Jeff Foust
@jfoust.bsky.social
📤 4277
📥 115
📝 435
Senior Staff Writer, SpaceNews. Tips? Email
[email protected]
or contact on Signal: jfoust.58.
reposted by
Jeff Foust
SpaceNews
about 16 hours ago
Firefly plans late summer launch of first Alpha Block 2Â rocket Firefly Aerospace plans to debut the upgraded version of its Alpha rocket late this summer as it sees strong demand for the vehicle, particularly for national security applications.
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Firefly plans late summer launch of first Alpha Block 2Â rocket
Firefly Aerospace plans to debut the upgraded version of its Alpha rocket late this summer as it sees strong demand for the vehicle, particularly for national security applications.
https://spacenews.com/firefly-plans-late-summer-launch-of-first-alpha-block-2-rocket/?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=jetpack_social
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reposted by
Jeff Foust
SpaceNews
about 6 hours ago
Ireland and Malta sign the Artemis Accords Two European countries signed the Artemis Accords May 4 as part of a surge of countries joining in the wake of the Artemis 2 mission.
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Ireland and Malta sign the Artemis Accords
Two European countries signed the Artemis Accords May 4 as part of a surge of countries joining in the wake of the Artemis 2 mission.
https://spacenews.com/ireland-and-malta-sign-the-artemis-accords/?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=jetpack_social
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reposted by
Jeff Foust
SpaceNews
about 3 hours ago
Quantum Space hires Bridenstine as CEO Former NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine is joining Quantum Space as its chief executive as the company pursues emerging opportunities in national security space.
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Quantum Space hires Bridenstine as CEO
Former NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine is joining Quantum Space as its chief executive as the company pursues emerging opportunities in national security space.
https://spacenews.com/quantum-space-hires-bridenstine-as-ceo/?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=jetpack_social
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Another day, another Artemis Accords signing ceremony as Ireland becomes the 66th country to join (Malta was the 65th, earlier today.)
about 21 hours ago
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reposted by
Jeff Foust
SpaceNews
1 day ago
Lawsuit claims Starship launches damage homes As SpaceX prepares for the first flight of version 3 of Starship, the company is facing a new legal challenge from local residents who claim launches damage their homes.
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Lawsuit claims Starship launches damage homes
As SpaceX prepares for the first flight of version 3 of Starship, the company is facing a new legal challenge from local residents who claim launches damage their homes.
https://spacenews.com/lawsuit-claims-starship-launches-damage-homes/?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=jetpack_social
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reposted by
Jeff Foust
SpaceNews
1 day ago
Interlune wins NASA contract for helium-3 extraction payload Interlune, a startup with plans to harvest helium-3 from the moon, has won a NASA contract to develop a payload to test ways to extract the isotope from lunar regolith.
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Interlune wins NASA contract for helium-3 extraction payload
Interlune, a startup with plans to harvest helium-3 from the moon, has won a NASA contract to develop a payload to test ways to extract the isotope from lunar regolith.
https://spacenews.com/interlune-wins-nasa-contract-for-helium-3-extraction-payload/?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=jetpack_social
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reposted by
Jeff Foust
SpaceNews
3 days ago
Artemis 3 plans remain uncertain as schedule slips More than two months after NASA announced revised plans for the Artemis 3 mission, the agency has provided few details about the mission amid signs its schedule may be slipping.
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Artemis 3 plans remain uncertain as schedule slips
More than two months after NASA announced revised plans for the Artemis 3 mission, the agency has provided few details about the mission amid signs its schedule may be slipping.
https://spacenews.com/artemis-3-plans-remain-uncertain-as-schedule-slips/?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=jetpack_social
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reposted by
Jeff Foust
Anatoly Zak
2 days ago
The US Space Force identifies six satellites after a secretive Russian launch on April 17. Two objects are determined to be debris, possibly resulting from an anomaly. DETAILS, CONTEXT:
russianspaceweb.com/spacecraft-m...
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Soyuz rocket launches a military payload
Military launch on April 17, 2026
https://russianspaceweb.com/spacecraft-military-soyuz2-volga-2026-0417.html#05
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reposted by
Jeff Foust
SpaceNews
4 days ago
NASA to increase value of CLPS contract to support surge of lunar lander missions NASA is planning to increase the total value of a contract for robotic lunar lander missions to support a proposed surge in flights for the agency’s moon base plans.
