China’s Shenzhou-21 Crew Returns to Earth
China’s three‑man Shenzhou‑21 crew returned to Earth after a 210‑day stint aboard the Tiangong space station, touching down in the uncrewed Shenzhou‑22 capsule. The swap was forced by a cracked viewport on Shenzhou‑20, which rendered its spacecraft unsafe for crew return. CMSA’s pre‑positioned backup rocket launched Shenzhou‑22 within 20 days, providing a safe haven and preserving the crew rotation schedule. Shenzhou‑23 has now docked, continuing China’s six‑month crew‑exchange cadence.
It’s a Scrub for First Flight of Starship V3, But SpaceX Has Other News
SpaceX scrubbed the first flight of Starship Version 3 (IFT‑12) on May 21, 2026 after repeated holds at T‑40 seconds revealed a water‑diverter fault, a quick‑disconnect issue, and a hydraulic pin that failed to retract. The test marks the debut of a significantly...
Isaacman: Chinese Taikonauts Likely to Fly Around Moon in 2027
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman told the AIAA ASCEND conference that Chinese taikonauts are likely to fly around the Moon in 2027, ending the United States’ sole record of crewed lunar circumvention. He framed the development as a modern space race,...
Brian Hughes Returns to NASA in Charge of Kennedy and Wallops Launch Operations
Brian Hughes, a former Trump campaign Florida director and brief NASA chief of staff, has been appointed senior director of launch operations overseeing Kennedy Space Center and Wallops Flight Facility. He will not serve as center director but will report...
Artemis II Astronauts Visit the White House
President Trump welcomed the Artemis II crew—three NASA astronauts and a Canadian—to the White House, marking the first crewed lunar flyby since 1972. The president praised their courage and hinted that a Moon landing during his term is a "good shot."...
Key Senators Agree NASA FY2027 Budget Request Inadequate
Senate appropriators from both parties joined House members in rejecting President Trump’s proposed 23% cut to NASA’s FY2027 budget, arguing that the $18.8 billion request – unchanged from FY2026 – is far too low to sustain current and newly announced programs....
Top House NASA Appropriator Calls Budget Request “Disappointing”
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman presented the FY2027 budget request of $18.8 billion, a 23 percent reduction from the FY2026 proposal and unchanged from the prior year. House Appropriations Commerce‑Justice‑Science subcommittee chair Rep. Hal Rogers called the request “disappointing” despite bipartisan support for...
NASA IG Raises More Questions About Readiness for Human Lunar Landings
A NASA Office of Inspector General report warns that next‑generation spacesuits for Artemis and the International Space Station are unlikely to be flight‑ready until 2031, far past the agency’s 2028 lunar landing target. The review highlights Axiom Space as the...
Two New Documents Outline Future Evolution of the U.S. Space Force
U.S. Space Force Chief of Space Operations Gen. B. Chance Saltzman unveiled two new strategic papers—Future Operating Environment 2040 and The Objective Force 2040—detailing the service’s evolution over the next 15 years. The 68‑page FUTURE document sketches emerging threats, technologies...
Trump FY2027 NASA Budget Supports Moon Missions, But Cuts Everything Else
The Trump administration’s FY2027 budget request keeps NASA’s total funding at $18.8 billion, a 23 percent cut that mirrors the FY2026 proposal. It adds $731 million for Artemis lunar landings and $175 million for a robotic lunar base camp, while slashing the science portfolio...
What’s Happening in Space Policy February 22-28, 2026
President Trump will deliver his State of the Union address on Feb. 24, where space defense initiatives such as the Golden Dome missile shield could re‑emerge alongside a renewed focus on lunar missions. NASA plans to roll the Artemis II SLS/Orion...
Another Partial Government Shutdown This Weekend, but Could Be Short
A Continuing Resolution expires at midnight, threatening a partial government shutdown this weekend. The Senate passed an amended six‑bill "minibus" that funds Defense, NASA, NOAA, the FAA’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation and other agencies, but the text must return...
Repaired Shenzhou-20 Returns to Earth Empty
China’s Shenzhou‑20 spacecraft returned to Earth empty after a debris‑induced crack compromised its viewport. The crew was transferred to the Shenzhou‑21 capsule for a safe landing in November, leaving the damaged module docked to Tiangong. A rapid‑response window‑treatment, delivered by...
House Passes Final FY2026 Funding Bill For NASA, Senate Is Next
The U.S. House approved the FY2026 Commerce‑Justice‑Science appropriations bill, preserving NASA’s budget at roughly $24.4 billion—far above the Trump administration’s proposed $18.8 billion cut. The measure passed with a strong bipartisan majority (397‑28) and now moves to the Senate for final approval....
What’s Happening in Space Policy January 4-10, 2026
The 119th Congress convened its second session on Jan. 3, with FY2026 appropriations still incomplete and a Continuing Resolution set to expire on Jan. 30. Only three of twelve appropriations bills have been enacted, leaving the Defense and Commerce‑Justice‑Science (CJS) bills that...