Axiom Launches Japan Subsidiary Led by Ex‑JAXA Astronaut
Axiom is establishing a wholly owned subsidiary in Japan, Axiom Space Japan, led by former JAXA astronaut Koichi Wakata. He spent 504 days 18 hours in space over 5 missions, retiring from JAXA on March 31, 2024 and joining Axiom soon thereafter.
SpaceX CRS-34 Launch Faces only 10% Favorable Weather
Weather is only 10% favorable for launch of SpaceX CRS-34 cargo mission to ISS in about half an hour at 6:50 pm ET.
NASA Details Artemis III Plan: Spacer, Longer Orion Stay, HLS Docking
NASA Outlines Preliminary Artemis III Mission Plans. https://t.co/qhj0gZvuhe Will use a "spacer" in place of ICPS, circular low Earth orbit, crew will spend more time in Orion than Artemis II, dock with both HLS "pathfinders," maybe enter one. Maybe cubesats.
National Academies Seek Expert Input for Next Earth Space Survey
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine is preparing to begin the next Decadal Survey for Earth Science and Applications from Space and is seeking suggestions for experts. https://t.co/a1xVKjhVVk
CRS‑34 Launch Faces Only 20% Weather Go
SpX says the weather forecast for this evening's (May 12) CRS-34 cargo launch to the ISS is just 20% "go." Launch is at 7:16 pm ET. SpX webcast begins 20 min pre-launch. NASA coverage begins 7:00 pm ET. https://t.co/nCHB1NY6nc Backup...
Senate Advances Matt Anderson’s NASA Deputy Confirmation
The Senate will take another procedural step today towards confirming Matt Anderson as Deputy NASA Administrator as part of an "en bloc" group of 49 in S. Res. 690. For anyone interested, CRS has a report explaining the current Senate...
NASA Details SpaceX CRS‑34 Cargo Launch to ISS
NASA's put out a nice summary of what SpaceX's CRS-34 cargo mission is taking to the ISS tomorrow. https://t.co/YPECspDVeR The media telecon should start in about 5 min at 11:00 am ET. Watch on YouTube: https://t.co/ib8KupXD5L
Jim Bridenstine Steps Down, Gabe Sherman Takes Helm
Jim Bridenstine is stepping aside as Managing Partner of The Artemis Group. He remains majority owner and will be Partner Emeritus. Gabe Sherman is the new Managing Partner. https://t.co/5RUe0HaK54
Janet Petro Retires; Deputy Kelvin Manning Steps In
Kennedy Space Center Director Janet Petro, who served as Acting NASA Administrator at the start of the second Trump Administration, is retiring. https://t.co/DTzPOAVhps Kelvin Manning, currently her deputy, will be acting Center Director.
Ireland Joins Artemis Accords, Raising Signatories to 65
Ireland will be the next Artemis Accords signatory -- on Monday, May 4, at 3:00 pm ET at NASA HQ. That'll make 65: https://t.co/PmkqAT1O4V
FAA Releases Final Commercial Human Spaceflight Safety Recommendations
ICYMI (like I did), earlier this month the FAA issued the final recommendation report from the Commercial Human Space Flight Occupant Safety Rulemaking Committee. https://t.co/vH9MUlBPDL https://t.co/ENyo2lvVbn
CJS Committee Passes Bill 8-6, Party Lines Split
House CJS Sbcmt just approved the CJS bill 8-6. All Republicans who were present voted yes, all Democrats voted no. Democrats raised many objections incl cuts to science at NSF and NASA. Full cmte markup is on May 13 when...
NASA HQ Remains in DC to Boost Stakeholder Collaboration
WH press conf with the astronauts quickly turned to other topics, but one tidbit is that Isaacman said DC will continue to be home to NASA HQ. Have "10 amazing centers" around country & being here gives opp to interact...
White House Announces Trump to Greet Artemis II Astronauts Soon
The White House website says "we will begin shortly" with President Trump participating in a greeting with Artemis II astronauts. https://t.co/Qcabtb1Rm0 https://t.co/swhxFxbik2
Today's NASA Live Events: Menon Talk, CLPS Updates, Artemis 2
Coming up quickly (all times Eastern): 1:45 pm, NASA news conf w/astronaut Anil Menon (YouTube); 1:50 pm, 4 CLPS companies talks abt their upcoming missions at LSIC (webcast); 2:00 pm, Artemis 2 astronauts at White House (*possibly* on WH livestream).
