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White House budget seeks to end SLS, Orion, and Lunar Gateway programs
a year ago
- The White House released a 'skinny' budget proposal for fiscal year 2026, providing top-line numbers for federal agencies without specific allocations.
- The budget was delivered to the Senate Committee on Appropriations and signed by Russell Vought, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget.
- NASA faces a proposed 25% budget cut, reducing its funding from $25 billion to $18.8 billion.
- Significant cuts include reductions in Space science ($2.265 billion) and Earth science ($1.161 billion), with the cancellation of the Mars Sample Return mission.
- Proposed changes also include canceling the Lunar Gateway and ending the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft after Artemis II and Artemis III missions.
SpaceX pushed "sniper" theory with the feds far more than is publicly known
a year ago
- A Falcon 9 rocket exploded during a static fire test on September 1, 2016, at SpaceX's launch pad.
- The explosion occurred eight minutes before ignition, destroying the rocket and its Amos-6 satellite payload.
- This was SpaceX's second rocket failure in just over a year, raising concerns about reliability.
- The incident happened as NASA was relying on SpaceX for astronaut missions, adding pressure.
- The explosion was captured on video, showing the violent destruction of the second stage and payload.
- SpaceX was not as established then, making the failure a significant setback for the company.
NASA budget proposal draws strong criticism – SpaceNews
a year ago
- White House proposes a 25% cut to NASA's budget, reducing it to $18.8 billion for FY2026.
- Major programs like lunar Gateway, Space Launch System, Orion, and Mars Sample Return face cancellation.
- Criticism from Congress includes Rep. Grace Meng calling it the 'largest cut in American history'.
- Sen. Chris Van Hollen argues the budget favors SpaceX, risking U.S. leadership in space.
- Industry groups like the Coalition for Deep Space Exploration warn of jeopardizing lunar presence and U.S. leadership.
- Commercial Space Federation supports competitive partnerships but opposes cuts to science and ISS utilization.
- The Planetary Society criticizes the cuts as causing chaos and undermining U.S. space leadership.
- European Space Agency (ESA) and Canadian Space Agency express concerns over impacts on joint programs.
- ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher states ESA is assessing impacts and exploring alternatives.
- Canadian Space Agency is reviewing implications but aims to maintain momentum for its space program.
NASA's Voyager 1 Revives Backup Thrusters Before Command Pause Science
a year ago
- NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft successfully revived backup thrusters that were deemed unusable since 2004.
- The mission team aimed to fix the thrusters before the Deep Space Network antenna (DSS-43) went offline for upgrades, preventing command transmission.
- Primary thrusters are experiencing clogging due to residue buildup, risking failure by fall 2025, necessitating backup thruster activation.
- Engineers suspected a power circuit issue caused the 2004 thruster failure and successfully reactivated the heaters to restore functionality.
- The team had a limited window before DSS-43's downtime (May 2025–February 2026) to test and confirm thruster reactivation.
- On March 20, 2025, the test succeeded, with thruster heaters warming up as intended, ensuring continued mission operations.
- Voyager 1 and 2 are the only spacecraft in interstellar space, providing unique data beyond the heliosphere.
NASA Stennis Releases First Open-Source Software
a year ago
- NASA's Stennis Space Center released its first open-source software, a peer review tool for collaborative systems applications.
- The tool simplifies and enhances the collaborative review process for software development.
- Developed over several years, it is based on lessons from creating software for the center's test complex.
- The tool improves efficiency by automating steps in the review process, allowing focus on key software items.
- It is designed to work with National Instruments LabVIEW, aiding in the review of graphical programming applications.
- The tool enables easier posting of comments, pictures, and elements for more effective online peer reviews.
- NASA Stennis aims for the tool to be continuously improved by the open-source community.
