Michael Watkins to Become New JPL Director
The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden announced today that Michael Watkins will succeed Charles Elachi as JPL Director. Elachi announced last year that he will retire …
White House Wants DOT in Charge of Commercial Space "Mission Authorization"
The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) is proposing to Congress that the Department of Transportation (DOT) be placed in charge of “mission authorization” for new types …
SSB and ASEB Debate LEO Commercialization
Editor’s Note: The Space Studies Board (SSB) and Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board (ASEB) of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NAS) held a joint session on April …
What's Happening in Space Policy May 2-6, 2016
Here is our list of space policy related events for the week of May 2-6, 2016. The House and Senate are in recess this week. During the Week With Congress …
ULA Traces Atlas V Anomaly to Malfunctioning RD-180 Valve
The United Launch Alliance (ULA) announced today that the anomaly on its Atlas V rocket during the launch of Orbital ATK’s OA-6 cargo mission to the International Space Station (ISS) …
HASC Sides With Air Force, ULA on RD-180 Rocket Engines
In the wee hours overnight, the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) approved an amendment regarding the United Launch Alliance’s (ULA’s) use of Russian RD-180 engines for its Atlas V rocket. …
Senate Committee Approves Modified Space Weather Bill
The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee today favorably reported a modified version of the Space Weather Research and Forecasting Act, S. 2817. A revised version of the bill was …
SpaceX Aims to Land Robotic Dragon Spacecraft on Mars In 2018
SpaceX announced today that it plans to send a robotic version of its Dragon spacecraft to Mars as early as 2018. Launched on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket, the “Red …
Two Pro-NASA House Members Lose Primaries
Rep. Donna Edwards (D-MD) and Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-PA) lost Democratic primary contests yesterday. Both have been strong NASA supporters holding top Democratic positions on key subcommittees. Edwards lost to …
Vostochny — Second Time's a Charm, But Putin Critical of Rocket Industry
The first launch from Russia’s new Vostochny (Eastern) launch site was successful today, 24 hours after a first attempt was scrubbed just 90 seconds before launch. Russian President Vladimir Putin …