House Appropriations Unveils FY2027 NASA, NOAA Funding Bill
House Appropriations has released its FY2027 Commerce-Justice-Science bill, including NASA and NOAA, in advance of tomorrow's subcommittee markup. Text: https://t.co/iYG2yfP3I8 Summary: https://t.co/S8sbWd1RUt https://t.co/wcQhabPARi
Matt Anderson Nominated as NASA Deputy Administrator in Senate Resolution
Matt Anderson's nomination to be NASA Deputy Administrator is one of the 49 in S. Res. 690. https://t.co/JKZHONqYkT
Roman Space Telescope Launch May Shift to August
At Senate Approps CJS hrg, Isaacman just said Roman Space Telescope may perhaps launch in August instead of September.
Bipartisan Backing Pushes NASA, Budget Seen as Insufficient
Upshot of H Approps CJS hrg: bipartisan enthusiasm for NASA, esp Artemis (several reminisced abt Sputnik and Apollo 11) and for Isaacman; most think budget req too low ("disappointing" per chm Rogers); lots of support for STEM. Isaacman defended the...
FY2026 Budget Plan Arrives Late, FY2025 Delayed Too
Isaacman told House CJS that the spending plan for FY2026 should be submitted to Congress next week (it's late). Spend plans are nerdy, but really useful for seeing how the $ actually will be spent. FY2025's was just posted last...
US Space Command Livestreams First Huntsville Facility Ribbon‑cutting
U.S. Space Command will livestream Wednesday's ribbon-cutting ceremony at Redstone Arsenal to mark USSPACECOM taking ownership of its first operational facility there. It's moving from Colorado Springs to Huntsville per President Trump's direction last yr. https://t.co/TJAb5dcjAI
Progress MS-34 Launch Tonight at 6:21 Pm EDT
Progress MS-34/P95 getting ready to launch this evening at 6:21 pm EDT. NASA coverage begins 6:00 pm EDT.
Corrosion Concerns Rise for HALO, I‑Hab Modules
Interesting info about the HALO and I-Hab modules following Isaacman’s comments at Wednesday’s hrg about corrosion in two Gateway modules that were delivered.
NASA Moves Crew‑13 Launch to September, Resumes Six‑month Cadence
NASA announces Crew-13: NASA's Jessica Watkins and Luke Delaney, Canada's Josh Kutryk, Russia's Sergey Teteryatnikov. Launching in Sept instead of Nov as NASA resumes ~6-month cadence (instead of ~8). 2nd flt for Watkins, 1st for the others. https://t.co/rK0XBeLEjt
NASA Livestream Starts at 4:15 Pm ET, Not 4:00
NASA's YouTube livestream for the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope event shows it will begin at 4:15 pm ET instead of 4:00 pm ET. https://t.co/c9eRdvAG2E
DOD FY2027 Budget Briefings Scheduled for Tomorrow
DOD will hold bfgs on the FY2027 budget request tmrw (Apr 21) that will air on https://t.co/tVXSOxBvtY and DVIDS (https://t.co/uhZDZ6OWxF). The bfg on DOD's overall budget is at 10:00 am ET. The Department of the Air Force (which includes the...
House SS&T Reviews NASA FY2027 Budget Request
The House SS&T hearing on NASA's FY2027 budget request on Wednesday is our pick of the week, but much more on tap, too. What’s Happening in Space Policy April 19-25, 2026 https://t.co/2zuKQYznd3
NASA Shuts Voyager 1 Instrument to Extend 49‑year Mission
NASA turned off one of the instruments on Voyager 1. The decision is considered the best option to keep the 49 yo spacecraft operating while they finalize a plan -- the "Big Bang" -- to keep it going even longer. https://t.co/hyqr7StQI0
Babin Outlines Vision for America’s Next Space Era
House SS&T chair Brian Babin (R-TX) has an op-ed in Issues in Science and Technology on "A Vision for America’s Next Era in Space": https://t.co/4zrQtGd9iF
NASA Force: A Fresh Take on Federal Hiring
NASA and OPM have launched the NASA Force website. https://t.co/9rEOw3lBsv Not your typical government employment website...
House Science Committee Schedules NASA FY2027 Budget Hearing
House SS&T will hold a hearing on NASA's FY2027 budget request on Wednesday, Apr 22, at 10:00 am ET, with Isaacman.