- The tool is part of the larger NASA Data Acquisition System used for monitoring propulsion test data.
- Available on NASA GitHub, the tool represents a significant contribution to software development practices.
Once 'dead' thrusters on the farthest spacecraft from Earth are in action again
a year ago
- NASA engineers successfully revived thrusters on Voyager 1, preventing a potential mission failure.
- Voyager 1, launched in 1977, relies on thrusters to maintain orientation and communication with Earth.
- Primary roll thrusters failed in 2004, forcing reliance on backups, which are now at risk due to residue buildup.
- Engineers creatively fixed the primary thrusters by addressing a power supply issue, despite risks.
- A critical test in March 2024 confirmed the thrusters' revival, ensuring continued operation.
- Upgrades to Earth-based antennas temporarily limit communication, adding urgency to the thruster fix.
Where are Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 Now
a year ago
- Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 have both reached interstellar space and continue their journey deeper into the cosmos.
- NASA's Eyes on the Solar System provides a near real-time 3D visualization of the Voyagers' positions along with other spacecraft.
- Instrument status varies between Voyager 1 and Voyager 2, with some instruments turned off to save power or due to degraded performance.
NASA Observes First Visible-Light Auroras at Mars
a year ago
- On March 15, 2024, a solar flare and coronal mass ejection (CME) from the Sun led to stunning auroras across the solar system, including at Mars.
- NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover detected auroras from the surface of Mars for the first time, opening new possibilities for auroral research.
- Auroras on Mars differ from Earth's due to the lack of a global magnetic field, with SEP auroras occurring when solar particles hit the Martian atmosphere.
- The Perseverance rover's SuperCam spectrometer and Mastcam-Z camera were used to observe SEP auroras in visible light for the first time from Mars' surface.
- Cross-mission coordination between Perseverance, MAVEN, and ESA’s Mars Express confirmed the detection of auroras and the presence of solar energetic particles.
- Future Martian astronauts may be able to see green auroras similar to those on Earth, enhancing our understanding of Mars' atmosphere and space weather.
- The MAVEN mission and Perseverance rover are part of NASA’s Mars Exploration Program, contributing to preparations for human exploration of Mars.
IM-2's Imperfect Landing Due to Altimeter Interference
a year ago
- IM-2 landed on its side near the Moon’s South Pole due to altimeter interference and lighting conditions.
- IM-3 is expected to land upright with improvements like redundant altimeters and better navigation systems.
- IM-1 and IM-2 had landing issues but were considered successful by NASA for advancing lunar economy goals.
- The Moon’s South Pole is scientifically significant due to potential water in shadowed regions.
- NASA plans to send astronauts to the South Pole by mid-2027 via Artemis III.
- Other companies like Firefly, Astrobotic, Blue Origin, and Draper also have CLPS contracts.
- Firefly’s Blue Ghost Mission 1 was the first fully successful CLPS mission in March.
NASA's Voyager 1 Revives Backup Thrusters Before Command Pause
a year ago
- NASA engineers revived dormant thrusters on Voyager 1, previously considered inoperable since 2004.
- The thrusters were restored as a backup due to potential clogging in the primary thrusters' fuel tubes.
- The mission faced a deadline before May 4, 2025, when the Earth-bound antenna for commands would be offline for upgrades.
- Voyager 1 and 2 rely on thrusters to maintain antenna alignment with Earth for communication.
- Primary roll thrusters on Voyager 1 failed in 2004, leading to reliance on backup thrusters.
- Engineers suspected a power supply issue and successfully reactivated the primary thrusters in March 2024.
- The Deep Space Network's DSS-43 antenna in Australia is crucial for sending commands to the Voyagers.
- Voyager 1 and 2 are the only spacecraft to have sent data from interstellar space.
A broken thruster jeopardized Voyager 1, but engineers executed a remote fix
a year ago
- NASA faced a critical decision regarding Voyager 1's thrusters, risking permanent loss of contact.
- Voyager 1 has been using backup thrusters since 2004 due to primary system failure, but backups showed signs of failure due to fuel line residue.
