Civil
Stories about US and international civil space missions, including those led by NASA and ESA.
NASA: Agency ‘Failed’ Starliner Astronauts
“The most troubling failure…is not hardware. It is decision-making and leadership that, if left unchecked, could create a culture incompatible with human spaceflight,” NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said during a livestreamed press conference.
Vast Wins Its First Private Astronaut Mission to ISS
The previous five missions have all gone to competitor Axiom, which (like Vast) is building its own private station vying to replace the ISS.
SpaceX Delays Mars Plans in Favor of the Moon
The update is an about-face from previous comments made by SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, who called the Moon a “distraction” in January 2025.
NASA to Grow Civil Servant Workforce Under Isaacman
“Getting back to the Moon means getting back to the basics,” he wrote. “NASA must regain its core competencies in technical, engineering, and operational excellence.”
Congress is Considering a NASA Authorization Bill—Again
Recently, it’s become an annual exercise for lawmakers, and a stated priority for committee leaders past and present. However, past bills have stalled and failed to codify the space agency’s missions.
NASA Picks Habitable World-Finders
It’s the biggest question left to answer in planetary science: Is there life elsewhere in the universe? And if so, where?
Top 5 of 2025: Civil Space
Between budget cuts, staff reductions, and leadership changes, it’s been a chaotic and unpredictable year for the space agency.
NASA Lays Off ISS Workers at Marshall Space Flight Center
In anticipation of the ISS decommissioning and deorbit planned for the end of this decade, NASA has made a sweeping round of layoffs targeting staff working on programs related to the space station at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, AL.
UK Space Agency Sees Budget Growth Under DSIT
this week we got our first indication of what the UK space industry can expect—at least, from a financial perspective—after announcing its joining the UK government’s Department of Science, Innovation, and Technology
Canadian Spaceport Gets $7M For Orbital Launch
One of Canada’s spaceports received new orbital-launch funding, aimed partly at sovereign defense needs.
Duffy Opens Competition to Speed Up Lunar Landing
“I love SpaceX; it’s an amazing company. The problem is, they’re behind…and we’re in a race against China,” Duffy said on CNBC’s Squawk Box. “So I’m going to open up the contract. I’m going to let other space companies compete with SpaceX.”
Will NASA Pick Two Companies to Build the LTV?
While the LTV contractors take different approaches to meet NASA’s requirements—from a rugged truck, to a tractor-trailor configuration—they have similar goals for future commercial customers looking to hitch a ride.
