Tag: NASA
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Starship Block 3 and HLS: The path to get back to the Moon
Amid numerous questions about whether SpaceX can have the Human Landing System (HLS) variant of Starship ready in time for Artemis 3, the company released a significant amount of information on its progress with HLS and Starship in relation to the Artemis Program. Starship Human Landing System (HLS) SpaceX recently released an update regarding Starship…
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Former NASA Administrators urge space agency to rethink plans for Artemis Moon lander
Mike French (left) hosted a fireside chat with former NASA administrators Jim Bridenstine (center) and Charles Bolden (right) at the 2025 von Braun Space Exploration Symposium in Huntsville, Alabama. Image: American Astronautical Society via livestream Two former NASA Administrators called on the space agency to rethink its plans to land astronauts on the Moon using…
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Artemis spacesuits tested as existing ISS suits are showing their age
As the Artemis program works toward its first lunar landing on the Artemis III mission later this decade, new lunar spacesuits are finally being tested by Axiom Space. Meanwhile, the existing spacesuits aboard the International Space Station (ISS) are showing their age. A new inspector general report detailed risks to the Station’s extra vehicular activity…
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NASA leadership battle intensifies as Trump weighs Isaacman vs. Duffy
A high-stakes contest for NASA’s next permanent Administrator is unfolding, pitting billionaire private astronaut Jared Isaacman against Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy. The decision, which rests solely with President Donald Trump, has sparked intense debate and public maneuvering, leaving the forward plan of America’s space agency hanging in the balance. Historically, each new U.S. president…
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NASA Opens Competition for Artemis III Lunar Lander
NASA Acting Administrator Sean Duffy revealed that the agency is reopening the contract for the first U.S. crewed lunar landing since the 1970s, inviting proposals from companies beyond SpaceX’s Starship. The move aims to accelerate the Artemis III mission and ensure American astronauts return to the Moon’s surface before China’s planned landing by 2030, amid…
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Scientists use Cassini data to discover new molecules in Enceladus water jets
Located around Saturn is the icy moon Enceladus — one of the most interesting and potentially habitable moons in the solar system. NASA’s Cassini mission extensively studied Saturn and its moons from 2004 to 2017 and, in 2005, revealed large geyser-like jets extending from Enceladus’ south pole. Later studies would suggest that a massive subsurface…
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We’re about to find many more interstellar interlopers—here’s how to visit one
A few days ago, an inscrutable interstellar interloper made its closest approach to Mars, where a fleet of international spacecraft seek to unravel the red planet’s ancient mysteries. Several of the probes encircling Mars took a break from their usual activities and turned their cameras toward space to catch a glimpse of an object named…
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Japan prepares new ISS cargo vehicle as trio of cargo spacecraft deliver new experiments and hardware
The International Space Station (ISS) recently welcomed three spacecraft that delivered much-needed cargo to support Expedition 73’s seven-member astronaut crew, ensuring the crew and Station are supplied with food, water, clothing, and equipment. Meanwhile, the crew continued with its usual collection of experiments and maintenance tasks. As the Progress, Cargo Dragon, and Cygnus spacecraft continue…
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How America fell behind China in the lunar space race—and how it can catch back up
For the last month, NASA’s interim administrator, Sean Duffy, has been giving interviews and speeches around the world, offering a singular message: “We are going to beat the Chinese to the Moon.” This is certainly what the president who appointed Duffy to the NASA post wants to hear. Unfortunately, there is a very good chance…
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Wide-field surveys versus precise infrared observations: how Rubin compares to JWST
Earlier this year, the new Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile officially began scientific operations, becoming the world’s largest and most advanced ground-based telescope. Featuring an eight-meter primary mirror and the world’s largest camera, Rubin promises to deliver exceptional new results and astrophysical research opportunities for scientists worldwide. Meanwhile, situated at the L2 Lagrange point…