Moon Ferris Wheel Should Accept USD for Rides
If you’re going through all the effort to build a Ferris wheel on the Moon, the least you could do it allow people to pay for rides in USD. https://t.co/ojPQDDQaYn
Satellite Fails to Reach Orbit, Will De‑orbit
"While the satellite separated from the launch vehicle and powered on, the altitude is too low to sustain operations with its on-board thruster technology and will de-orbited."
BlueBird 7 Separation Unconfirmed, No Update From Blue
BlueBird 7 separation from the New Glenn second stage was scheduled for T+75 minutes, according to the timeline published before launch. But no updates from Blue on payload deployment or the earlier second burn of the upper stage.
Team Pauses Swift BAT Observations to Save Power
Noteworthy: “On April 7, the team also halted observations by Swift’s Burst Alert Telescope to reduce power consumption.”
Artemis 2 Astronauts Arrive on Recovery Ship for Medical Checks
The helicopters carrying the four Artemis 2 astronauts have landed on the deck of the recovery ship, USS John P. Murtha. They'll now head to the ship's medical bay for post-flight checks.
Artemis 2 Crew Exits Orion, Board Helicopters to Recovery Ship
The Artemis 2 astronauts are starting to exit Orion. They'll be hoisted onto helicopters for a short flight to the recovery ship.
Orion Crew Capsule Set to Separate in Under 30 Minutes
Less than 30 minutes until the Orion crew capsule separates from the service module. https://t.co/o9Fz1gSC3R
NASA Skips Prelaunch Briefings for Upcoming Resupply Flight
Unfortunately, NASA is not doing any prelaunch mission or science briefings for this, unlike most previous resupply flights.
White House Proposes 23% NASA Budget Cut for FY27
The White House is proposing $18.8 billion for NASA in FY27, a 23% cut to NASA's 2026 enacted funding. Science, ISS, and education major targets of the proposed cuts. https://t.co/4PxZxpplUh
Artemis 2 Crew Cleared for Launch After Troubleshooting
From last night: after some troubleshooting, the Artemis 2 crew is go to, ah, go. https://t.co/ckl9ScopAj
Orion Delivers Images While Crew Wrestles with Toilet
Good: getting some external images from Orion. Bad: the crew is troubleshooting the toilet. https://t.co/uDFwPVKIzC
ICPS Completes Perigee Boost; Apogee Burn Imminent
The ICPS has completed a planned perigee raise burn. Another burn in about an hour will raise the apogee.
NASA Delays Launch, Extending Hold Beyond 6:24 Pm EDT
NASA is extending the hold to give them a little more time to finish some work. So launch will not be when the window opens at 6:24 pm EDT.
NASA Attributes Sensor Reading to Instrumentation, Launch Unaffected
NASA: "Engineers investigated a sensor on the launch abort system’s attitude control motor controller battery that showed a higher temperature than would be expected. It is believed to be an instrumentation issue and will not affect today’s launch."
NASA Flags Battery Temperature Issue on Artemis 2 Abort System
NASA reporting an issue with one of the batteries on the Artemis 2 launch abort system; temperature out of range.
Artemis 2 Launch Window Nears: Range Go, 80% Weather Favorability
A view of Artemis 2 from the KSC press site. Range is go and weather is still 80% favorable for launch during the two-hour window. https://t.co/PdQs3jS1sj
NASA Clears Artemis 2 Launch After FTS Fix
An update from NASA on the flight termination system (FTS) issue: the range is now go for the Artemis 2 launch.
Fans Queue Hours Early for NASA Merch
Five hours before the Artemis 2 launch window opens and lines are already forming… for the NASA merch stand at the press site. https://t.co/G3mNTfUVBT
Quiet Dawn at KSC Press Site Precedes Busy Day
A beautiful morning at the KSC press site. Still pretty quiet here. That’ll soon change. https://t.co/4NBvEjLo0e
NASA Greenlights SLS Fueling for Artemis 2 Launch
NASA says it is go to begin tanking the SLS for today's Artemis 2 launch attempt. https://t.co/wfaqCkBpTO
Artemis 2 Likely Launches Wednesday, 80% Chance
Artemis 2 weather forecast is 80% go for Wednesday. If launch slips: 70% go Thursday, 75% Friday, 70% Saturday.
Atlas 5 Launch Delayed Due to Weather, Vehicle Healthy
ULA is delaying tomorrow's Atlas 5 launch from the Cape because of predicted poor weather. "The launch vehicle and spacecraft are healthy. A new launch date will be provided upon finalization of range approvals and deconfliction with the NASA Artemis...
