Tag

Space Policy

All articles tagged with #space policy

science4 days ago•6 min saved

Hubble at a crossroads: extend into the 2030s or bow out

NASA is weighing options to extend the Hubble Space Telescope into the 2030s by moving it to a higher, more stable orbit or to decommission it via a robotic mission. White papers and science-priority pitches are due in July, with recommendations to NASA and Congress later this year. Hubble’s ultraviolet/optical data remain uniquely valuable and complement JWST, aiding studies of galaxy evolution, star formation, dark energy, and exoplanet atmospheres. With the Habitable Worlds Observatory not launching before 2040, keeping Hubble operational for as long as feasible is seen as crucial for the next decade.

via Nature|

#astronomy #habitable-worlds-observatory #hubble-space-telescope

science-and-technology10 days ago•11 min saved

Cleaning up Earth's orbital clutter: a three-front plan to tame space debris

About 13,486 tonnes of debris orbit Earth, with tens of thousands of pieces larger than 10 cm, risking collisions that could trigger a cascading Kessler syndrome and threaten satellites and crewed missions. The article advocates a three-pronged approach: (1) technology and design changes, including active debris removal methods (nets, magnets, tethers, harpoons) and more durable or disposable satellites (even testing wood as a spacecraft material); (2) policy shifts like stricter end-of-life disposal (five-year rule) and stronger space traffic management and debris-mitigation standards; (3) a shift in thinking—treating space as an interconnected environment with ethical obligations, not a limitless frontier. It also notes the rising impact of mega-constellations on debris and ongoing international efforts to reduce risks.

via The Conversation|

#active-debris-removal #kessler-syndrome #megaconstellations

science11 days ago•5 min saved

Powering the Next Space Age with Nuclear Power

NASA plans Space Reactor-1 Freedom to fly to Mars by 2028 to test nuclear-powered interplanetary propulsion, and a small lunar reactor for Artemis by 2030, as part of a growing global push by nations and private actors. The piece underscores the need for robust safety frameworks and international cooperation, drawing lessons from past space nuclear programs (RTGs, SNAP-10A, Kosmos 954) to ensure accountability and minimize risks as space power expands beyond Earth.

via The Conversation|

#international-law #nasa #safety

space21 days ago•14 min saved

The Moon's pause: politics, not physics, kept humans from stepping again

Space history explains why no human has walked on the Moon since 1972: the Apollo program ended not from lack of capability but because its Cold War mission—beating the Soviets—lost political and budgetary momentum once Neil Armstrong stepped onto the lunar surface. NASA redirected funds toward Skylab and the Space Shuttle, dissolving the Saturn V production line and the workforce to sustain lunar missions. Restarting the Moon program with Artemis is rebuilding that infrastructure, but its success will depend on whether new strategic reasons—competition with China, commercial interests, and scientific goals—provide enduring support beyond political momentum.

via Space Daily|

#apollo #artemis #moon

technology1 month ago•7 min saved

FCC waives Amazon Leo milestone, paving way for a second large LEO network

The FCC has waived the July 2026 deadline that required Amazon to deploy half of its 3,232-satellite Leo constellation, keeping the July 2029 Gen1 deadline but removing the 50% milestone timing. The waiver, cited as serving the public interest and boosting competition with SpaceX’s Starlink, will temporarily demote the spectral priority of satellites launched after July 2026 to spur faster deployment. Amazon has faced launch delays and heavy-lift rocket availability issues (New Glenn, Vulcan), relying on Atlas V, Ariane 6, and Falcon 9 rockets to advance the constellation as it pushes toward widespread service.

via Ars Technica|

#amazon-leo #fcc #launch-delays

technology1 month ago•3 min saved

Mitchell Institute urges Moon-ready Space Force to deter China

A Mitchell Institute paper argues the U.S. should develop a military human spaceflight program and eventually station active‑duty Space Force personnel on the Moon and in orbital stations to deter China’s lunar ambitions, leveraging Title 10 authorities to defend space assets and establish norms, despite the Outer Space Treaty’s bans on militarization. The report cites China’s rapid progress with the Tiangong program and a projected crewed lunar landing by 2030, urging the U.S. to prepare for hard power in space and secure a durable LEO‑to‑lunar infrastructure.

via Gizmodo|

#defense #lunar-habitat #moon

space1 month ago•32 min saved

NASA Unveils Sweeping Reboot to Accelerate Artemis and Moon Base Plans

A lengthy memo from NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman outlines a broad reorganization to make NASA more mission-centric, consolidate centers, create new directorates (including a combined Human Spaceflight Mission Directorate and a unified Space Technology/Nuclear Power directorate), and accelerate Artemis missions with a Moon Base program. The plan also centralizes authority for lunar and nuclear initiatives, establishes a Lower Earth Orbit program, pushes a faster transition toward commercial partnerships and private space stations, and includes a series of directives on governance, funding, communications, workforce conversion from contractors to civil service, HQ relocation planning, and oversight to deliver more science and missions on a tighter timeline.

