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Price, contract terms helped Maxar secure Gateway contract
An ability to get on contract quickly and a price far lower that other companies were key factors in NASA’s decision to award a contract to Maxar Technologies for the first element of the lunar Gateway, the Power and Propulsion Element (PPE).
Op-Ed | Time to go back to the moon, to truly stay
Fifty-eight years ago, almost to the day, President Kennedy declared what was, at the time, a bold national goal: To send a man to the moon within a decade, and “return him safely to Earth.” The greatest challenge of Apollo was not the former, but the latter.
Sirangelo leaves NASA after exploration reorganization scrapped
A former space industry executive who joined NASA to guide its revamped lunar exploration strategy has left the agency after just a month and a half.
NASA selects Maxar to build first Gateway element
NASA has selected Maxar Technologies to develop the first element of its lunar Gateway, the Power and Propulsion Element, for launch in late 2022.
Olis Robotics sees many space applications for autonomy software
Olis Robotics is working to demonstrate the application of its autonomy software for NASA, the Air Force and others space customers to support internal and external space servicing, assembly, manufacturing and operational concepts,” said Blaine Levedahl, Olis Robotics’ U.S. government programs director.
Momentum grows for nuclear thermal propulsion
With congressional funding and industry support, nuclear thermal propulsion technology is making progress for potential use on future NASA deep space missions, although how it fits into the agency’s exploration architectures remains uncertain.
Canada mulls accelerated schedule to keep pace with NASA’s 2024 moon goal
The Canadian Space Agency — NASA’s first international partner to commit to the lunar Gateway — is considering a faster schedule for its contributions to keep pace with NASA’s accelerated plans.
House bill restores funding to Earth science and astrophysics missions
House appropriators criticized NASA for seeking to cancel “legacy” science and education programs in favor of new exploration efforts, moving money back to those missions while remaining silent on the administration’s accelerated lunar return.
Industry seeks more time to review revised commercial launch regulations
Dissatisfied with the length and content of proposed rules to streamline commercial launch and reentry regulations, industry officials say they will ask for an extension of an ongoing public review period for those rules.
Achieving Bezos’ bold vision of space settlement requires bold policy direction
Just as Jeff Bezos, and others like him, are pushing the envelope of technology and business models, there is a similar need to push the limits of space policy such that it will support a space settlement agenda.
Industry wants NASA to move ahead quickly on Gateway module
In order to meet the goal of landing humans on the moon in 2024, NASA needs to get one element of its proposed lunar Gateway on contract in the near future so it will be ready in time.
NASA spending bill clears House subcommittee
A House appropriations subcommittee approved a spending bill May 17 that provides NASA with more than $22.3 billion but largely ignores an administration request for an additional $1.6 billion to support plans for a 2024 human return to the moon.
NASA selects 11 companies for lunar lander studies
NASA announced May 16 it has selected 11 companies to begin studies and initial prototype development of portions of lunar landers the agency hopes can help it meet its 2024 human landing goal.
House appropriators take a pass on NASA budget amendment
The House Appropriations Committee released a spending bill May 16 that adds more than $1 billion to NASA’s original request but offers little in the way of additional funding for exploration priorities included in the agency’s recent budget amendment.
The new frontier of national security and exploration is in the heavens
Fifty years after man’s first steps on the moon, the future of human exploration in the final frontier is at a critical turning point, ULA CEO Tory Bruno writes.
Troubleshooting of Mars InSight instrument continues
Engineers are continuing to work to free an instrument on NASA’s InSight Mars lander that remains stuck just below the surface.
