Lunar eclipse confirms continual planetary motion
Have you seen the information from the South Texas Astronomical Society’s Artemis moon mission summer day camp experience out at Rocket Ranch near Boca Chica beach? Were you able to see any of the lunar eclipse? New technologies may reveal more lunar secrets for us even before the Artemis mission launches to bring back more lunar rocks. New information may soon be forthcoming from the various research centers currently working with those old lunar rock samples. What does NOT change are the repeating patterns of star and planetary motion.
myrgv.comThe debut — and launch — of NASA’s massive SLS moon rocket is delayed again. But officials say it’s making significant progress.
The much-anticipated rollout of NASA’s moon rocket and capsule to the launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida for a fueling test will be delayed for another few weeks, the space agency said Wednesday.
washingtonpost.comWhy is NASA sending a woman to the moon?
This spring will mark the 60th anniversary of human spaceflight, or 60 years since Russian pilot and cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human being to go to space. Today, NASA is working to land the first woman on the moon as part of the Artemis program.
space.comNASA is making sure there's a reliable power source on the Moon
NASA is working with commercial companies to make sure there are reliable power sources available on the Moon. Niki Werkheiser, director of technology maturation in NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD), describes why this technology matters. “Having reliable power sources on the Moon is key to almost anything we do on the surface. Chuck Taylor, who is leading the solar project at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va., explained why the designs are beneficial. “These solar power designs could help enable continuous power for Artemis lunar habitats and operations, even in areas that are shaded by rocky features."
chron.comNASA likely to stay the course to the moon under Bill Nelson, if confirmed
Don't expect big changes at NASA if Bill Nelson does end up leading the space agency. Nelson served as chairman when Democrats controlled the chamber and ranking member when Republicans were in charge.) Video: Watch Bill Nelson launch into space aboard ColumbiaSince leaving the Senate, Nelson has served on the NASA Advisory Council. "Biden has passed up the opportunity to put new blood in there, male or female, in favor of continuity," Logsdon said. All of the above is conditional, of course, for Nelson must still be confirmed as NASA administrator by the U.S. Senate.
space.comNASA delays 2nd test fire of SLS megarocket booster due to valve issue
The core stage of the Artemis 1 SLS rocket as seen on the test stand at NASA's Stennis Space Center in Mississippi. NASA's moon megarocket is facing yet another testing delay ahead of the vehicle's expected first flight for the Artemis program . The tests are occurring at the NASA Stennis Space Center in Mississippi ahead of being shipped to Florida for the uncrewed Artemis 1 launch from the NASA Kennedy Space Center, near Orlando. In a short update Monday (Feb. 22), NASA said it is "reviewing the performance of a valve on the core stage" of the SLS, forcing the agency to delay the second "hot fire" test. Video: How NASA's SLS megarocket engine test worksThe agency confirmed that the valve in question worked properly during the first hot fire test , conducted on Jan. 16.
space.comNASA and Boeing plan second, shorter moon rocket test firing to collect critical data
Engineers reviewing data from an aborted first stage test firing of NASA's Artemis moon rocket have decided to carry out a second "hot fire" test of the huge booster toward the end of February, the agency announced Friday. The second test run is expected to last at least four minutes. NASANASA originally planned to ship the rocket in February following a planned eight-minute test firing on January 16. A hydrogen-fueled second stage will propel the Orion spacecraft to the moon. NASA, meanwhile, is awaiting guidance from the Biden administration, which has not yet revealed what its space priorities might be.
cbsnews.comMoon by 2024 no more? NASA's Artemis deadline for crewed lunar landings likely to relax under Biden
NASA's quest to put boots back on the moon will likely get less urgent after President-elect Joe Biden takes office next month. That ambitious deadline, which was announced by Vice President Mike Pence in 2019 , will likely be relaxed under the Biden administration, experts say. And these probably won't just be empty words under a Biden administration. These two postulated changes — delaying the 2024 moon landing and boosting NASA Earth science — may end up working in concert. (The current agency chief, Jim Bridenstine, has said he won't continue in the top job in the Biden administration .)
space.comNASA receives $23.3 billion for 2021 fiscal year in Congress' omnibus spending bill: report
NASA's Artemis program to land humans on the moon by 2024 faces fresh challenges after a fiscal 2021 NASA spending bill allocated less money to the human landing system than what the agency requested. Congress released an omnibus spending bill Monday (Dec. 21) allotting $23.3 billion to NASA. While NASA will receive $642 million more than fiscal year 2020, the bill falls about $2 billion short of the agency's $25.246 billion request, according to SpaceNews. Allocating $1.1 billion for space technology programs, at the same level as 2020 but much less than the administration's $1.6 billion request. The 2021 U.S. spending bill also included $2 billion for Space Force, the newest branch of the American armed forces.