via NASA Watch|

#artemis #moon-base #nasa

space1 month ago•11 min saved

NASA chief looks to mass-produced satellites to speed space science

NASA’s science chief Nicky Fox calls for off-the-shelf, mass-produced satellite buses and “block buys” to accelerate planetary and Solar System missions, arguing cheaper, more numerous missions could boost science while freeing funding by rebalancing the portfolio and leveraging Commercial Lunar Payload Services and other private–public partnerships.

via Ars Technica|

#clps #mass-produced #nasa

space2 months ago•4 min saved

Moon Litter: The Space Race Leaves Debris on the Lunar Surface

With the U.S. and China racing to return to the Moon, rockets are leaving debris on the lunar surface, including a SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage expected to strike near Einstein crater in August 2026. The piece notes past lunar hardware from Apollo missions, cites the Outer Space Treaty’s ban on harmful contamination (with limited enforcement), and warns that as permanent lunar bases approach, directing stages into solar orbit could prevent turning the Moon into a space junkyard.

via Jalopnik|

#moon #space #space-debris

space-policy2 months ago•16 min saved

NASA Raises CLPS Ceiling to Accelerate Moon Base Lander Cadence

NASA plans to raise the maximum value of its Commercial Lunar Payload Services contract from $2.6 billion to $4.2 billion to support a projected surge in robotic lunar landings for Moon Base, with 13 eligible contractors and a goal of ramping up to a monthly landing cadence; the agency expects to award more missions and/or higher-value missions through 2028 and beyond as companies scale production and move toward standardized, build-to-print landers.

via SpaceNews|

#clps #intuitive-machines #lunar-lander

science2 months ago•6 min saved

Cislunar Highways May Redraw the Global Economy

A new analysis warns that the Earth–Moon space between them, called cislunar space, could become a strategic chokepoint as NASA’s Artemis program and private lunar ventures boost traffic. Control over key transit points and corridors could influence navigation, communications, and the flow of lunar resources, risking disruptions or enabling expansive future space infrastructure and Earth-based supply chains, making these routes a critical geopolitical and economic concern.

via The Daily Galaxy|

#artemis-program #cislunar-space #lunar-economy

civil2 months ago•14 min saved

NASA allocates science payload on Mars MTN relay mission

NASA is reserving space for a small science payload on the Mars Telecommunications Network (MTN) relay spacecraft—up to 20 kilograms in a 55 by 55 by 45 cm volume, up to 60 watts, and capable of 200–1,000 megabits of data per day. The payload will be provided by NASA and could be cubesats. This follows NASA's plan to include science on MTN; a draft RFP was released April 2 with an updated industry-day briefing noting the payload requirement. The final RFP is due May 1, with proposals about a month later. MTN aims for a late-2028 launch and full Mars operation by 2030, funded by a $700 million bill; several companies, including Blue Origin and Rocket Lab, are pursuing the contract, though instruments and selection details remain undecided.

via SpaceNews|

#civil #cubesat #mars

opinion2 months ago•19 min saved

Artemis 2 prompts a rethink: define the purpose of the U.S. space program before chasing profits

Nick Reese argues Artemis 2 criticism misses the core point: government space programs go first to prove concepts, de-risk infrastructure, and seed a future commercial space economy in cislunar, not just to turn a profit. SpaceX dominates LEO but has yet to prove lunar delivery, and the United States must define the ‘why’ of space exploration beyond beating China—balancing prestige, science, and a sustainable presence—while budget decisions reflect that trajectory.

via SpaceNews|

#artemis #artemis-2 #nasa

policy-and-politics2 months ago•15 min saved

Senators push for bigger NASA Mars funding to safeguard U.S. leadership

A group of four senators urged the Senate Appropriations Committee to allocate at least $400 million in FY2027 for NASA’s Mars Future Missions, arguing current funding levels (about $110 million in FY2026 and the same proposed for FY2027) are insufficient to advance critical Mars-tech like precision landing, sample retrieval, and surface launches. They warn that underfunding could erode U.S. leadership in Mars exploration and allow China to close the gap. The article also notes NASA’s budget plan favors cheaper, science-driven missions over MSR-linked work, and industry officials say a practical Mars Sample Return approach could be achievable for under $3 billion."

via SpaceNews|

#budget #mars #mars-sample-return

politics2 months ago•5 min saved

GOP lawmaker vows to shield NASA science from budget cuts

Sen. Jerry Moran, who chairs the Senate Appropriations subcommittee that oversees NASA, signaled opposition to the White House’s 2027 budget framework that would cut NASA by about 23% and gut science missions, saying he plans to keep NASA funding near 2026 levels and push back on cuts to science while supporting moon exploration; a NASA hearing is planned but date hasn’t been set.

via Politico|

#budget #jerry-moran #nasa