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NASA to increase value of CLPS contract to support surge of lunar lander missions
NASA is planning to increase the total value of a contract for robotic lunar lander missions to support a proposed surge in flights for the agency’s moon base plans.
https://spacenews.com/nasa-to-increase-value-of-clps-contract-to-support-surge-of-lunar-lander-missions/?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=jetpack_social
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reposted by
Jeff Foust
NASASpaceflight.com
4 days ago
Starship Flight 12 NET May 12, 22:30 UTC / 17:30 CDT An advisory has appeared on the CADENA Operational Information System. - NEW Trajectory - Afternoon Launch Window 🗺️ CADENA Operational Information System The window spans 22:30 - 00:43 UTC, which is 17:30 - 19:43 Starbase local time.
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reposted by
Jeff Foust
SpaceNews
4 days ago
DARPA selects three companies for lunar orbiter studies The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has awarded contracts to three companies to study concepts for a lunar mission to search for water ice in very low orbits.
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DARPA selects three companies for lunar orbiter studies
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has awarded contracts to three companies to study concepts for a lunar mission to search for water ice in very low orbits.
https://spacenews.com/darpa-selects-three-companies-for-lunar-orbiter-studies/?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=jetpack_social
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reposted by
Jeff Foust
SpaceNews
4 days ago
Trump nominates Schiess as next Space Force chief Career space operator would succeed Gen. Chance Saltzman atop military space branch
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Trump nominates Schiess as next Space Force chief
Career space operator would succeed Gen. Chance Saltzman atop military space branch
https://spacenews.com/trump-nominates-schiess-as-next-space-force-chief/?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=jetpack_social
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reposted by
Jeff Foust
SpaceNews
4 days ago
Starcloud seeks more orbital data center funding shortly after unicorn status Starcloud is looking to raise at least $200 million in a deal that would double the two-year-old orbital data center startup’s valuation to about $2.2 billion, a source close to the situation confirmed.
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Starcloud seeks more orbital data center funding shortly after unicorn status
Starcloud is looking to raise at least $200 million in a deal that would double the two-year-old orbital data center startup’s valuation to about $2.2 billion, a source close to the situation confirmed.
https://spacenews.com/starcloud-seeks-more-orbital-data-center-funding-shortly-after-unicorn-status/?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=jetpack_social
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reposted by
Jeff Foust
Rocket Lab
5 days ago
Next up on Electron will be the "Viva La StriX" mission, our ninth dedicated launch for Synspective to deploy their Earth-imaging constellation in LEO. The mission is set to launch NET May 22 from Launch Complex 1.
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reposted by
Jeff Foust
SpaceNews
5 days ago
House appropriators keep NASA funding flat A House appropriations subcommittee advanced a spending bill April 30 that would keep overall NASA funding at 2026 levels, rejecting a 23% cut proposed by the White House.
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House appropriators keep NASA funding flat
A House appropriations subcommittee advanced a spending bill April 30 that would keep overall NASA funding at 2026 levels, rejecting a 23% cut proposed by the White House.
https://spacenews.com/house-appropriators-keep-nasa-funding-flat/?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=jetpack_social
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reposted by
Jeff Foust
SpaceNews
5 days ago
Morocco signs the Artemis Accords Morocco signed the Artemis Accords April 29, becoming the third country to do so in the last 10 days.
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Morocco signs the Artemis Accords
Morocco signed the Artemis Accords April 29, becoming the third country to do so in the last 10 days.
https://spacenews.com/morocco-signs-the-artemis-accords/?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=jetpack_social
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reposted by
Jeff Foust
SpaceNews
6 days ago
Canadian Space Agency cancels Spire satellite contract The Canadian Space Agency has canceled a contract it awarded last year to Spire Global to construct a fleet of wildfire-monitoring smallsats.
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Canadian Space Agency cancels Spire satellite contract
The Canadian Space Agency has canceled a contract it awarded last year to Spire Global to construct a fleet of wildfire-monitoring smallsats.
https://spacenews.com/canadian-space-agency-cancels-spire-satellite-contract/?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=jetpack_social
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reposted by
Jeff Foust
SpaceNews
6 days ago
ISS module cracking still unresolved despite stopping air leaks While leaks in a Russian section of the International Space Station have stopped, engineers still don’t understand how the cracks formed.
