Commercial Crew: NASA has a new way to fly The U.S. has turned to Russia to transport astronauts to and from the International Space Station since NASA’s space shuttle fleet was retired in 2011. But that’s changing with some important milestones ahead for Boeing and SpaceX, the two U.S. companies developing low Earth orbit astronaut… [Continue Reading]
· Buzz Aldrin on Exploration and John Glenn: Buzz Aldrin: John Glenn was a hero. We owe it to him to keep exploring space Apollo 11’s Buzz Aldrin recalls his long-running association with John Glenn, the Mercury astronaut and first American to orbit the Earth, in an op-ed. Glenn died last week in his native… [Continue Reading]
Lunar Space Station: This is NASA’s plan for humanity’s return to the moon, and beyond A lunar-orbiting space station, positioned in the 2020s, figures prominently in NASA’s strategy to reach the Martian environs with human explorers in the 2030s. Asteroid Mission: Smith, Babin question NASA assertion that scientists now support ARM Chairs of the U.S…. [Continue Reading]
Orbital ATK / Cygnus Resupply Mission: Destructive re-entry marks end to successful Cygnus OA-5 mission Orbital ATK’s latest and most innovative NASA contracted re-supply mission carried out a planned destructive re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean. Orbital’s Cygnus re-supply capsule departed the six-person International Space Station early November 21 for an extended,… [Continue Reading]
Funding for Orion/SLS: New CR funds government through April 28, protects SLS/Orion and JPSS A proposed budget Continuing Resolution, written by House appropriators and approved by the House, would keep government agencies operating through April 28 at 2016 spending levels. However, a special provision would enable NASA’s Space Launch System, Orion and new ground support… [Continue Reading]
ESA Supports ISS 2024: Europe commits to the space station and ExoMars as part of $11 billion in commitments to ESA The European Space Agency’s 22 member ministerial council ended a long range planning session in Switzerland late last week with an endorsement to extend operations of the International Space Station from 2020 to 2024…. [Continue Reading]
Pence to Chair National Space Council: Trump advisor sees Pence playing a major role in space policy Vice President-elect Mike Pence is likely to help shape U.S. space policy under the next administration, according to Robert Walker, the former U.S. congressman and chair of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee. One role Pence seems… [Continue Reading]
Space Age Hero: John Glenn, American hero, aviation icon and former U.S. senator, dies at 95 “His legend is out worldly and now, at age 95, so is John Glenn,” reports the newspaper where the pioneering NASA astronaut died Thursday. “He, along with fellow aviators Orville and Wilbur Wright and moon-walker Neil Armstrong, truly made… [Continue Reading]
Lunar Outpost: An international outpost near the Moon gets closer to reality NASA and its International Space Station partners in Russia, Europe, Japan and Canada have discussed possible cooperation in the development of a lunar orbiting outpost in the 2020s using the agency’s Orion and Space Launch System hardware. The small space station like lunar… [Continue Reading]
Starliner: Launch abort engines for Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner undergo testing Test firing of the Aerojet Rocketdyne engines in California’s Mojave Desert are helping to prepare Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner for NASA contracted missions that will transport astronauts to and from the International Space Station. Orbital ATK Resupply: NASA said to opt for Atlas V rocket to… [Continue Reading]