Jeff Foust

NASA selects Centaur for new SLS upper stage NASA has selected the Centaur upper stage currently used on United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket for future flights of the Space Launch System.

NASA selects Centaur for new SLS upper stage

NASA has selected the Centaur upper stage currently used on United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket for future flights of the Space Launch System.

Rocket Lab launches satellite for undisclosed customer Rocket Lab launched a spacecraft March 5 for a confidential customer, most likely Earth observation company BlackSky.

Rocket Lab launches satellite for undisclosed customer

Rocket Lab launched a spacecraft March 5 for a confidential customer, most likely Earth observation company BlackSky.

NASA deputy administrator nominee sails through confirmation hearing The White House’s nominee to be deputy administrator of NASA received bipartisan support at a Senate confirmation hearing March 5.

NASA deputy administrator nominee sails through confirmation hearing

The White House’s nominee to be deputy administrator of NASA received bipartisan support at a Senate confirmation hearing March 5.

New NASA Asteroid Observations Eliminate Chance of 2032 Lunar Impact - NASA Science Using data from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope observations collected on Feb. 18 and 26, experts from NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies at the

Hey, so, we have some news about something that won't be happening in 2032.

The Senate Commerce Committee just wrapped up an uncontentious confirmation hearing for Matt Anderson, nominee to be NASA deputy administrator. No criticism of him or the agency's plans from any senator in attendance.

Jared Isaacman on rebuilding, Artemis and what he’s learned during his first months as NASA administrator When Jared Isaacman was sworn in as NASA administrator Dec. 18, he hit the ground running — or, perhaps more accurately, hit the air flying. At a town hall the next day, he said he would visit all the agency’s field centers, a task he completed by late January. In some cases he showed up on one of his own fighter jets, bedecked in a patriotic livery featuring logos for NASA and the nation’s 250th anniversary.

Jared Isaacman on rebuilding, Artemis and what he’s learned during his first months as NASA administrator

When Jared Isaacman was sworn in as NASA administrator Dec. 18, he hit the ground running — or, perhaps more accurately, hit the air flying. At a town hall the next day, he said he would visit…

Vast raises $500 million for commercial space station development Commercial space station developer Vast has raised $500 million in its first significant outside investment round.

Vast raises $500 million for commercial space station development

Commercial space station developer Vast has raised $500 million in its first significant outside investment round.

Third Kairos launch fails The third launch of a small launch vehicle developed by a Japanese company failed shortly after liftoff March 4, raising questions about the rocket’s future.

Third Kairos launch fails

The third launch of a small launch vehicle developed by a Japanese company failed shortly after liftoff March 4, raising questions about the rocket’s future.

Senate committee advances NASA authorization bill that changes Artemis and extends ISS The Senate Commerce Committee advanced a revised NASA authorization bill that implements some of the changes to Artemis sought by the agency while also extending the life of the ISS

Senate committee advances NASA authorization bill that changes Artemis and extends ISS

The Senate Commerce Committee advanced a revised NASA authorization bill that implements some of the changes to Artemis sought by the agency while also extending the life of the ISS

Commerce Committee Advances NASA Reauthorization Act and Weather Act WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation unanimously advanced two bipartisan measures: the NASA Authorization Act of 2026 and the Weather Research a...

The official bill text and all the amendments: www.commerce.senate.gov/2026/3/comme...

(1) HUMAN TISSUE EXPOSURE MISSION.— (A) IN GENERAL.—A study to assess the feasibility, cost, and potential scientific value of a mission to transport and deploy human tissue samples t o the surface of Mars for the purpose of studying biological and environmental effects on human tissue i n the Martian environment i n preparation for future human missions to Mars under the Artemis program.

The NASA authorization act approved by the Senate Commerce Committee today includes a study of a human Mars mission—sort of.

Senate Commerce Committee favorably reported the NASA authorization act on a voice vote. Lots of amendments included in it, which were not discussed during the brief markup.

SLS upper stage helium flow problem fixed Workers have completed repairs to the helium pressurization system in the upper stage of the Space Launch System, keeping a potential April launch of the Artemis 2 mission on track.

SLS upper stage helium flow problem fixed

Workers have completed repairs to the helium pressurization system in the upper stage of the Space Launch System, keeping a potential April launch of the Artemis 2 mission on track.