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ISS module cracking still unresolved despite stopping air leaks
While leaks in a Russian section of the International Space Station have stopped, engineers still don’t understand how the cracks formed.
https://spacenews.com/iss-module-cracking-still-unresolved-despite-stopping-air-leaks/?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=jetpack_social
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reposted by
Jeff Foust
SpaceNews
6 days ago
Appropriators reject NASA budget proposal House and Senate appropriators criticized a NASA budget proposal for fiscal year 2027 that includes significant cuts, suggesting they may instead use last year’s spending bill as a guide.
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Appropriators reject NASA budget proposal
House and Senate appropriators criticized a NASA budget proposal for fiscal year 2027 that includes significant cuts, suggesting they may instead use last year’s spending bill as a guide.
https://spacenews.com/appropriators-reject-nasa-budget-proposal/?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=jetpack_social
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The draft House CJS appropriations bill would keep overall NASA funding flat in FY27 (versus a $5.6 billion cut proposed by the administration) but moves some funding around compared to 2026: a little less for science, a little more for exploration.
appropriations.house.gov/sites/evo-su...
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https://appropriations.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/republicans-appropriations.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/fy27-commerce-justice-science-and-related-agencies-subcommittee-mark.pdf
6 days ago
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reposted by
Jeff Foust
Robert Pearlman
7 days ago
You can now buy your own "official" Artemis II moon mascot as sold by the NASA Exchange. The $25 plush, which reproduces the look of the zero-g indicator, includes many of the features of the flown-to-the-moon doll, including its Earth cap.
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Official Artemis II 'Rise' moon mascot goes on sale through NASA exchange
Rise has now risen... for sale. The fan-created, flown-to-the-moon plush toy, which served as the Artemis II crew's zero-g indicator and mascot, is now available as a NASA-approved collectible benefit...
https://www.collectspace.com/news/news-042826a-rise-plushie-artemis-ii-zero-g-indicator-nasa-exchange-sale.html
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At the Lunar Surface Innovation Consortium meeting this afternoon, where people who have spent the last six years studying the infrastructure needed for a lunar base are having their moment.
7 days ago
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Good morning! It's time for another NASA appropriations hearing, this time in the Senate.
7 days ago
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reposted by
Jeff Foust
SpaceNews
7 days ago
Corrosion problem affects Gateway and commercial space station modules A manufacturing issue involving a European company has resulted in corrosion in modules produced for both the lunar Gateway and Axiom Space’s commercial space station.
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Corrosion problem affects Gateway and commercial space station modules
A manufacturing issue involving a European company has resulted in corrosion in modules produced for both the lunar Gateway and Axiom Space’s commercial space station.
https://spacenews.com/corrosion-problem-affects-gateway-and-commercial-space-station-modules/?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=jetpack_social
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reposted by
Jeff Foust
Harry Stranger
8 days ago
An optical satellite image follow-up to this situation at Blue Origin's Florida site. Sourced White-lable Imagery.
add a skeleton here at some point
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NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman is back on Capitol Hill for a budget hearing by the House CJS appropriations subcommittee.
8 days ago
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reposted by
Jeff Foust
SpaceNews
8 days ago
Overview Energy to provide space-based solar power for Meta data centers Overview Energy, a startup developing space-based solar power systems, announced an agreement to provide energy for data centers operated by Meta.
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Overview Energy to provide space-based solar power for Meta data centers
Overview Energy, a startup developing space-based solar power systems, announced an agreement to provide energy for data centers operated by Meta.
https://spacenews.com/overview-energy-to-provide-space-based-solar-power-for-meta-data-centers/?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=jetpack_social
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reposted by
Jeff Foust
ESA Space Transport
8 days ago
An update from the Rocket Factory Augsburg: They have submitted its application for the marine license for Test Flight 1 from the SaxaVord Spaceport. The application also specifies a potential launch window, which will open no earlier than July 1, 2026 (this not a launch date yet!). 📸 RFA
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reposted by
Jeff Foust
SpaceNews
10 days ago
NASA reserves science payload space for Mars telecommunications mission NASA is reserving a small amount of space on a Mars telecommunications spacecraft for science, which could be one or more cubesats.