- Deep Space Station 43, essential for communication with Voyagers, was scheduled for upgrades, limiting command capabilities.
- Engineers successfully tested dormant primary thrusters on March 20, avoiding potential catastrophic failure.
- Both Voyager 1 and 2 exhibit aging issues but remain operational, with hopes to celebrate their 50th anniversary in 2027.
- Voyagers provide unique data on outer planets and interstellar space, continuing to offer valuable scientific insights.
A broken thruster jeopardized Voyager 1, but engineers executed a remote fix
a year ago
- NASA faced a critical decision regarding Voyager 1's communication due to a failing backup thruster system.
- Voyager 1 has been using backup thrusters since 2004 after the primary system failed, but residue buildup threatened the backup's functionality.
- Deep Space Station 43, essential for sending commands to Voyager 1, was scheduled for upgrades, limiting communication opportunities.
- Engineers successfully tested the dormant primary thrusters on March 20, avoiding potential catastrophic failure.
- Both Voyager spacecraft show signs of aging but remain operational, with hopes to celebrate their 50th anniversary in 2027.
- Voyager missions provide invaluable data on outer planets and interstellar space, unique in robotic exploration history.
- Scientists continue to study solar activity's effects in interstellar space through data from the Voyager probes.
NASA Ames Research Center Archives
a year ago
- NASA Ames Research Center is located in Silicon Valley and has a rich history of space and aeronautics innovation.
- The center was founded in 1939 as a West Coast lab for the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA).
- NASA Ames is home to the world's largest wind tunnel, used for testing aircraft, rockets, and wind turbines.
- The center played a key role in the Pioneer and Voyager 2 space missions, exploring planets like Jupiter and Saturn.
- Experimental aircraft, including VTOL jets and rotorcraft, were developed and tested at NASA Ames.
- The archive includes awe-inspiring illustrations of distant planets and futuristic space habitats.
- In the 1980s, NASA Ames researched next-generation space suits and early virtual reality technology.
- The center's federally-funded research has led to breakthroughs in aviation, spaceflight, and supercomputing.
- Concerns exist about cuts to long-term innovation in favor of short-term savings.
Satellite Spots Large-Scale River Waves for First Time
a year ago
- NASA and Virginia Tech researchers used satellite data to measure flood waves in U.S. rivers for the first time.
- Three tracked flood waves were caused by extreme rainfall and a loosened ice jam.
- The study highlights the potential of space-based observations to aid hydrologists and engineers in flood-prone areas.
- River waves, unlike ocean waves, are temporary surges caused by rainfall or snowmelt, essential for nutrient transport but can be hazardous.
- The SWOT satellite, launched in 2022, uses Ka-band Radar Interferometer (KaRIn) to map water body elevations and widths.
- Three river waves were identified, including one on the Yellowstone River with a 9.1-foot-tall crest.
- Other waves were triggered by rainfall runoff on the Colorado and Ocmulgee rivers.
- Satellite data complements traditional stream gauges, filling gaps in global flood monitoring.
- SWOT is expected to observe 55% of large-scale floods, aiding in early flood detection and risk assessment.
White House to pull NASA nominee Isaacman
a year ago
- The White House is withdrawing Jared Isaacman's nomination for NASA administrator.
- Isaacman, an entrepreneur and commercial astronaut, had advanced through the Senate’s Commerce Committee.
- The withdrawal comes amid concerns about his alignment with Trump’s 'America First' agenda and his ties to Elon Musk.
- Sen. Tim Sheehy and supporters oppose the withdrawal of Isaacman's nomination.
- Isaacman distanced himself from Musk during his committee hearing, promising to focus on a lunar landing.
- NASA has been without a confirmed administrator since Bill Nelson stepped down on Jan. 20.
- Trump’s budget proposal includes cuts to NASA funding and workforce.
Trump pulls Isaacman nomination for space
a year ago
- Trump administration withdraws Jared Isaacman's nomination to lead NASA due to perceived lack of political loyalty.
- White House emphasizes the need for NASA's leader to align with Trump's 'America First' agenda.
