Today is the 40th anniversary of the Challenger disaster. I remember that day vividly. As we look ahead to some upcoming missions, it is imperative that safety is the primary consideration. Move forward, but only when ready. Let their sacrifices not be in vain. #space

Ah crap, NASA WB-57 N927NA just made a gear-up landing at Ellington Field, crew is OK, aircraft not so much... which might be an issue for support Artemis II launch... Source: www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4da...

This discussion spurred a lot of conversation across the board. Click thru for more (incl links to @spacenewsinc.bsky.social , @spaceflightnow.com, @arstechnica.com ), a video from a prior Symposium with @smartereveryday.bsky.social, and our video of the full talk. Continue the conversation!

Proud to note that I was a guest on the @tminus.bsky.social podcast last week. It was a great chat about the @astronautical.org ‬ Lifetime Achievement Award Ceremony, our upcoming Student CanSat Competition, and a bit of #space industry outlook. Have a listen! space.n2k.com/podcasts/t-m...

The Senate majority leader has filed cloture on the nomination of Jared Isaacman to be NASA administrator. This is a procedural move that sets up a vote on his nomination the first week of June (the Senate is not in session next week.) twitter.com/SenateCloakr...

What an amazing evening. So honored to help to recognize White Flight, Gene Kranz. Thanks to @SpaceCenterHou and @NASA_Johnson for the collaboration to make it such a fantastic event. #space

On May 15, the AAS Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to the iconic Gene Kranz at Space Center Houston. Tickets are available—secure your spot now for an evening of inspiration! ✨ Get tickets: astronautical.org/events/lifetime-achievement-award-ceremony/ #GeneKranz #AASAward #SpaceHeroes

Multiple FAR violations. #avgeek

Best video of #ISAR rocket liftoff and subsequent failure from Norway yet.

Hi space people, I'm looking for non-NASA experts to comment on the MAV portion of Mars Sample Return, and why it's so challenging to take off from Mars. If that's you, or you know someone, do get in touch. jdaoca[at]gmail[dot]com Thanks!

Thanks! And registration is still open for anyone who might be interested in coming to the event! Check out the agenda and register here: astronautical.org/events/godda...

Pk of the wk is the AAS Goddard Symp Wed-Fri, bookended by the MSBR lunch w/Rep Glenn Ivey and the Natl Space Club's Goddard Dinner. CONGRATS to ABC's Gina Sunseri for getting the Space Club Press Award! What’s Happening in Space Policy March 16-22, 2025 spacepolicyonline.com/news/whats-h...

Put things into perspective very well. Amazing how close the ISS is to us. Just a bit more than the drive from DC to NY. #space

Is the Moon further from Earth than you pictured it? 🌕 Anu Ojha from @ukspaceagency.bsky.social helps us visualise just how far the Moon is from our planet, which isn't always evident from textbook diagrams that are not to scale. Watch the full talk here: youtube.com/watch?v=7kCdY8o8cFI&t=7s

Senators Cruz, Cantwell, Moran, Peters, Schmitt, Lujan, and Duckworth have introduced a bipartisan NASA authorization bill today. Very similar to the one introduced in the closing days of the 118th Congress. www.commerce.senate.gov/services/fil...

Austin friends! Come hear about the latest discoveries from #jwst tonight at Celis Brewing! Free and open to the public #sxsw #sxsw2025 #nasa

Exciting news! 🚀 The 2025 AAS Goddard Space Science Symposium is proud to announce this year’s incredible keynote speakers! 📍Join us March 19-21 at Martin's Crosswinds in Greenbelt, Maryland to convene and connect with these inspiring leaders. Register now: astronautical.org/goddard

NASA confirms they are closing their Office of Technology, Policy, and Strategy; the Office of the Chief Scientist, and the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Branch of the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, along with reducing their workforce.

Ugh. This hurts. But, keep trying, keep working it, and find success in future endeavors.

SpaceNews is officially on BlueSky. We're @spacenewsinc.bsky.social.

Congrats to the Firefly team! We’ll have them on a panel at our upcoming Goddard Space Science Symposium! Should be a great conversation. Join us! astronautical.org/events/godda...

Concur with David here. If you spend any time at DCA watching the traffic, this happens almost daily and usually isn't even remotely on par with what happened in Chicago.

