Tag: Space Policy
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Artemis 2 Moon Suits Ready to Make History: Photo of the Day (Jan. 30, 2026)
Artemis 2: A Moment of Preparation for a Historic Mission On January 30, 2026, observers reported a pivotal milestone in NASA’s Artemis program: the moon suits for Artemis 2 are ready. This mission, which aims to take humanity back to the Moon for the first time since the Apollo era, centers on crewed lunar orbit…
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US Space Force awards first-of-its-kind $52 million contract to deorbit its satellites—Starfish Space leads the mission
Groundbreaking Milestone: A First-Ever Deorbit Contract The U.S. Space Force has taken a historic step toward responsible space stewardship by awarding a $52.5 million contract to Starfish Space to deorbit its satellites at the end of their operational life. This is the first time a U.S. defense agency has signed a contract specifically dedicated to…
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Crew-11 Medical Evacuation: Live Press Conference
Introduction: A Mission Cut Short and a Live Update Today, journalists and space enthusiasts worldwide tune in to a live press conference featuring SpaceX’s Crew-11 astronauts. The mission, notable for being shortened due to medical concerns, marks a rare instance where an International Space Station (ISS) crew was evacuated mid-flight. As the panel shares insights,…
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Artemis 2 Moon Rocket Rises to Launch Pad: Photo of the Day
Artemis 2: A Milestone Toward Crewed Lunar Exploration The space community tracked a pivotal moment on the road to returning humans to the Moon as NASA moved the Artemis 2 moon rocket onto the launch pad. This photograph, captured on January 19, 2025, documents a long-anticipated step in the Artemis program: delivering a crewed Orion…
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This Week in Science: ISS Medical Evacuation, Mars Sample Return’s Cancellation, and Woolly Rhino Flesh in Permafrost Wolf
Overview: A Week of Surprising Shifts in Space and Paleontology This week’s science headlines unfolded across the final frontiers of space and the surprising discoveries buried in the Arctic. From an urgent medical evacuation aboard the International Space Station to the unexpected cancellation of a long-anticipated Mars mission, and a remarkable paleontological find involving ancient…
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Science News This Week: ISS Evacuation, Mars Return Cancelled, Woolly Rhino Flesh Found
Overview: A Week of high-stakes science headlines This week’s science headlines unfold across space exploration and paleontology, with a dramatic medical evacuation aboard the International Space Station (ISS), the unexpected cancellation of the Mars Sample Return mission plan, and a surprising paleontological finding tied to permafrost. Taken together, these stories highlight how rapidly space policy,…
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Experts Push Back Against Cancellation of NASA’s Mars Sample Return Project
Background: What is the Mars Sample Return plan? The Mars Sample Return (MSR) initiative—a collaboration between NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA)—aims to fetch, study, and bring Martian samples back to Earth. The project promises unprecedented insights into Mars’ geology, potential past life, and the planet’s broader history, with staged missions designed to minimize…
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Experts Push Back on NASA Mars Sample Return Cancellation
Background: What Would Be Lost with a Cancellation The Mars Sample Return (MSR) program, a joint effort between NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA), has long been positioned as a pivotal step in expanding human understanding of the Red Planet. The initiative aims to collect Martian rock and soil samples and bring them back…
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Earth Faces Rising Threat from Space Debris: 1.1 Million+ Pieces in Orbit
Growing Cloud of Space Debris Around Earth Earth’s orbital environment is becoming increasingly crowded. Current estimates show more than 1.1 million pieces of space debris larger than 1 centimeter drifting around the planet at speeds up to 18,000 miles per hour. This debris ranges from tiny fragments to old satellites and spent rocket stages. The…
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Space Debris: 1.1 Million Pieces in Orbit Raising Risks
What the numbers mean Earth’s orbital environment is now crowded with debris from decades of spaceflight. Recent assessments estimate more than 1.1 million pieces larger than 1 centimeter are currently circling the planet, traveling at velocities up to about 18,000 miles per hour. Each fragment, from defunct satellites to spent rocket stages, can threaten operational…