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]
NASA Budget: Senate Appropriators Approve $19.3 Billion for NASA for FY2017 The Senate Appropriations Committee approved a NASA budget of $19.3 billion for 2017, a small increase over the 2016 level, according to the report. The measure supports work on the Space Launch System exploration rocket as well as an Enhanced Upper Stage, the Orion… [Continue Reading]
OneWeb: Florida factory to mass-produce satellites at record pace Satellite maker OneWeb forecasts the production of 15 internet service satellites per week under the roof of a new factory that will be located outside the gates of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Central Florida. The opening is planned for late 2017. VAB: NASA’s Rocket Garage… [Continue Reading]
Stay the Course on Exploration: Op-ed | Stay the Course: Continue America’s Progress in Space Current U.S. space policy, in which government investments are committed to human and planetary science deep space exploration objectives, serves a range of national interests, from national security to scientific discovery and a stronger economy. Commercial sector advances into Low… [Continue Reading]
I Will Launch Commercial Crew: http://www.nasa.gov/centers/marshall/news/news/releases/2016/i-will-launch-america-launch-vehicle-deputy-manager-dayna-ise.html Citizens for Space Exploration – a pro-space, taxpayer, grassroots advocacy group (http://www.bayareahouston.com/content/c_s_e/c_s_e) – has traveled to Washington, D.C. the past 24 years to meet face-to-face with Members/staff of Congress to discuss the value of America’s investment in space exploration. In order to sustain that dialogue on a regular basis, Citizens… [Continue Reading]