former space travelers is offering its expertise to NASA as the agency works towards a “quite aggressive” goal of landing people on the moon in five years.

NASA prepares for ISS spacewalks and seeks input on lunar spacesuits

As NASA gears up for a lengthy series of spacewalks to perform repairs on the International Space Station, the agency is seeking input on plans to produce a new generation of spacesuits needed for the moon.

Maxar selects Deployable Space Systems to build solar arrays for Gateway’s Power and Propulsion Element

Maxar Technologies awarded a contract to Deployable Space Systems to manufacture flexible solar arrays for the lunar Gateway Power and Propulsion Element.

NASA issues call for proposals for human lunar landers

NASA issued a final version of its call for proposals for a human lunar lander system Sept. 30, giving companies the option to at least initially bypass the lunar Gateway.

Senate appropriators advance bill funding NASA despite uncertainties about Artemis costs

The Senate Appropriations Committee approved a bill Sept. 26 that would give $22.75 billion for NASA, but expressed some frustration about the lack of details in the agency’s plans to return humans to the moon.