ESA Restores Contact with Proba-3 Coronagraph After Month‑Long Silence
ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher says at a press briefing that controllers have just managed to restore contact with the Proba-3 coronagraph spacecraft, which had been out of contact since last month. Recovery efforts underway.
Congress to Examine LEO's Future Beyond the ISS
The House Science Committee's space subcommittee will hold a hearing next Wednesday on "The Future of Low Earth Orbit: From the ISS to Commercial Platforms". https://t.co/OyC3IQLGDd
Metro Ad Suggests Relativity Space's Unexpected Strategic Pivot
Saw this ad on the Metro this morning and thought for a second that Relativity Space had made a very sharp pivot. https://t.co/MWdZhHXmrq
FCC to Allocate Spectrum for Emerging Space Activities
The FCC is outlining plans to provide spectrum for novel space activities, or what it calls "weird space stuff." https://t.co/blttdrzzp3
Senate Bill Calls for Human Mars Mission Study
The NASA authorization act approved by the Senate Commerce Committee today includes a study of a human Mars mission—sort of. https://t.co/EAOJaNPxtN
Senate Commerce Committee Passes NASA Authorization with Unreviewed Amendments
Senate Commerce Committee favorably reported the NASA authorization act on a voice vote. Lots of amendments included in it, which were not discussed during the brief markup.
Kairos Launch Scrubbed Amid Ongoing Space One‑Firefly Delays
Kairos launch scrubbed, as Space One and Firefly Aerospace continue their battle of the launch delays.
NASA Stalls on Promised Artemis 2 Seal Images
At a Feb. 20 briefing, NASA officials promised to release images of the seals that had caused problems in the first Artemis 2 WDR. A week and a half later... 🤷♂️
NASA to Standardize SLS Near Block 1, Boost Flight Rate
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman announces at a briefing this morning plans to standardize the SLS to a "near Block 1" configuration (no Block 1B) as part of efforts to increase flight rate.
Neutron Launch Delayed to Q4 2026 After Tank Test Failure
From the earnings release: “Updated the Neutron development schedule following the stage 1 tank test failure, with Neutron’s first launch now targeted for Q4 2026.”
NASA May Delay Artemis II Launch, Rolling Back to VAB
Bad news for Artemis 2: "NASA is taking steps to potentially roll back the Artemis II rocket and Orion spacecraft to the Vehicle Assembly Building… This will almost assuredly impact the March launch window." https://t.co/rS2SqwVMwD
NASA Eyes March 6 Launch for Artemis 2 After Rehearsal
NASA says they are targeting March 6 as the earliest launch opportunity for Artemis 2 after yesterday's wet dress rehearsal. Still work ahead, as well as a flight readiness review next week.
NASA Chooses Vast for First Non‑Axiom Private ISS Mission
NASA has selected Vast for a private astronaut mission to the ISS no earlier than mid-2027. This will be the sixth such private mission to the ISS but the first by a company other than Axiom Space. https://t.co/AXHjd7a0xH
ULA Labels Vulcan SRB Issue a Significant Performance Anomaly
ULA's comment on the "observation" (now "significant performance anomaly") seen on one of the Vulcan SRBs on this morning's launch: https://t.co/VePOoE0Ne4
Crew‑12 Launch Set for Feb 12 After Weather Delay
From NASA: NASA and SpaceX now are targeting no earlier 5:38 a.m. EST, Thursday, Feb. 12, for launch of the Crew-12 mission to the International Space Station from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Mission teams completed a weather review on Monday and elected to waive off a Wednesday, Feb. 11, launch opportunity due...
Crew‑11 Set to Leave ISS Soon over Medical Issue
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman says Crew-11 will depart the ISS "in the coming days" because of the medical concern with a crew member announced yesterday.
NASA to Brief on ISS Crew Medical Concern
NASA is holding a briefing at 5pm EST today to provide an update on the ISS after a "medical concern" reported with a crewmember. https://t.co/lat1JNoGy3
Private Funding Secures 3‑Meter Space Telescope at AAS247
At #AAS247, an announcement of the Eric and Wendy Schmidt Observatory System, including a large (3-m) space telescope, all privately funded. https://t.co/3bohkHo7oq
Hubble's Median Reentry Projected for 2033, <10% Before 2029
One note from the STScI town hall at #AAS247 today: the median reentry date for Hubble, based on current modeling, is 2033; a <10% chance of reentry by 2029.