ISS
Nelson continues effort to extend space station
With both the current Congress and his political career nearing their ends, Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) said Dec. 10 he’s continuing to fight to extend operations of the International Space Station through the end of the next decade.
SpaceX launches Dragon cargo spacecraft on 20th mission of 2018
On the company’s 20th mission of the year and second within 48 hours, SpaceX successfully launched a Dragon cargo spacecraft to the International Space Station Dec. 5, but suffered a rare failed landing of the rocket’s first stage.
Bush remembered for role shaping post-Cold War space policy
Despite serving just a single term in the White House, the late President George H.W. Bush is remembered as playing a key role in space policy as the country transitioned from the Cold War competition with the Soviet Union to a more cooperative relationship with Russia.
Crew from aborted Soyuz mission to get second chance at ISS mission
The two crewmembers on a Soyuz mission to the International Space Station that was aborted two minutes after liftoff in October will get a second chance to go to the ISS next year, NASA announced Dec. 3.
Soyuz launches new crew to space station
Three new crewmembers are on their way to the International Space Station after a successful Soyuz launch Dec. 3, less than two months after the previous crewed mission suffered an abort during launch.
Advisory committee seeks to enhance commercial space activities
A new advisory committee has proposed a set of recommendations to NASA in areas ranging from export control to advertising to enhance commercial activities in space.
Antares launches Cygnus cargo spacecraft to ISS
Northrop Grumman successfully launched a Cygnus cargo spacecraft to the International Space Station Nov. 17 after two days of weather delays.
ISS science not affected by smaller crew
The smaller crew complement on the International Space Station created by last month’s Soyuz launch abort has not affected research activities there or plans to send new experiments on upcoming cargo missions.
Orbit Fab to test refueling technology on ISS
A startup company with plans to develop orbiting propellant depots will fly an experiment to the International Space Station next month to demonstrate some of its key technologies.
Crewed Soyuz flights set to resume after Russia blames close call on final-assembly error
With the cause of the Oct. 11 failure identified, crewed launches of Soyuz-FG launch vehicles are set to resume. The next launch is scheduled for Dec. 3
NASA astronaut still baffled by removal from ISS mission
A NASA astronaut removed early this year from a mission to the International Space Station said Oct. 29 she still doesn’t understand the reasons for her reassignment.
Bridenstine confident Soyuz launches will resume “on schedule”
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said he believes launches of crewed Soyuz spacecraft will resume “on schedule” after last week’s launch failure, avoiding the possibility of leaving the International Space Station without a crew.
Soyuz failure to affect ISS utilization
With the International Space Station likely to have only a three-person crew for an extended period, researchers expect there will be less time devoted to research.
Soyuz investigators hone in on booster separation, promise conclusions Oct. 20
Roscosmos now says one of the Soyuz rocket’s four strap-on boosters failed to properly separate and nicked the core stage.
NASA to look at options to keep crew on ISS while Soyuz grounded
With Russia’s Soyuz spacecraft grounded for an indefinite period, NASA managers said Oct. 11 that they will look at ways to keep the current International Space Station crew in orbit for an extended period if needed.