- Senate Commerce Committee had previously approved Isaacman's nomination with Republican support.
- Far-right activist Laura Loomer suggests 'Deep State' interference in Isaacman's confirmation process.
- Timing of Isaacman's withdrawal coincides with Elon Musk's reduced political involvement in the Trump administration.
White House says it will announce new pick for NASA chief
a year ago
- The White House will announce a replacement candidate for NASA administrator, withdrawing Jared Isaacman's nomination.
- The next NASA leader must align with Trump's America First agenda and Mars mission.
- Isaacman's nomination faced skepticism from Democrats over potential conflicts with Elon Musk's interests.
- Isaacman has donated to both Democrats and Republicans but avoided political stances publicly.
- During his confirmation hearing, Isaacman emphasized bipartisan cooperation and supported Mars exploration.
- NASA's long-term projects require continuity across presidential administrations.
- Elon Musk, a Trump ally, left the administration but remains an adviser, focusing on SpaceX and Starship.
- Starship, aimed at Mars missions, has faced setbacks with prototype explosions during test flights.
NASA's Magellan Mission Reveals Possible Tectonic Activity on Venus
a year ago
- Researchers found evidence of ongoing tectonic activity on Venus using data from NASA's Magellan mission.
- Coronae, large quasi-circular features on Venus, may indicate subsurface processes similar to early Earth's tectonics.
- The study used gravity and topography data to detect buoyant mantle material beneath 52 of 75 studied coronae.
- Different tectonic processes, including subduction and lithospheric dripping, may be shaping Venus's surface.
- NASA's upcoming VERITAS mission aims to provide higher-resolution data to better understand Venus's geology.
US science is being wrecked
a year ago
- Trump administration's 2026 budget proposes massive cuts to scientific research agencies.
- Cuts include retiring unique scientific experiment facilities, reducing supported scientists, and halting entire research areas.
- Previously funded grants are being terminated, and funding is delayed for ideological screening.
- Universities face arbitrary funding freezes, potentially causing decades-long damage to US science.
- National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation face cuts of nearly 40% and over 50%, respectively.
- NASA's planetary science budget would be halved, canceling the Mars Sample Return mission.
- Earth Science and Astrophysics budgets also face significant reductions, affecting current and future missions.
- Active missions like Juno and New Horizons, along with two Mars orbiters, would be discontinued.
- The National Academies of Science's State of the Science event largely ignored current issues, focusing on uncertain future scenarios.
A leaderless NASA faces its biggest-ever cuts
a year ago
- NASA faces significant budget cuts under Donald Trump's proposed budget, reducing funding from $24.8bn to $18.8bn.
- The cuts would be the lowest in decades when adjusted for inflation, with science missions bearing the brunt.
- Over 40 science missions could be canceled if the budget is approved.
- The detailed budget, released on May 30th, specifies where the cuts will be made.

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#nasa

White House budget seeks to end SLS, Orion, and Lunar Gateway programs

SpaceX pushed "sniper" theory with the feds far more than is publicly known

NASA budget proposal draws strong criticism – SpaceNews

NASA's Voyager 1 Revives Backup Thrusters Before Command Pause Science

NASA Stennis Releases First Open-Source Software

Once 'dead' thrusters on the farthest spacecraft from Earth are in action again

Where are Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 Now

NASA Observes First Visible-Light Auroras at Mars

IM-2's Imperfect Landing Due to Altimeter Interference

NASA's Voyager 1 Revives Backup Thrusters Before Command Pause

A broken thruster jeopardized Voyager 1, but engineers executed a remote fix

A broken thruster jeopardized Voyager 1, but engineers executed a remote fix

NASA Ames Research Center Archives

Satellite Spots Large-Scale River Waves for First Time

White House to pull NASA nominee Isaacman

Trump pulls Isaacman nomination for space

White House says it will announce new pick for NASA chief

NASA's Magellan Mission Reveals Possible Tectonic Activity on Venus

US science is being wrecked

A leaderless NASA faces its biggest-ever cuts