NASA
NASA selects SpaceX to develop crewed lunar lander
NASA has selected SpaceX as the sole company to win a contract to develop and demonstrate a crewed lunar lander, while keeping the door open for others to compete for future missions.
White House nominates Melroy to be NASA deputy administrator
The White House announced April 16 it will nominate former astronaut Pam Melroy to be NASA’s deputy administrator.
NASA approves plans for Crew-2 launch
NASA managers approved plans to launch a SpaceX commercial crew mission to the International Space Station next week, pending the resolution of one minor issue with the Falcon 9 rocket.
NASA delays starting contract with SpaceX for Gateway cargo services
More than a year after selecting SpaceX to deliver cargo to the lunar Gateway, NASA has yet to formally start that contract as it performs a broader review of its Artemis program.
Biden administration proposes $24.7 billion budget for NASA in 2022
The White House released a first look at its budget proposal for fiscal year 2022 that includes an increase in funding for NASA, particularly Earth science and space technology programs.
Op-ed | Space Settlement Act should guide Nelson’s NASA tenure
As chair of the NASA oversight committee in the House in 1988, Bill Nelson presided over the adoption of the Space Settlement Act, a visionary declaration of Congress that could and should be a guiding theme as he takes on the top NASA leadership position.
OSIRIS-REx to make final close approach to asteroid before heading back to Earth
NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft will make one final close approach to the asteroid it collected samples from next week before heading back to Earth.
Pandemic to cost NASA up to $3 billion
A NASA audit concluded that costs imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic on the agency could reach $3 billion, with several major science and exploration programs accounting for much of that cost.
Op-ed | NASA Earth Science to “Meet the Moment”
While legacy aerospace companies come to mind when we think of NASA and industry, an entirely new business community stands to directly benefit from NASA engagement.
NASA exchanged data with China on Mars orbiters
NASA sought congressional approval to talk with Chinese counterparts and obtain information on the orbit of China’s new Mars spacecraft, a move intended to lower the risk of a collision with other Mars orbiters.
NASA still planning HLS awards by the end of April
NASA officials say the agency is still planning to make selections as part of its Human Landing System (HLS) program by the end of next month as it takes into account the reduced funding for the program.
NASA looking for earlier launch of lunar orbiter smallsat mission
NASA is looking at options to move up the launch of a small lunar orbiter mission, illustrating the challenges the agency faces as it seeks to make greater use of rideshare launch opportunities.
Ingenuity helicopter prepares for first flight on Mars
A small helicopter that hitched a ride on NASA’s Perseverance rover will attempt its first flight on Mars in early April, demonstrating technology that could be used on future missions.
NASA to offer funding for initial studies of commercial space stations
NASA is shifting direction in its effort to support development of commercial space stations in low Earth orbit, with plans to issue a series of awards for initial studies before later purchasing services.
Op-ed | The next space race
"Artemis will not survive if it is now cast as a partisan program," Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kans.) writes in this op-ed calling on President Biden's nominee for NASA administrator to support the Artemis moon program despite its Trump administration origins.
