ISS
Commercial space bill clears Senate committee
The Senate Commerce Committee approved a bill Aug. 1 that would streamline commercial launch and remote sensing regulations but also includes language conflicting with a House bill.
NASA Inspector General skeptical of ISS commercialization plans
A new report by NASA’s Office of Inspector General raises doubts about the feasibility of NASA’s plans to transfer ISS operations to the private sector in 2025.
Koichi Wakata, JAXA vice president and astronaut, helps chart future of ISS and human space exploration
Koichi Wakata, the Japanese space agency’s vice president and director general for human spaceflight technology, is intimately familiar with the International Space Station. As an astronaut, he helped assemble the space station in 2000 and lived onboard for four months in 2009 and six months in 2013 and 2014.
Microgravity entrepreneurs eager to know what comes after ISS
Uncertainty over the timing of the orbiting outpost’s retirement and the eventual transition to one or more new platforms is making it challenging for companies to attract investors and plan for the future.
Commercial crew delays threaten access to ISS, GAO warns
Amid growing concerns about commercial crew delays, a GAO report recommended NASA share more schedule information with Congress and develop contingency plans to maintain access to the International Space Station.
Trump wants NASA out of the ISS operations business. Easier said than done.
For clues on the space station’s current status and the transition ahead, SpaceNews spoke with Sam Scimemi, ISS director at NASA headquarters.
Senators reiterate opposition to ISS transition proposal
Members of the Senate space subcommittee used a June 6 hearing to once again express opposition to the administration’s proposal to end NASA funding of the International Space Station in 2025.
NASA’s ISS Director explains the role commercial industry could play in operating ISS. Spoiler: Station is not for sale.
Since NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine told the Washington Post that a commercial consortium could take over International Space Station operations, a flurry of articles have appeared about the proposed “sale” of the orbiting outpost. SpaceNews checked in with Sam Scimemi, ISS director at NASA headquarters, and found out what the agency has in mind isn’t as dramatic a departure as that.
ISS crew schedules delay need for commercial crew
New International Space Station crew assignments announced by NASA May 24 will give the agency a little additional schedule margin for getting commercial crew vehicles into service as it continues to study backup options.
Antares launches Cygnus cargo spacecraft to ISS
An Orbital ATK Antares rocket successfully launched a Cygnus cargo spacecraft to the International Space Station May 21 on a mission that may be the swan song for the company as an independent entity.
Study offers pessimistic outlook for commercial space stations
As NASA formally requests proposals for studies on the commercialization of low Earth orbit, another study presented at a congressional hearing May 17 concludes commercial space stations are unlikely to be financially viable in the mid-2020s.
Senators, inspector general question NASA ISS transition plans
Testimony by NASA’s Inspector General at a May 16 hearing provided new support to efforts by two senators to block plans to end funding of the International Space Station in 2025.
Advisory committee asks NASA to develop plans for reduced ISS crew
A NASA advisory committee, concerned about delays in the development of commercial crew systems, wants the agency to look at options where the International Space Station is operated with a reduced crew.
Cruz remains opposed to ending ISS in mid-2020s
The chairman of the Senate’s space subcommittee vowed May 8 to block any attempt by the administration to end operations of the International Space Station in the mid-2020s.
NASA will pay more for less ISS cargo under new commercial contracts
NASA will pay more money for less cargo delivered to the International Space Station under a set of follow-on commercial cargo contracts awarded in 2016, according to a report by the agency’s inspector general.
