NASA
TechCrunch Sessions: Space
Investors are pouring billions into new companies challenging the space industry incumbents at a historic moment when technology and markets are converging to bring about dramatic advances, from sci-fi worthy manned space travel and colonization, …
SCaN The Future
“SCaN The Future” is a free, 90-minute virtual event hosted by NASA Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) to outline how NASA will transition from provider to customer in near-Earth communications. Future events include an industr…
NASA’s Crew-1 commander to be sworn into U.S. Space Force from the International Space Station
Air Force Col. Michael “Hopper” Hopkins, commander of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-1 mission, will be commissioned into the U.S. Space Force.
NASA weighing lunar lander budget options
NASA is looking at ways to stretch out the budget for its Human Landing System program should there be further delays in a final appropriations bill while still seeking full funding for the program in 2021.
Asteroid samples leaking from OSIRIS-REx
NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft collected so much material from the surface of the asteroid Bennu that the lid of its sampling head is jammed open, causing material to leak out and changing the agency’s plans for the mission.
NASA confident OSIRIS-REx collected asteroid samples
The leaders of NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission are confident that the spacecraft collected material from the surface of the asteroid Bennu during a touch-and-go (TAG) maneuver Oct. 20.
NASA and Energy Department sign cooperative agreement
NASA and the Department of Energy announced a memorandum of understanding (MOU) Oct. 20 that is the latest in a series of measures by the two agencies to expand cooperation.
OSIRIS-REx touches down on asteroid
NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft briefly touched down on the surface of the asteroid Bennu Oct. 20, but it may be several days before project scientists know how much material the probe collected for return to Earth.
JWST remains on track for October 2021 launch
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope remains on schedule for a launch in a little more than a year, but the program is still dealing with some technical issues that could eat into its schedule reserve.
NASA awards contracts for lunar technologies and ice prospecting payload
NASA has awarded more than $400 million in contracts to both demonstrate technologies needed for future lunar exploration and to send an ice-drilling payload to the south pole of the moon.
ESA awards contracts for moon and Mars exploration
The European Space Agency has awarded contracts for work on elements of its moon and Mars exploration program, ranging from modules for the lunar Gateway to a mission to return Mars samples to Earth.
NASA selects first human-tended suborbital research payload
NASA has selected its first human-tended commercial suborbital research payload, clearing the way for the biggest advocate of such research to fly on a future Virgin Galactic mission.
Soyuz launch marks end of an era for NASA
A Soyuz spacecraft launched to the International Space Station Oct. 14 on what will likely be the last mission where NASA pays Russia for a seat, but not necessarily the last time NASA astronauts fly on the spacecraft.