House Science Committee leaders criticize FCC rulemaking on space safety The leaders of the House Science Committee say the FCC is overstepping its authority with parts of a space licensing rulemaking.

House Science Committee leaders criticize FCC rulemaking on space safety

The leaders of the House Science Committee say the FCC is overstepping its authority with parts of a space licensing rulemaking.

Telekom closes the last whitespots in Europe with Starlink satellite-to-mobile Satellite-to-mobile connectivity complements the mobile network and closes coverage gaps across Europe.

Not too surprising to see SpaceX bring a Starlink sales pitch to #MWC26, including a keynote with president/COO Gwynne Shotwell touting its future V2 service (using different spectrum and larger, Starship-launched satellites); more surprising to see Deutsche Telekom sign up as a V2 carrier partner.

NASA on ‘aggressive’ schedule to complete SLS repairs for April launch NASA has about three weeks to complete repairs to the Space Launch System’s upper stage to make the next launch window for the Artemis 2 mission in early April.

NASA on ‘aggressive’ schedule to complete SLS repairs for April launch

NASA has about three weeks to complete repairs to the Space Launch System’s upper stage to make the next launch window for the Artemis 2 mission in early April.

Rocket Lab delays Neutron debut to late 2026 The failure of a propellant tank during testing in January will delay the first launch of Rocket Lab’s Neutron rocket to at least the fourth quarter of this year.

Rocket Lab delays Neutron debut to late 2026

The failure of a propellant tank during testing in January will delay the first launch of Rocket Lab’s Neutron rocket to at least the fourth quarter of this year.

NASA revises plans for future Artemis missions, cancels upgrades to SLS NASA announced major changes to its Artemis lunar architecture, adding a test flight of lunar landers in low Earth orbit while canceling planned upgrades to the Space Launch System.

NASA revises plans for future Artemis missions, cancels upgrades to SLS

NASA announced major changes to its Artemis lunar architecture, adding a test flight of lunar landers in low Earth orbit while canceling planned upgrades to the Space Launch System.

Chairman Cruz Announces Markup of NASA Reauthorization, NOAA Weather Bill for March 4th WASHINGTON, D.C. –?U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation,?will convene a full committee Executive Session on Wednesday, March 4, 20...

The Senate Commerce Committee will mark up a NASA authorization bill next Wednesday.

www.commerce.senate.gov/2026/3/chair...

Ken Bowersox, NASA associate administrator for space operations, said at the ASCENDx Texas conference just now that he is retiring from NASA. Joel Montalbano will take over.

Valve malfunction blamed for failure of Indian satellite to raise its orbit India’s space agency says a valve failure prevented a navigation spacecraft launched more than a year ago from raising its orbit.

Valve malfunction blamed for failure of Indian satellite to raise its orbit

India’s space agency says a valve failure prevented a navigation spacecraft launched more than a year ago from raising its orbit.

In a NASA statement, Mike Fincke says he was the astronaut who had the medical issue that caused the early return of Crew-11.

In space traffic coordination, the biggest challenge may be coordination As the number of satellites in orbit grows, one emerging challenge is the difficulty some satellite operators have contacting counterparts to avoid potential collisions.

In space traffic coordination, the biggest challenge may be coordination

As the number of satellites in orbit grows, one emerging challenge is the difficulty some satellite operators have contacting counterparts to avoid potential collisions.

Fortunately, people who actually are engineers have come to a different opinion, sir. And the astronauts flying on it have accepted that assessment.

Different spacecraft, different systems and different problems, sir.

Not sure of the exact number, but it's several, based on the experience with Artemis 1.

This is the first rollback for Artemis 2. (Maybe price rollbacks are less common at Walmart these days?)

Elon Musk and SpaceX are not involved in the Artemis 2 mission.

Rolling back a rocket for repairs would appear to be the opposite of rushing a crewed (not manned) launch.

Is Orion’s heat shield really safe? New NASA chief conducts final review on eve of flight. That level of openness and transparency is exactly what should be expected of NASA."

The heat shield on Artemis 2 is the same design as the one on Artemis 1, which survived reentry despite the greater-than-expected erosion of Avcoat. NASA reviews for Artemis 2 have cleared the mission for flight, and even convinced one skeptic. arstechnica.com/space/2026/0...