Civil
Stories about US and international civil space missions, including those led by NASA and ESA.
China and Russia Affirm Lunar Station Plans
China and Russia are still planning on signing an agreement to build a lunar research station by 2035, CNSA officials confirmed Friday. The station, called the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), was originally announced in June and represents the two nations’ response to NASA’s Gateway project. ILRS 101: The proposed station would consist of an orbiting outpost and a…
NASA Awards 12 Launch Services Contracts
Yesterday, NASA announced it had awarded 12 launch services contracts totaling $300M to support its Venture-Class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare (VADR) missions. The VADR contracts are fixed-price, indefinite delivery agreements with a five-year ordering period. The biggest names in launch made appearances on the list of awardees: ABL Space Systems Astra Blue Origin L2 Solutions Northrop…
NASA Releases Spinoff 2022
NASA has released Spinoff 2022, an annual report that tracks scientific and technological spillovers from the space agency into society. As NASA is fond of noting, plenty of space program innovations have been productized in the private sector and taken up by top research labs around the country. Spinoff 2022 profiles 45+ research projects that tapped…
NASA Advisory Council Wrap-up
Yesterday, NASA hosted an Advisory Council meeting to recap 2021 and discuss updates to many of its programs, including Artemis and the ISS, with the public. Mission update: Ax-1, the first all-private astronaut trip to the ISS, has apparently slipped a month to March 31. The agency didn’t elaborate on the change. Artemis updates: The much-anticipated lunar…
Report: Governments Spend Record $92B on Space in 2021
Despite the pandemic and an uncertain macroeconomic backdrop, 2021 was a banner year for government space spending. Total investment topped $92B, according to Euroconsult’s latest Government Space Programs report. That’s an 8% annual jump over 2020, though with today’s inflation, who knows what the real increase really was… Civil vs. military breakdown: Civilian space programs received a cumulative $53B in…
House Passes Defense Spending Bill
The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passed in the House on Tuesday night. The final version of the must-pass defense bill was edited and eliminated language about creating a Space National Guard. The bipartisan bill is now with the Senate, where it is expected to pass before landing on POTUS’s desk to be signed into law. The highlights: In all,…
National Space Council Outlines Priorities in Space
Yesterday, the Biden White House outlined space priorities and held its first National Space Council (NSpC) meeting. The three themes: using Earth observation (EO) data to mitigate climate change, creating global space norms, and promoting STEM education. Top of mind for NSpC: Collaboration with industry on climate change initiatives. VP Kamala Harris and others singled out EO satellite…
Astro2020 House Hearing
This morning, the US House Committee on Science, Space and Technology is holding a hearing on Astro2020. The decadal survey on astronomy and astrophysics is sponsored by NASA, the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the Department of Energy (DoE). On the docket for 2023-2033: a large infrared/optical/ultraviolet (IR/O/UV) space telescope and a few new powerful ground-based telescopes. The long…
Scope Creep on Artemis
NASA’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) released an audit of the agency’s Artemis management. Spoiler alert: not great, but not the biggest surprise. The big picture: The Artemis program is over budget and behind schedule. NASA provided updated timelines last week, and now, OIG is moving the goalpost again. Due to numerous technical delays, Covid, and storm damage, OIG predicts that none of the three phases…
Artemis III Moon-Landing Target Slips by a Year
ICYMI: The Artemis program faces delays and cost overruns. Yesterday, NASA pushed back American astronauts’ moon return trip to 2025 and revised Orion cost projections upwards by $2.6B ($6.7B → $9.3B across 12 years). Administrator Bill Nelson pinned development hiccups on “nearly seven months of litigation” (read: Blue Origin’s lawsuit). Agency leaders also pointed to Covid, associated…
VP Harris Sets Date for Inaugural Space Council Meeting
Six months ago, President Joe Biden tapped VP Kamala Harris to head up the US National Space Council. The White House stayed largely mum on that front until Friday, when Harris gave her first speech fully focused on space at NASA’s Goddard facility in Maryland. Mark your calendars…On Dec. 1, Harris will preside over the White House’s…
Blue Origin Loses NASA Lawsuit over SpaceX $2.9B Lander Contract
ICYMI: Blue Origin has lost its federal lawsuit over NASA’s Human Landing System (HLS) contract. Yesterday, Court of Federal Claims Judge Richard Hertling ruled against Blue Origin in its lawsuit against NASA. Hertling did not share many details in his 192-word statement. What happened? NASA initially intended to award two separate HLS moon lander contracts. Then, citing budgetary constraints, the agency…
UN Committee Votes “Yes” on Space Norms Resolution
The UN General Assembly’s First Committee, a security and disarmament panel, has voted to create a working group focused on space conduct. Resolution title: “Reducing space threats through norms, rules and principles of responsible behaviours” Tally: 163 nations voted Yes, eight voted No, and nine abstained. Notable nays: Russia opposed the measure, saying the resolution should focus on “preventing an arms race in outer…
