Space Exploration

Orion and Space Launch System

Navy Supports Orion:  Navy prepares for recovering NASA’s Orion Capsule  Off San Diego, the Navy has joined with NASA in preparing for the future Pacific Ocean recovery of the space agency’s Orion crew exploration capsule. The next test launch of Orion, Exploration Mission-1, will send an unmanned capsule lofted atop a Space Launch System rocket… [Continue Reading]

International Space Station

ISS and Gravity in Space:  First artificial gravity to appear at ISS thanks to Russian scientists  The device will introduce varying levels of gravity to the weightless environment of the International Space Station with the introduction of a small centrifuge for a range of experiments. Tour ISS:  Space Zen: This Space Station fly-through is supremely… [Continue Reading]

President-elect Trump – Human Space Exploration Update

Trump Transition and Space:  What does a Trump administration mean for space?  The president-elect’s space focus could be human spaceflight, technology development and commercialization, according to remarks from Robert Walker, the former U.S. congressman who covered nine points in a pre-election day briefing before the Federal Aviation Administration’s Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee. Walker, who… [Continue Reading]

Space Budgets, Policy, Missions, Benefits, International Updates

China:  Will NASA ever work with China?  The U.S. is congressionally banned from partnering with China in space. If they are to cooperate, there will be a lot of history to overcome. China to Compete with Commercial Space Launch:  China’s private space industry prepares to compete with SpaceX and Blue Origin   A commercial launch industry… [Continue Reading]

Commercial Space Transportation

Orbital ATK Resupply:  Orbital ATK resumes flight from Wallops Island, Va., in a stunning launch visible for miles  Orbital ATK’s modified Antares launch vehicle lifted off successfully from NASA’s Wallops Island Flight Facility on a NASA contracted resupply mission to the International Space Station. The mission marks the first for Orbital ATK from Wallops Island… [Continue Reading]

Orion and Space Launch System

Orion Testing at Plum:  Orion service module passes major shake test at NASA’s Plum Brook Station  The European Space Agency’s service module contribution to NASA’s Orion capsule has been undergoing ground testing at NASA’s Glenn Research Center Plum Brook Station since spring. This testing was the first to replicate the acoustic launch environment and vibrations… [Continue Reading]

International Space Station

ISS and Exploration:  Interview: Space Station as base for exploring new frontier, says renowned U.S. scientist   Space stations are a crucial stepping stone in the exploration of space, Edward Stone, a former director of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. ISS Robots:  Meet the growing family of space station robots   A growing number of robots aboard the… [Continue Reading]

2016 Elections – Human Space Exploration Update

Trump on Space:  Op-ed | Trump’s space policy reaches for Mars and the stars   NASA’s core mission must be distant exploration and science, writes Robert Walker, the former U.S. congressman, and Peter Navarro, a University of California, Irvine professor.. The two men serve as policy advisers to Donald Trump.  (See also:  Trump would reinstate White… [Continue Reading]

Space Budgets, Policy, Missions, Benefits, International Updates

Asteroid Redirect Mission:  NASA provides update on Asteroid Redirect Mission  While the U.S. Congress doubts the value of NASA’s Asteroid Redirect Mission, some policymakers and planners remain steadfast to the contributions it could make to human deep space exploration, science and fending off near-Earth asteroids with the potential to impact the Earth. ARM would visit… [Continue Reading]

Commercial Space Transportation

ISS Resupply:  Company sets October launch date to resupply space station  NASA and Orbital ATK have set Oct. 9-13 as the launch period for the Dulles, Va.-based company’s next NASA-contracted re-supply mission to the InternationalSpace Station. The mission will mark Orbital ATK’s return to NASA’s Wallops Island Facility on Virginia’s Eastern Shore as a launch site…. [Continue Reading]