Meanwhile, over about the same time period, NASA’s Space Launch System rocket, Orion deep space crew capsule, and ground support system upgrades cost nearly $50 billion before the unpiloted Artemis I mission in 2022, according to an analysis by the Planetary Society. That sum has now risen to just shy of $60 billion. The core […]
December 12, 2024 | artemis, human spaceflight, jared isaacman, moon, NASA, Science, Space, starship | No comments
“We have since determined that while the capsule was dipping in and out of the atmosphere, as part of that planned skip entry, heat accumulated inside the heat shield outer layer, leading to gases forming and becoming trapped inside the heat shield,” said Pam Melroy, NASA’s deputy administrator. “This caused internal pressure to build up […]
December 6, 2024 | artemis, artemis II, bill nelson, human spaceflight, moon, NASA, orion, space launch system | No comments
So how would NASA astronauts get to the Moon without the SLS rocket? Nothing is final, and the trade space is open. One possible scenario being discussed for future Artemis missions is to launch the Orion spacecraft on a New Glenn rocket into low-Earth orbit. There, it could dock with a Centaur upper stage that […]
December 5, 2024 | Features, jared isaacman, NASA, Science, Space | No comments
President-elect Donald Trump announced Wednesday he has selected Jared Isaacman, a billionaire businessman and space enthusiast who twice flew to orbit with SpaceX, to become the next NASA administrator. “I am delighted to nominate Jared Isaacman, an accomplished business leader, philanthropist, pilot, and astronaut, as Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA),” Trump […]
December 4, 2024 | artemis, Donald Trump, human spaceflight, jared isaacman, NASA, Science, Space, space policy, spacex | No comments
Notably, the Dragonfly launch was one of the first times United Launch Alliance has been eligible to bid its new Vulcan rocket for a NASA launch contract. NASA officials gave the green light for the Vulcan rocket to compete head-to-head with SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy after ULA’s new launcher had a successful debut […]
November 26, 2024 | dragonfly, falcon heavy, launch, NASA, nuclear, planetary science, Saturn, Science, solar system, Space, spacex, Titan | No comments
A good sign The readiness of the Orion crew capsule, where the four Artemis II astronauts will live during their voyage around the Moon, is driving NASA’s schedule for the mission. Officially, Artemis II is projected to launch in September of next year, but there’s little chance of meeting that schedule. At the beginning of […]
November 21, 2024 | artemis, artemis II, human spaceflight, Kennedy Space Center, NASA, orion, Science, Space, space launch system, vehicle assembly building | No comments
But in 2008, NASA brought on a different provider, Orbital Sciences, and the COTS program moved forward. In 2012, SpaceX flew a successful demonstration mission of its Dragon spacecraft. Orbital Sciences followed a year later with its Cygnus spacecraft. With the development phase complete, NASA moved into the second phase, purchasing services. The agency has […]
November 21, 2024 | Commercial space, Features, NASA, Space, spacex | No comments