What's Happening in Space Policy January 3-8, 2016
Here is our list of space policy related events for the week of January 3-8, 2016 and any insight we can offer about them. The 114th Congress 2nd session convenes …
Russia Downscales Lunar Program as Roscosmos Morphs into State Corporation
Russia’s Roscosmos will become a state corporation rather than a government agency on January 1, completing a reorganization announced earlier this year. At the same time, funding constraints have led …
What's Happening in Space Policy December 28, 2015 – January 8, 2016
Here is our list of space policy events for the next TWO weeks as we transition from one year to the next: December 28, 2015 – January 8, 2016. The …
International Institute of Space Law OK With U.S. Asteroid Mining Law
The Board of Directors of the International Institute of Space Law (IISL) has issued a position paper concluding that a new U.S. law that grants property rights to resources mined …
ULA Orders More RD-180 Rocket Engines
The United Launch Alliance (ULA) announced today that it has ordered more RD-180 rocket engines to power its Atlas V rockets. The number of RD-180s ULA is allowed to procure …
Japan Officially Signs On to ISS Extension to 2024
The Japanese government formally agreed today to extend its participation in the International Space Station (ISS) program until 2024. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe indicated earlier this month that he …
Vacuum Leaks Delay Launch of NASA's InSight Mars Mission
NASA’s next mission to Mars was scheduled to launch in March 2016, but the agency and its French counterpart, CNES, announced today that it will not be ready. Spacecraft can …
Spacewalk Succeeds in Getting ISS Ready for New Version of Russian Cargo Craft – UPDATE
A hastily planned spacewalk by two NASA astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) went smoothly today, getting the ISS ready for the docking of a new version of Russia’s …
SpaceX Falcon 9 Returns to Duty, Delivers Satellites, Lands Safely
SpaceX achieved three significant objectives tonight: the return to flight of its Falcon 9 rocket, the successful delivery of 11 ORBCOMM OG-2 communications satellites to orbit, and a historic landing …
NASA Will Proceed with Unexpected Spacewalk on Monday
NASA’s International Space Station (ISS) Mission Management Team decided today to proceed with an unexpected spacewalk tomorrow (Monday). It will begin at 8:10 am ET. NASA astronauts Scott Kelly and …