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NASA reserves science payload space for Mars telecommunications mission
NASA is reserving a small amount of space on a Mars telecommunications spacecraft for science, which could be one or more cubesats.
https://spacenews.com/nasa-reserves-science-payload-space-for-mars-telecommunications-mission/?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=jetpack_social
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reposted by
Jeff Foust
SpaceNews
8 days ago
FAA to begin collecting user fees for commercial launches and reentries The Federal Aviation Administration is ready to begin collecting user fees for the first time for commercial launches and reentries, which could generate millions of dollars annually.
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FAA to begin collecting user fees for commercial launches and reentries
The Federal Aviation Administration is ready to begin collecting user fees for the first time for commercial launches and reentries, which could generate millions of dollars annually.
https://spacenews.com/faa-to-begin-collecting-user-fees-for-commercial-launches-and-reentries/?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=jetpack_social
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reposted by
Jeff Foust
SpaceNews
12 days ago
Jordan signs the Artemis Accords Jordan is the latest country to sign the Artemis Accords as NASA works to attract more countries to its lunar exploration efforts.
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Jordan signs the Artemis Accords
Jordan is the latest country to sign the Artemis Accords as NASA works to attract more countries to its lunar exploration efforts.
https://spacenews.com/jordan-signs-the-artemis-accords/?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=jetpack_social
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Jordan becomes the 63rd country to sign the Artemis Accords—and the second this week—at NASA HQ this morning.
12 days ago
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reposted by
Jeff Foust
SpaceNews
13 days ago
Atmos Space Cargo raises $30 million for reentry missions Atmos Space Cargo has raised 25.7 million euros ($30.1 million) to fly a series of reentry vehicle missions and work on a larger spacecraft.
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Atmos Space Cargo raises $30 million for reentry missions
Atmos Space Cargo has raised 25.7 million euros ($30.1 million) to fly a series of reentry vehicle missions and work on a larger spacecraft.
https://spacenews.com/atmos-space-cargo-raises-30-million-for-reentry-missions/?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=jetpack_social
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reposted by
Jeff Foust
SpaceNews
12 days ago
Electron launches Japanese cubesats A Rocket Lab Electron launched a set of cubesats sponsored by the Japanese space agency JAXA April 22 on the company’s second dedicated mission for the agency.
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Electron launches Japanese cubesats
A Rocket Lab Electron launched a set of cubesats sponsored by the Japanese space agency JAXA April 22 on the company’s second dedicated mission for the agency.
https://spacenews.com/electron-launches-japanese-cubesats/?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=jetpack_social
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reposted by
Jeff Foust
SpaceNews
12 days ago
House Science Committee pans NASA budget request Members of the House Science Committee rejected a proposed fiscal year 2027 budget for NASA because of sweeping cuts as the agency’s administrator argued it could do more with less.
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House Science Committee pans NASA budget request
Members of the House Science Committee rejected a proposed fiscal year 2027 budget for NASA because of sweeping cuts as the agency’s administrator argued it could do more with less.
https://spacenews.com/house-science-committee-pans-nasa-budget-request/?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=jetpack_social
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reposted by
Jeff Foust
European Space Agency
12 days ago
The European Defence Agency and
@esa.int
have launched a joint study to strengthen Europe’s Earth observation capabilities and develop a long-term roadmap in support of security and defence.
www.esa.int/Newsroom/Pre...
@esaearth.esa.int
@josefaschbacher.esa.int
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A House Science Committee hearing on NASA's FY27 budget proposal is now underway, with Administrator Isaacman testifying.
13 days ago
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reposted by
Jeff Foust
SpaceNews
14 days ago
Northrop Grumman takes $71 million charge on Vulcan booster issue Northrop Grumman said April 21 it took a $71 million charge in its fiscal first quarter linked to an anomaly with a solid rocket booster that has grounded ULA's Vulcan.
