NASA

NASA selects potential lunar landing sites for Artemis 3
NASA has selected 13 regions around the south pole of the moon that it is considering for the first crewed landing of the Artemis program later this decade.

NASA selects astrophysics mission proposals for study
NASA has selected four mission concepts for additional study in the latest round of an astrophysics program, but selected missions could face delays because of budget constraints.


NASA, Space Force resolve SLS flight termination system issue
NASA and the U.S. Space Force have resolved an issue with the flight termination system on the Space Launch System that could have cut short the vehicle’s inaugural launch campaign.

NASA cubesat bumped from rideshare launch because of orbital debris mitigation concerns
A NASA cubesat was removed from a recent rideshare launch opportunity on a U.S. Space Force mission because the spacecraft could not meet guidelines for deorbiting at the end of its life.

First cubesat completed for NASA space science constellation
The Space Dynamics Laboratory has completed the first of a constellation of cubesats for NASA that will act as a giant radio telescope in space to study space weather.

Nelson satisfied with NASA authorization act
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson says the agency has “gotten what we need” from an authorization bill that became law Aug. 9.

NASA looking for new launch of remaining TROPICS cubesats
NASA is investigating alternative ways to launch four Earth science cubesats after Astra discontinued the rocket originally contracted to launch them.

NASA heliophysics smallsats to share launch with astrophysics mission
Four smallsats designed to study the solar wind will share a ride to space on a Falcon 9 with a NASA astrophysics mission in 2025.

Entire NASA astronaut corps eligible for Artemis missions
As NASA prepares to select the crew of the second Artemis mission, the agency’s chief astronaut says the entire astronaut corps, and not a previously announced subset, is eligible for that flight and future missions to the moon.

Italian satellite may fly NASA Earth science payload
NASA is in talks with the Italian Space Agency to fly an Earth science instrument originally planned to go on a commercial smallsat.

Op-ed | Sealing the ISS Airlock Behind Putin
While the Western world and much of the global space industry severed ties with Russia over the war, NASA’s administrator and key managers for the International Space Station have continued to embrace the pariah state as a valued partner.

Astra cancels Rocket 3 to focus on larger vehicle
Astra Space announced Aug. 4 it is canceling its existing small launch vehicle after its most recent failure and will focus instead on a much larger vehicle that may not be ready to fly customers until 2024.

NASA and Roscosmos officials restate intent to operate ISS after 2024
NASA and Roscosmos reiterated that they expect to continue operations of the International Space Station after 2024 as NASA continues to push for an extension to 2030.


NASA revises requirements for ISS private astronaut missions
NASA is changing rules for future private astronaut missions to the International Space Station, including requiring such missions to be led by a former NASA astronaut.

NASA, companies reject concerns over commercial space station development schedules
Both NASA and the companies selected by the agency to begin development of commercial space stations say they don’t share concerns raised by watchdogs that such stations may not be ready by the time the International Space Station is retired.

Roscosmos head revises comments about quitting ISS after 2024
The new head of Russia’s space agency backed away from comments suggesting Russia would withdraw from the International Space Station as soon as 2024 but expressed doubts Russia would be involved through 2030.

House appropriator discusses space priorities
A key House member outlined his priorities for NASA and civil space activities that he says are necessary to compete in a new “space race” with China.

ESA scaling back design of X-ray astronomy mission
Faced within increasing costs, the European Space Agency is looking for ways to revise the design of a large X-ray space telescope, an effort that could have implications for NASA’s own astrophysics programs.