Isaacman Wants to Restore NASA’s Core Competencies spacepolicyonline.com/news/isaacma...

Crew-12 launch is on for Feb. 11. www.nasa.gov/news-release...

Text of Jared Isaacman's new Workforce Directive (in four pieces). "Workforce Directive: Restoring NASA's Core Competencies." He posted a video about it on X a little bit ago as well. x.com/NASAAdmin/st...

NASA is conducting the Flight Readiness Review for Crew-12 today. www.nasa.gov/blogs/commer...

NASA has chosen 2 Earth System Explorer missions to move fwd: STRIVE and EDGE. They cleared a 1-yr phase A study and now enter Phase B. Each wld cost $355M w/o launch. If pass confirmation review next yr and there's $, wld launch in 2030. www.nasa.gov/news-release...

Asked NASA this afternoon (Feb 5) whether they're still targeting Feb 11 for Crew-12. Here's their reply, which basically is yes, but... (and is pretty much what they said at Tuesday's post-WDR presser, too).

House Committee Approves New NASA Authorization Bill spacepolicyonline.com/news/house-c...

HSST unanimously adopted (37-0) the NASA auth bill, HR 7273, as amnded. List of adopted amndmnts: science.house.gov/2026/2/full-.... One (Rep Stevens) rejected by recorded vote (18-19) to improve NASA's ability to detect drones entering its airspace. Opponents said not right bill for that.

At ongoing markup, HSS&T just adopted a Whitesides/Begich amndmt requiring an analysis of viability/costs of boosting ISS at end of ops instead of deorbiting it. No mandate to do that, or $, just an analysis so can understand options. Babin and Beyer both spoke in favor.

At HSS&T markup of NASA auth bill right now, Rep Beyer (D-VA) offered amndmt abt transferring shuttle Discovery to Houston. Wld have req info about cost and protecting vehicle from harm. Offered to withdrew after commitment from cmte chair Babin (R-TX) to find resolution. 1/2

Final FY2026 Defense, FAA Bills Signed into Law spacepolicyonline.com/news/final-f...

This afternoon the House passed and then President Trump quickly signed into law a bill that funds Defense, THUD (incl the FAA and its Office of Commercial Space Transportation) and 3 others for FY2026. Now 11 of the 12 FY2026 bills are enacted (all but Homeland Security).

Post-WDR news conference key takeaways: need to look at data before determining next steps and setting date for new WDR; if can't launch by end of March window, probably have to roll back to VAB to replace batteries in the ICPS.

Gene is live-"tweeting" the news conference. Thanks Gene!

NASA's news conf post-WDR is underway (watch on YouTube). Lori Glaze is introduced as Moon to Mars Mission Manager, not Acting AA for ESDMD. www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycqk...

[Reposting bc the time for today's news conf has changed to 1:00 pm ET, not noon.] NASA Will Wait Until March for Artemis II spacepolicyonline.com/news/nasa-wi... NASA will have a news conference at 1:00 pm today (Tuesday, Feb 3) about the decision. Watch on NASA's YouTube channel.

Artemis II Waiting for WDR Test Results spacepolicyonline.com/news/artemis...

Latest on the Artemis II WDR. Orion hatches are closed. They'll do a single terminal countdown.

Posted the wrong NASA update. Here's where the WDR stands as of 9:51 pm ET:

Artemis II WDR update. At 8:50 pm ET NASA's YouTube stream says countdown has entered T-10 hold. Rehearsal will extend beyond simulated 9:00 pm ET launch window open. Closeout crew work continues in white room.

Latest NASA Artemis II WDR update: www.nasa.gov/blogs/missio...

Via #NASA - Artemis II Wet Dress Rehearsal: SLS Upper Stage Liquid Hydrogen Topping Underway - www.nasa.gov/blogs/missio...

As of 5:07 pm ET, core stage LH2 and LOX and upper stage LOX are in replenish; upper stage LH2 in fast fill. When all are in replenish, Launch Director will assess readiness to send Orion closeout crew to pad.

Artemis II WDR update: as of 4:52 pm ET, core stage liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen are in replenish; upper stage liquid hydrogen is in fast fill; upper stage liquid oxygen is in topping. www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zDl...

NASA has resumed liquid hydrogen fast fill for the Artemis II WDR.

Artemis II WDR update: as of 3:08 pm ET, "core stage troubleshooting resumed after temporary return to fast fill." www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zDl... More: www.nasa.gov/blogs/missio...

Artemis II WDR status -- as of 2:25 pm ET, "troubleshooting liquid hydrogen loading into the core stage continues." NASA graphic (which appears periodically on NASA's YouTube stream: www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zDl...)

