NASA
NASA using Demo-2 commercial crew astronauts to support ISS spacewalks
NASA is hoping to get as many as six spacewalks performed outside the International Space Station through late July to replace batteries in the station’s power system, taking advantage of the additional astronauts on the station during the Demo-2 commercial crew mission.
NASA expects to cover JWST launch slip with budget reserves
NASA hopes to keep the costs of additional delays in the James Webb Space Telescope within the program’s existing reserves and thus avoid asking Congress for additional funding.
New NASA Earth science director outlines challenges to implementing decadal survey
The new director of NASA’s Earth science division says identifying ways to implement an “ambitious” decadal survey amid various challenges will be a top priority for her.
NASA takes initial steps to fly personnel on commercial suborbital vehicles
NASA is taking the first steps in a process that could lead to astronauts and other agency personnel flying on commercial suborbital vehicles by establishing a program office and seeking input from industry.
Virgin Galactic to work with NASA on private orbital spaceflight experiences
Virgin Galactic announced June 22 it has signed an agreement with NASA to support development of a program to train and potentially procure rides for private individuals seeking to fly to the International Space Station.
New NASA human spaceflight leader acknowledges challenge of 2024 lunar landing
The new head of NASA’s human spaceflight programs says she’s excited by the opportunity to lead efforts to return astronauts to the moon, but cautioned she could not guarantee that could be accomplished by the end of 2024.
Webinar Replay | Mars Exploration: Blueprint for the Red Planet
SpaceNews talks with the director of NASA’s Mars Exploration Program and the project scientist for the soon-to-launch Mars 2020 Perseverance rover mission about the status of the mission, next steps in robotic exploration, and how it leads to sending humans to Mars.
NASA confident Mars 2020 will launch on schedule
NASA officials say they’re confident that the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover mission will launch this summer amid the special measures the agency had to take to keep the mission on track during the coronavirus pandemic.
Xplore wins NOAA contract to study commercial solar observatory
Xplore Inc. won a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration contract for a design study of a commercial solar observatory at Earth-Sun Lagrange Point 1.
NASA ISS manager to retire
Kirk Shireman, who has managed the International Space Station program for NASA for five years, will retire later this month, the agency announced June 16.
NASA’s next giant leaps
Blue Origin, SpaceX and Dynetics have NASA’s trust, but not a lot of time, to meet a 2024 goal for landing on the moon.
NASA to allow reuse of Crew Dragon spacecraft and boosters
NASA will allow SpaceX to reuse Crew Dragon spacecraft and the Falcon 9 first stages for launching them as soon as next year.
Senator seeks to restore proposed cuts in NASA science programs
A U.S. senator said June 15 he will work with colleagues to restore cuts to several NASA programs in the agency’s fiscal year 2021 budget request, which would put more strain on NASA’s efforts to return humans to the moon by 2024.
NASA selects Lueders to run human spaceflight programs
NASA has selected the longtime manager of its commercial crew program to be the next head of its overall human spaceflight efforts.
Former NASA administrator reprimanded for use of agency personnel after departure
NASA’s inspector general found that former NASA Administrator Charles Bolden continued to use the services of an employee to manage his activities for almost two years after leaving the agency.
Astrobotic wins NASA contract to deliver VIPER lunar rover
NASA has selected Astrobotic to deliver a rover to the surface of the moon in late 2023 to prospect for water ice that could support future human missions.