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Northrop Grumman takes $71 million charge on Vulcan booster issue
Northrop Grumman said April 21 it took a $71 million charge in its fiscal first quarter linked to an anomaly with a solid rocket booster that has grounded ULA's Vulcan.
https://spacenews.com/northrop-grumman-takes-71-million-charge-on-vulcan-booster-issue/?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=jetpack_social
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reposted by
Jeff Foust
SpaceNews
13 days ago
Commerce Department budget proposal would halt work on TraCSS The Commerce Department is proposing to halt work on its space traffic coordination system while it develops a “new operating and financial structure” that may include user fees.
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Commerce Department budget proposal would halt work on TraCSS
The Commerce Department is proposing to halt work on its space traffic coordination system while it develops a “new operating and financial structure” that may include user fees.
https://spacenews.com/commerce-department-budget-proposal-would-halt-work-on-tracss/?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=jetpack_social
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reposted by
Jeff Foust
SpaceNews
13 days ago
NASA sets early September launch date for Roman Space Telescope NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is now scheduled for launch in early September as agency officials hail its early completion despite ongoing budget uncertainty for its science programs.
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NASA sets early September launch date for Roman Space Telescope
NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is now scheduled for launch in early September as agency officials hail its early completion despite ongoing budget uncertainty for its science programs.
https://spacenews.com/nasa-sets-early-september-launch-date-for-roman-space-telescope/?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=jetpack_social
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The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope at its media day at NASA Goddard.
14 days ago
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reposted by
Jeff Foust
SpaceNews
15 days ago
Artemis spacesuit development risks further delays New spacesuits for Artemis lunar missions and the International Space Station may not be ready until after the end of the decade, a report by NASA’s inspector general warns.
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Artemis spacesuit development risks further delays
New spacesuits for Artemis lunar missions and the International Space Station may not be ready until after the end of the decade, a report by NASA’s inspector general warns.
https://spacenews.com/artemis-spacesuit-development-risks-further-delays/?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=jetpack_social
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reposted by
Jeff Foust
SpaceNews
15 days ago
Latvia joins the Artemis Accords Latvia is the latest country to sign the Artemis Accords as part of a new push to use the Accords to foster cooperation on NASA’s lunar exploration ambitions.
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Latvia joins the Artemis Accords
Latvia is the latest country to sign the Artemis Accords as part of a new push to use the Accords to foster cooperation on NASA’s lunar exploration ambitions.
https://spacenews.com/latvia-joins-the-artemis-accords/?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=jetpack_social
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Latvia becomes the 62nd nation to sign the Artemis Accords in an event at NASA HQ this morning.
15 days ago
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reposted by
Jeff Foust
Jonathan McDowell
15 days ago
A second orbit dataset from SpaceForce for the BlueBird-7 sat shows it in a 265 x 485 km x 43.0 deg orbit, indicating that the upper stage delivered about 1000 m/s, mostly changing orbital inclination. This is about half the dV that would have been needed for the target orbit
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Evidently that future lunar base will even have a Ferris wheel, but you’ll have to pay in crypto to ride it.
15 days ago
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AST SpaceMobile, the customer for today's Blue Origin New Glenn launch that placed the payload in an "off-nominal" orbit, says the satellite "is too low to sustain operations with its on-board thruster technology and will de-orbited."
www.businesswire.com/news/home/20...
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https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260419512905/en/AST-SpaceMobile-Addresses-Todays-Orbital-Launch-of-BlueBird-7-on-the-New-Glenn-Launch-Vehicle
16 days ago
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reposted by
Jeff Foust
SpaceNews
16 days ago
Third New Glenn launch suffers upper stage malfunction Blue Origin’s New Glenn suffered a malfunction of its second stage on the rocket’s third flight April 19, stranding its payload in an “off-nominal” orbit.
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Third New Glenn launch suffers upper stage malfunction
Blue Origin’s New Glenn suffered a malfunction of its second stage on the rocket’s third flight April 19, stranding its payload in an “off-nominal” orbit.
https://spacenews.com/third-new-glenn-launch-suffers-upper-stage-malfunction/?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=jetpack_social
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From Blue Origin: "We have confirmed payload separation. AST SpaceMobile has confirmed the satellite has powered on. The payload was placed into an off-nominal orbit. We are currently assessing and will update when we have more detailed information."
16 days ago
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BlueBird 7 separation from the New Glenn second stage was scheduled for T+75 minutes, according to the timeline published before launch. But no updates from Blue on payload deployment or the earlier second burn of the upper stage.
16 days ago
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