NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Symposium 2020

The NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) seeks innovative, technically credible advanced concepts that could one day change the possible in aeronautics and space.

The 2020 NIAC Symposium will feature progress presentations from our new …

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, …

The 2020 Humans to Mars Summit

Are missions to the Moon by 2024 and Mars by 2033 achievable?
How will the 2020 Mars Rover advance the goal of getting humans to Mars?
If we find life on Mars, what next?

These are just a few of the questions that will be explor…

Cruz skeptical about prospects for NASA appropriations or other legislation

The chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee’s space subcommittee expressed doubts any space-related legislation, or even spending bills, can make it through Congress this year.

Op-ed | Is NASA ready to find life beyond Earth?

The quest to find and investigate life beyond the Earth has reached a tipping point. We stand on the brink of changing the perspective of humanity’s place in the universe and finally answering the question “Are we alone?”

NASA seeks bids to deliver VIPER lunar lander

NASA is asking companies in its commercial lunar landing services program to bid on delivering a NASA rover whose launch has been slightly delayed.

NASA preparing for long-duration SpaceX commercial crew test flight

NASA is leaning increasingly towards making SpaceX’s crewed test flight to the International Space Station a long-duration mission, a move that could alleviate concerns about a lack of crew on the station later this year.

Op-ed | NASA: Need Another Space Assignment?  

While the National Space Council has laid out a clear path to a prosperous American future in space and NASA leadership have embraced ambitious goals with quick and efficient plans, the NASA Authorization Act of 2020 would return American spaceflight beyond low Earth orbit to governmental control.

InSight to try to push mole into Martian surface

Engineers plan to use the robotic arm on its InSight Mars lander to push a heat flow probe into the surface, acknowledging that they have “few alternatives” if that effort fails.

White House, NASA emphasize bipartisan support for lunar plans

Vice President Mike Pence said in a Feb. 19 speech that the administration’s budget proposal for NASA to support a human return to the moon by 2024 has bipartisan support, a claim echoed by NASA despite criticism about some proposed cuts in the bill.

Rocket Lab wins contract to launch NASA lunar cubesat mission

NASA awarded a contract to Rocket Lab Feb. 14 for the launch of a cubesat mission that will serve as a precursor for the agency’s planned lunar Gateway.

NASA selects four finalists for next Discovery mission

NASA is considering missions to Venus and two outer solar system moons as the next in its Discovery line of planetary science missions.

NASA’s SOFIA airborne observatory faces termination again

NASA’s fiscal year 2021 budget request proposes cancelling an airborne observatory, a move that has surprised many astronomers but is also not the first time the project has faced termination.

Mixed reaction to NASA budget proposal in Congress and industry

NASA’s fiscal year 2021 budget proposal has gotten a mixed reception on Capitol Hill and elsewhere, with many supporting increased funding for exploration efforts but criticizing another attempt to cut science and education programs.

NASA CFO DeWit to leave agency

NASA Chief Financial Officer Jeff DeWit will resign from the agency this week to return to his family in Arizona and work in the private sector.

Former NASA human spaceflight head Gerstenmaier to work for SpaceX

Bill Gerstenmaier, the longtime head of NASA’s human spaceflight program who was reassigned last year and later retired, is now working as a consultant for SpaceX as the company prepares to begin commercial crew flights.