House Dems Accuse NASA of Illegal FY2026 Budget Implementation
House SS&T Dems just issued a report re NASA and the FY2026 budget: "Mission Aborted: How NASA Illegally Implemented the President's Budget Request Without Congressional Approval." Calls on Isaacman to "defend" NASA and not do the same w/FY2027 request. https://t.co/RkSmApKqOu
Mobile Launcher Returns to VAB for Artemis III Prep
The Mobile Launcher is on its way back to the VAB today to start getting ready for Artemis III. Departed the pad at 8:11 am ET. https://t.co/ZeDzYf5S67
NASA Greenlights ROSA Support for ExoMars Rover
NASA has given approval for the Rosalind Franklin Support and Augmentation (ROSA) project to begin implementation. This is the addl support NASA is providing to ESA to get the ExoMars Rosalind Franklin rover w/drill to Mars. https://t.co/mBPdDblJzg
NASA Picks Voyager for Seventh Private Astronaut ISS Mission
NASA has chosen Voyager Technologies for the 7th Private Astronaut Mission (PAM) to the ISS. Axiom Space got the first five, but it's expanding now. Vast got the 6th and now Voyager the 7th. https://t.co/2wNTeOpJYU Axiom, Vast and Voyager each are...
House Appropriations Markup Dates Set for FY2027 Bills
Haven't heard anything yet about a NASA FY2027 hearing, but House Appropriations will markup the CJS bill at sbcmte level on April 30 and full cmte on May 13. Sbcmte markup and full cmte markup of the Defense bill are...
Artemis II Post‑Flight Press Conference
The Artemis II post-flight press conf is this Thursday, Apr 16, at 2:30 pm ET. https://t.co/53UepeaDOb Watch on YouTube.
Artemis II Crew Celebrates Orion “Integrity” Aboard USS Murtha
GREAT photo of the crew with their Orion spacecraft "Integrity" in the well deck of the USS John P. Murtha.
Artemis II Crew Returns to Ellington Field at 4:15 PM
NASA tells me the Artemis II crew is expected back at Ellington Field (near JSC) "about" 4:15 pm ET. Will be on NASA+, YouTube, and X.
Awaiting Clear Skies for Orion’s Chute Descent
Hope the mist clears so we can get a great view of Orion coming down under chutes. https://t.co/sqUI0GTmTZ
Artemis II’s Final Hours Seen From Orion’s Solar Array
Artemis II and Earth, 3:30 pm ET, April 10, 2026, just over 4.5 hours from splashdown at 8:07 pm ET (left). Compared with this time yesterday (right). Views from a camera on one of Orion's solar arrays. Screenshot from: https://t.co/3y6Tm3VF4k...
Chang'e‑7 Mission Targets Lunar South Pole Exploration
The Planetary Society has a nice summary of what Chang’e-7 will do at the lunar South Pole. https://t.co/wmotppdsyf
Orbital Mechanics Keep Artemis II Crew Far From Earth
Listening to Rob Navias on the Artemis II livestream, it amazes me every time he says that the crew is not yet half way back to Earth from the Moon. Even though they're landing this time tomorrow. "It's just...
Senator Cantwell to Address Artemis II Crew Tonight
Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Committee that oversees NASA, will speak to the Artemis II astronauts at 7:50 pm ET tonight (Apr 9). https://t.co/I7NKrWIWQG
Artemis 2 Updates: NASA, Canada Host Evening Conferences
Today, Apr 8: NASA's Artemis 2 Daily News Conf is at 5:00 pm ET. Canadian Space Agency will have one at 7:00 pm ET incl Prime Minister Carney. Then a crew media conf at 9:45 pm ET. The NASA...
Artemis 2 Update Conference Rescheduled to 4:45 Pm ET
Today's daily Artemis 2 update press conference is now at 4:45 pm ET rather than 4:30 pm ET. Listen on: https://t.co/5WwQdsBQIl
ISS and Artemis II Ship‑to‑Ship Call at 2:
Ship-to-ship call between ISS and Artemis II coming up soon at 2:40 pm ET. Audio only. Listen on NASA's YouTube channel: https://t.co/3y6Tm3VF4k
Cygnus‑24 Launch Delayed to April 10, Reaches ISS April 11
Launch of Cygnus-24 to the ISS has slipped from Apr 8 to Apr 10 due to weather. 8:03 am ET. Arrival at ISS on Apr 11 at 11:39 pm ET. https://t.co/lSzznKUi4R
Orion Leaves Lunar Sphere, Crew Chats with ISS
Orion will depart the sphere of lunar influence today at 1:25 pm ET and the crew will speak to the ISS astronauts at 2:40 pm ET. Mission status briefing at 4:30 pm ET. List of events (times...
Artemis 2 Loses Contact for 40 Minutes at Closest Moon Pass
NASA is providing live coverage of Artemis 2 sharing obs of the Moon, but at 6:44pmET they'll be behind the Moon and comms will be lost for ~40 min. During that time, they'll make their closest approach to the surface...