NASA is using a manikin in Artemis-related tests to ensure the safety of astronauts selected to take on a journey to the moon. The manikin, called Commander Moonikin Campos, previously launched to the moon wearing the Orion Crew Survival System spacesuit as part of the Artemis I flight test that began in November. Moonikin Campos […]
Axiom Space and NASA are planning to undertake a fourth private mission to the International Space Station. Under the terms of a mission-specific order and a reimbursable Space Act Agreement, NASA will provide Axiom with crew supplies, storage and in-orbit resources while Axiom could retrieve scientific samples and other cargo for the agency. Phil McAlister, […]
The thermal vacuum test of the Enhanced Polar System-Recapitalization program’s Flight One payload has been completed and demonstrated the satellite’s ability to survive the harsh conditions of a polar orbit. The first EPS-R payload was delivered in June 2022, followed by a second delivery in November 2022. Both payloads are scheduled to fly aboard Space […]
NASA will send three mini rovers to the moon to see how they can work with each other to create a 3D map of the lunar surface. The mini rovers will demonstrate the Cooperative Autonomous Distributed Robotic Exploration project, designed to improve future mission efficiency by using robots operated by humans on Earth. Human operators […]
A new version of a Senate bill requiring NASA to launch a program addressing the increasing amount of orbital junk is now advancing to full Senate consideration after it was approved by a voice vote during a Senate Commerce Committee executive session. In his remarks at the session, Sen. John Hickenlooper, the lead sponsor of […]
NASA’s Mars Ascent Vehicle team has tested the first- and second-stage solid rocket motors needed to allow the MAV to launch from another planet. The MAV is being developed under the Mars Sample Return Program, managed by NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. It is expected to launch in June 2028 and bring back Martian soil samples […]
NASA’s Nexus for Exoplanet System Science program has awarded $5.7 million to a group of academic and public-sector scientists to study the composition of planets outside the solar system. NExSS’ objective is to coordinate research on the habitability of exoplanets and potential signs of life. The Tracing Rocky Exoplanet Compositions team, led by principal investigator and Arizona […]
Astrobotic will showcase its renewable power generation and distribution solution for systems on the lunar surface. The LunaGrid-Lite demonstration effort will be performed under a $34.6 million NASA Tipping Point partnership. As part of the mission, an Astrobotic 6U CubeRover carrying a spool of cable and an Astrobotic Griffin lunar lander equipped with solar arrays […]
The 2024 edition of NASA’s Revolutionary Aerospace Systems Concepts – Academic Linkage competition is seeking collegiate ideas to improve lunar and Martian operations. Sponsored by the Moon to Mars Architecture Development Office, RASC-AL is inviting undergraduate and graduate students to propose solutions to one of four themes. One deals with building a framework for a […]
The U.S. Air Force Test Center has awarded a $22.6 million contract to Sierra Space to advance the design of the VR35K-A upper-stage engine. The Broomfield, Colorado-based company previously worked with the Air Force Research Laboratory and Sierra Nevada Corp. on the engine, including the completion of a critical design review in August 2022, SpaceNews […]