NASA will have a post-WDR news conference tomorrow (Tuesday, Feb 3) at noon ET. www.nasa.gov/news-release...

And just as I posted that, a blog post from NASA confirming they are tanking: www.nasa.gov/blogs/missio...

Meanwhile, waiting for official word from NASA about whether it was a "go" for Artemis II tanking. The clock is counting down on NASA's website... www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zDl...

The text of the NASA Authorization bill that House SS&T will mark up on Wednesday is posted here: www.congress.gov/bill/119th-c...

Artemis II Launch Director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson and the Mission Management Team will conduct a poll at 10:45 am ET this morning (in about 5 minutes) to decide whether to proceed with tanking for the Wet Dress Rehearsal. www.nasa.gov/blogs/missio...

Pick of the wk of course is the Artemis II Wet Dress Rehearsal. The approx 49-hour test is already underway. Simulated launch window opens 9:00 pm ET tmrw (Monday). What’s Happening in Space Policy February 1-7, 2026 spacepolicyonline.com/news/whats-h...

The approx 49-hour Artemis II Wet Dress Rehearsal has begun. https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/missions/2026/01/31/countdown-begins-for-artemis-ii-wet-dress-rehearsal/

Another Partial Government Shutdown This Weekend, but Could be Short spacepolicyonline.com/news/another...

House SS&T will markup up a new NASA authorization bill (H.R. 7273) on Wednesday, Feb 4, at 10:00 am ET. Webcast.

Sen Graham agreed to drop obj to the minibus. Voting on amndmnts now. Goal is to pass it with 5 bills (incl Defense) intact, but take out Homeland Security and replace it with 2-wk CR while they try to find solution. H still must agree, so there'll be at least a short shutdown.

Artemis II WDR Test Postponed by Frigid Weather, Could Affect Crew-12 Launch Date spacepolicyonline.com/news/artemis...

Blue Origin is pausing New Shepard flights for "no less than two years" to shift resources to accelerate their lunar human landing system. www.blueorigin.com/news/new-she...

Biggest news from Crew-12 mission bfg is they won't launch if Artemis II is in flight. Earliest Crew-12 date is Feb 11, but if Artemis were to launch on Feb 8, would have to wait till Feb 19. If Artemis II tries for Feb 8 but then delays, Crew-12 could launch on Feb 13th.

The FAA has released the Final Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision for Starship launches from LC-39A (up to 44 launches, 44 Starship landings and 44 Super Heavy landings). www.faa.gov/space/stakeh... Executive Summary: www.faa.gov/space/stakeh...

At last. NASA update on the WDR: www.nasa.gov/blogs/missio...

FYI, The Hill says the minibus hold up is bc unanimous consent is needed to move the bill quickly and Sen. Lindsay Graham is a no. He's upset bc H bill repeals Senators' ability to sue govt if their phone records were seized in Jack Smith's investigation. thehill.com/homenews/sen...

It's 7:30 am ET January 30. Still no official word from NASA about the Artemis II WDR. Pretty clear it's delayed. Bill Harwood @cbs_spacenews posted that unofficial news last night around 11:00 pm. Bewildering as to why NASA remains silent.

No word from NASA this evening about the WDR. The call to stations should have commenced a couple of hours ago if they're still trying for Saturday. Bill Harwood says multiple sources are saying it's slipping 48 hrs due to freezing temps & high winds, but nothing offficial. x.com/cbs_spacenew...

An agreement has been reached between the WH and Senators who are trying to avoid another shutdown by amending the House-passed minibus by replacing the Homeland bill with a 2-wk CR while they try to resolve some of the ICE issues. Progress, if not a done deal. x.com/AndrewDeside...

Two Crew-12 pre-launch news conferences tomorrow (Friday, Jan 30): 11:00 am ET and 1:00 am ET. www.nasa.gov/news-release...

USSPACECOM Commander Gen. Stephen Whiting has named Maj. Gen. Terry Grisham to lead the transition team to move USSPACECOM's HQ from Colorado Springs, CO to Hunstville, AL as directed by President Trump. www.spacecom.mil/Newsroom/New...

NASA has awarded a bit more than $5 million to 29 institutions for STEM education. www.nasa.gov/news-release...

Senate just rejected moving forward with 6-bill minibus that incl Defense. Eight Reps joined all Dems/Independents opposing it. They want one of the bills, Homeland Security, removed till ICE issues are settled. Deal still *might* be reached before CR ends tmrw (Fri) midnight x.com/SenatePPG/st...