space.comMeet the 9 astronauts on NASA's Artemis team who have a chance to be the first woman to walk on the moon
Nine women are among the 18 astronauts who will train for NASA's upcoming Artemis missions, with the goal of sending humans back to the moon and, eventually, to Mars. The space agency is aiming for a 2024 moon landing — and this time, it won't just be men making the trip. NASA has promised that the Artemis program will send the first woman to walk on the moon. Astronaut Stephanie Wilson NASAWilson is the longest-serving astronaut on the Artemis team, selected in 1996. Nicole Mann, 43Nicole Mann, one of the rookies on NASA's Artemis team, was born in Petaluma, California and holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the U.S.
cbsnews.comTrump unveils new national space policy for US leadership off the Earth
President Donald Trump released a new national space policy Wednesday (Dec. 9), laying out the fundamental principles of, and chief priorities for, the United States' diverse space activities going forward. The newly issued national space policy recognizes that "space is and should be a priority intelligence domain," Ratcliffe added. "If our adversaries challenge us in space, they will face a truly united national security space team," he said. The new national space policy, a 40-page document, is similar in many ways to the official policy issued in 2010 by President Barack Obama. It's unclear, however, how much of an impact the newly issued national space policy will have.
space.comNASA announces "Artemis Team" of astronauts for future moon missions
NASA announces "Artemis Team" of astronauts for future moon missions NASA has selected 18 astronauts to begin training for missions to the moon as part of its "Artemis" program. NASA wants to go back to the moon to establish a sustainable presence and prepare for future trips to Mars. Vice President Mike Pence revealed the names of the astronauts Wednesday at the Kennedy Space Center. The first woman and the next man to walk on the lunar surface will come from this group. Mark Strassmann reports on who they are.
cbsnews.comOne of these NASA astronauts will be the first woman on the moon
"This is the first cadre of our Artemis astronauts," NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said before asking Pence to introduce the selected astronauts. Video: Vice President Mike Pence announces NASA's Artemis astronautsRelated: NASA unveils the 1st 'Artemis Team' astronauts for moon missionsImage 1 of 8 NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Christina Koch seen on the International Space Station. (Image credit: NASA) Image 2 of 8 NASA astronaut Stephanie Wilson poses for an official NASA portrait. (Image credit: NASA) Image 7 of 8 NASA astronaut Anne McClain inside the International Space Station's Cupola. (Image credit: NASA) Image 8 of 8 NASA astronaut Nicole Mann and her Boeing Starliner CST-100 Crew Flight Test crewmate Mike Fincke.
space.comFirst woman, next man on moon will come from these NASA 18
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA has named the 18 astronauts — half of them women — who will train for its Artemis moon-landing program. The first woman and next man on the moon will come from this elite group. Half of the NASA astronauts have spaceflight experience. Two are at the International Space Station right now: Kate Rubins and Victor Glover. The other experienced members on the list include Kjell Lindgren, Anne McClain and Scott Tingle, all former space station residents.
Telescope confirms existence of water molecules on moon’s sunlit surface
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The moon’s shadowed, frigid nooks and crannies may hold frozen water in more places and in larger quantities than previously suspected. And for the first time, the presence of water on the moon’s sunlit surface has been confirmed, scientists reported Monday. While previous observations have indicated millions of tons of ice in the permanently shadowed craters of the moon’s poles, a pair of studies in the journal Nature Astronomy take the availability of lunar surface water to a new level. The presence of water in sunlit surfaces had been previously suggested, but not confirmed. For now, Sofia can analyze only the moon's outermost surface, but these water molecules could be buried yards (meters) deep, Honniball noted.
NASA's new moonshot rules: No fighting or littering, please
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA’s new moonshot rules: No fighting and littering. The space agency released a set of guidelines Tuesday for its Artemis moon-landing program, based on the 1967 Outer Space Treaty and other agreements. Founding members include the U.S., Australia, Canada, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. The coalition can say, “Look, you’re in this program with the rest of us, but you’re not playing by the same rules,” Bridenstine said. ___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education.
Meet the 18 astronauts who could be the first humans on Mars
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA has announced the 18 astronauts who are part of the agency’s Artemis program, which aims to send humans back to the moon and eventually send the first humans to Mars. Here’s a closer look at the 18 astronauts, according to brief biographies provided by NASA:Joseph AcabaJoseph Acaba, an Artemis astronaut, is seen in this file image. Read moreRaja ChariRaja Chari, an Artemis astronaut, is seen during training in this file image. After completion of Hospital Corpsman “A” school training, he reported to Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training in Coronado, CA. He was commissioned as a naval officer in 1991 and earned his wings of gold as a naval aviator in 1993.