Here's a link to the opening comments of Scott Pace, GWU - republicans-science.house.gov/_cache/files... and Dan Dumbacher, Purdue - republicans-science.house.gov/_cache/files... And the session charter - republicans-science.house.gov/_cache/files...

New NASA appointments. • JSC’s Vanessa Wyche named NASA’s acting Associate Administrator • Jackie Jester named Associate Administrator for Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs at HQ • Kathy Koerner to retire, Lori Glaze to replace her as acting associate administrator for ESDM

Rocket Lab announced that they passed the CDR for the responsive VICTUS HAZE mission! The Pioneer-based satellite will launch aboard Electron NET October, after which it'll perform proximity operations with TrueAnomaly's Jackal (to be launched by Firefly). t.co/AfBUsqY3Rw

Latest from NASA re workforce:

NASA's Jim Free, a key official who has defended the agency's moon program, is leaving NASA on Saturday, and the CFO, CIO and top procurement official at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center had their retirements announced internally yesterday. www.reuters.com/world/us/key...

The 2025 AAS Goddard Space Science Symposium is coming up on March 19-21 at Martin’s Crosswinds in Greenbelt, Maryland, discussing the latest developments in the space industry. Registration is now open! 🌟 If you’re interested in attending, scan the code or visit: astronautical.org/goddard

Sound up!

Goodness. That was a bit, umm, low...

Trump picks Neil Jacobs to lead NOAA. Jacobs -- while known for his role in the Sharpiegate scandal -- is a serious atmospheric scientist who is leading efforts to improve U.S. weather forecast modeling...

And, as I should have expected, Tyler’s on it. Always an excellent and timely resource.

F-35 Caught On Video Tumbling Vertically Into The Runway At Alaskan Air Base The F-35A crashed at its home field, Eielson AFB, this afternoon and its dramatic last moments were caught on video from the flightline. Story: www.twz.com/air/f-35-cau...

JUST IN: F-35 fighter jet crashes at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska. The pilot survived

Seeing footage of an F-35 crashing in Alaska. Pilot ejected.

NASA Day of Remembrance. Apollo 1. Challenger. Columbia. We are explorers by nature but we must remember the risk and honor these astronauts

KSC Director Petro to be Acting NASA Administrator spacepolicyonline.com/news/ksc-dir...

Human Altitude xkcd.com/3039

Blue Origin's New Glenn launch attempt on Monday morning was long on time, light on info. Plus, two lunar landers went to space on the same rocket this morning, and a new funding round for Stoke Space, all in today's Business of Space newsletter www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...

This photo was blown into our yard during the Eaton Canyon fire. Anyone from Pasadena/Altadena recognize these people?

More detailed (and updated for the new attempt) New Glenn timeline, it would be nice if Blue Origin posts this publicly on their website and not "hidden" on some media only site but ok :) source: blueorigin.app.box.com/v/New-Glenn-...

Via Natl. Air and Space Museum Yes, Frank Borman and Jim Lovell spent 14 days together in a small Gemini spacecraft on the Gemini VII mission that ended today in 1965. If you already think that sounds claustrophobic, just wait until you see this 360 view of the capsule's interior: s.si.edu/3P0d3R7

Wow. If I'm reading my @spacenews.com.web.brid.gy First Up correctly, there are seven in the next five days. Just amazing cadence. #space

What an amazing mission. So glad they're learning more and planning follow-ons. This will go down as a milestone movement in exploration for sure. Loved Ingenuity and glad it keeps on giving. #space

@ianlivingston.bsky.social Thanks for the return follow! Trying to follow DC weather folks. Had set up a good list over there, but many not here yet. Let me know if you have good folks to follow or know of a starter pack. Cheers!

I’m tuned into @wxpnfm.bsky.social 885 songs of 21st century. If I never hear Sufjan Stevens’ “Impossible Soul” again, I’ll be fine. Woof. Pretty painful.

Trying to read the tea leaves for the future is difficult. Lots of rhetoric out there. It may be that Artemis II never flies. That would be a shame. But it’s taking too long.

NASA on Thursday postponed a mission to send four astronauts around the moon and back to Earth until April 2026. It's the latest setback for Artemis, the government space agency's return-to-the-moon program, which has already faced years of delays.

Another good account to follow for threads on things like today's #Artemis update is Marcia Smith's @spacepolicyonline.bsky.social . (Thanks for doing this, Marcia!)

Big thanks to Gene for live posting updates on this Artemis briefing. Follow along if you're not watching (or even if you are!)