SLS Rocket Test: An afternoon with the world’s most powerful rocket booster Space vets cautioned ahead that Tuesday’s ear shattering ground test of the solid rocket motor developed for NASA’s Space Launch System exploration rocket would rattle fillings and cause loose clothing to wave in the wind. The warnings were true as the Orbital ATK… [Continue Reading]
Long Duration Spaceflight: Williams to become NASA’s longest-duration space flier NASA’s Jeff Williams, the current International Space Station commander, is in line on Aug. 24 to break the U.S. record of 520 days for time accumulated in space over a career that includes four spaceflights. The current record was established Mar. 1, 2016, as Scott Kelly… [Continue Reading]
Space Policy Platform: Coalition for Deep Space Exploration recommends space priorities for next president The space industry led CDSE urges a bi-partisan backed strategy by the new administration and Congress in keeping with the 2010 NASA Authorization Act for the preservation of U.S. space leadership. Those principles would improve commercial access to space, while backing key… [Continue Reading]
Commercial Crew Progress: Suni Williams details Commercial Crew Program progress during visit to NASA’s Plum Brook Station Suni Williams, a veteran NASA astronaut and one of four “test astronauts” assigned to NASA’s commercial crew program visits the agency’s Plum Brook Station near the Glenn Research Center. Commercial Crew is focused on nurturing two private sector… [Continue Reading]
Orion Testing at NASA Langley: Orion test capsule gets another splash-test at NASA Langley NASA’s Orion crew exploration capsule, under development at Lockheed Martin, is undergoing water impact testing at NASA’s Langley Research Center. The latest round included male and female crash dummies equipped with sensors and strapped in the capsule as it slammed into… [Continue Reading]
3-D Printing: NASA picks Firmamentum to build a 3-D printer/recycler that works in space Firmamentum, a subsidiary of Tethers Unlimited, of Bothell, Wash., has been selected by NASA for a future 3-D printing demonstration aboard the International Space Station. The company’s Refabricator will demonstrate whether it can recycle plastics in space before their polymer content… [Continue Reading]
Asteroid Redirect Mission: Op-Ed | Saving NASA’s ARM and the Journey to Mars House appropriators have misjudged the significance of NASA’s Asteroid Redirect Mission (ARM), according to Louis Friedman, executive director emeritus and co-founder of the Planetary Society. ARM is an important precursor to the goal of reaching Mars with human explorers, he writes. (See… [Continue Reading]
Starliner Progress: Starliner moves closer to crucial pad abort test Major components of Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner are coming together at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center to support critical flight tests in late 2017. The Starliner is in development to transport NASA astronauts to and from the International Space Station as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program…. [Continue Reading]
Inflatable Space Modules: Take a look inside the 1st inflatable space room for astronauts (photos) International Space Station astronauts offered photos of the new Bigelow Expandable Activities Module (BEAM) after opening hatches and entering for the first time on Monday. BEAM is a prototype for a reinforced fabric extendable module that could shelter astronauts on missions… [Continue Reading]
Space Policy Legislation: Bridenstine pleased by progress on space policy bill In April, Rep. Jim Bridenstine, of Oklahoma, introduced the American Space Renaissance Act, a sweeping space policy doctrine. So far, Bridenstine is pleased with how the thrust of his legislation has found its way into other legislative bills influencing the direction and financing of… [Continue Reading]