Debris

G7 Deems Space Debris an ‘Urgent’ Problem

The growing amount of space debris in orbit is an “urgent issue” that must be addressed by international organizations, according to the G7 nations meeting in Japan this weekend.  “We strongly encourage further research and development of orbital debris mitigation and remediation technologies,” officials wrote in the communiqué from the G7 Science and Technology Ministers’ […]

CivilPolicy

GOP Criticizes NASA’s Proposed DEI, Climate Investments

Republicans warned NASA on Tuesday that promoting the Biden administration’s “woke” agenda, including diversity initiatives and combating climate change, could threaten the bipartisan support historically enjoyed by the space agency.  “We’ve got a Republican House of Representatives now,” Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), ranking member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee said at a […]

Polaris

Space Norms, STEM, Alliances Top National Space Council 2023 To-Do List

Setting norms of behavior in space and building a future space workforce are at the top of the National Space Council’s list of priorities for the remainder of this year, the group’s executive secretary, Chirag Parikh, told Payload. His other to-dos as he nears the end of his second year with the panel include buoying […]

Uncategorized

Wisconsin Named Most Space-Obsessed State, Study Finds

You might think more dairy than deep space when you think about Wisconsin, but the Badger State is the most space-obsessed in the nation, according to a study released Thursday. Science news publication Alt Futures tracked nationwide space-related Google searches, including “NASA DART,” “International Space Station,” and “Mars rover,” between April 1, 2022 and March […]

Polaris

Rep. Frank Lucas on NASA Authorization Push: ‘The Sooner, the Better’

The last time Congress passed a standalone NASA authorization bill, in 2017, astronauts were flying to the ISS exclusively aboard Russian rockets, Perseverance was still a work in progress inside a JPL clean room, and Artemis was just a name from Greek mythology. It’s clear a lot has changed since then, and Rep. Frank Lucas […]

Military

Congress Reopens Space National Guard Battle

Some lawmakers are re-launching their bid to establish a Space National Guard, despite strong White House opposition to previous efforts.  House Armed Services Committee members Reps. Jason Crow (D-CO) and Doug Lamborn (R-CO) this week reintroduced the Space National Guard Establishment Act, which would move space-focused Air National Guard members from seven states and one […]

Civil

US, Philippines Join Forces in Orbit

The US and the Philippines announced plans on Monday to increase cooperation in space on SSA and maritime domain awareness, according to a White House readout of Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s visit to DC.  “Recognizing the importance of enhancing and sustaining joint efforts in outer space activities, the leaders also welcome their countries’ […]

BusinessLaunchTechnology

Relativity Developing New 3D Printing Tech for Terran-R

Relativity is adding two new 3D printing technologies to its repertoire to build the larger, heavy-lift Terran-R, CEO Tim Ellis told Payload. “Aeon R is a pretty giant engine. Not just thrust, but I think the size of it,” Ellis said. “So the two new printing technologies are necessary to start doing some hybrid additive […]

CivilMoon

Nelson ‘Fairly Confident’ In Lunar Surface Mission Timeline

Lawmakers quizzed NASA Administrator Bill Nelson on Thursday about what the space agency needs to keep the first crewed mission to the Moon’s surface on track for a 2025 launch date.  In addition to Artemis, members of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee asked the former FL Democrat how the US could stay competitive […]

Civil

US, South Korea Commit to Closer Cooperation in Orbit

VP Kamala Harris and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol visited Goddard Space Flight Center outside DC on Tuesday to get a firsthand look at the agency’s work to monitor and combat climate change. Hot mess: Harris, who chairs the National Space Council, and Yoon, who is in DC for a state visit, received briefings […]

Military

Moonlighter Sat Will Let Hackers Practice in Orbit

Cyber experts will get the opportunity to practice defending assets from cyber attacks in orbit on a new “hacking sandbox” satellite expected to launch later this year.  Moonlighter is a joint project from the Aerospace Corporation, Space Systems Command, and the Air Force Research Laboratory that will let good guy hackers look for vulnerabilities in […]

CivilMoon

L3Harris Building Comms System for Lunar Missions

L3Harris Technologies announced Tuesday that it will provide the communications system Artemis astronauts use to communicate with each other and with Earth from the lunar surface.  While much attention has been paid to the rocket, spacecraft, and people that will part of the first crewed Moon mission in more than 50 years, communications are critical […]