Civil
Stories about US and international civil space missions, including those led by NASA and ESA.
SpaceX Won’t Be Visiting Hubble Anytime Soon
Hubble has seen better days—and with NASA formally rejecting SpaceX’s commercial repair offer, that’s unlikely to change.
NOAA Taps BAE Systems to Measure Hyperspectral Ocean Color
The US’ central weather-tracking agency has commissioned BAE Systems to build an instrument for its next-generation weather and climate constellation, GeoXO.
Russia and US Face Off on Responsible Space Behavior
US leadership is frustrated with Russia’s behavior in the space domain, and they weren’t afraid to show it this week in public remarks both domestically and on the world stage.
Blue Origin’s New Shepard Flies Crew After 21 Month Hiatus
The only apparent hiccup during the New Shepard’s 25th mission came when one of the capsule’s three parachutes failed to deploy completely.
NASA Worried About Risk In Polaris Hubble Scheme
NASA officials were concerned about the risks of a complex EVA with unproven spacesuits and astronauts.
FAA Prepares an EIS for Starship KSC Operations
The FAA is planning an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to assess SpaceX’s proposed modifications for Starship operations at KSC site LC-39A.
NASA Audit Identifies Significant Issues with Orion Heat Shield
The Orion spacecraft heat shield suffered extensive damage during its first flight that could “pose significant risks to the safety of the crew” of Artemis II, NASA’s watchdog revealed in a report on Wednesday.
The FAA Says No Reentry License, No Launch
What goes up must have a pre-launch reentry license to come down.
Sweden and Switzerland Sign the Artemis Accords
NASA has been building up its team of responsible space actors, and this week, it brought on two new recruits.
US Space Agencies Call for Public-Private Partnerships
The US civil and military space orgs got together to suss out the state of the space industrial base, and their conclusions are clear: resilience and speed are top priorities, and commercial partnerships are what will make that possible.
Russia Approves New Space Station Designs as it Seeks to Maintain Human Presence in LEO
Russia approved the initial designs for the Russian Orbital Station (ROS) earlier this week, revealing new details as the Kremlin prepares for life in space post-ISS.
Texas Unveils its Space Commission, Names Board
The Texas Space Commission announced its inaugural board of directors yesterday at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, which includes a who’s who of industry and academia.
