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• Jeff Foust
NASA has released new details about its proposal to establish a national space academy, while the agency’s administrator pushes back against criticism of the concept. The initiative would add a new institutional dimension to the agency’s role in space-sector education and workforce development.
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Rocket Lab says NASA’s decision in a Mars spacecraft procurement appears inconsistent with the stated eligibility criteria. The company’s challenge raises questions about how the agency applied requirements in selecting an awardee for a mission involving Mars exploration.
NASA has released new details about its proposal to establish a national space academy, while the agency’s administrator pushes back against criticism of the concept. The initiative would add a new institutional dimension to the agency’s role in space-sector education and workforce development.
President Trump’s executive order envisions a U.S. Space Academy, but the proposal raises unresolved questions about its structure, mission and relationship with existing institutions. A central concern is whether the academy could blur the lines between NASA’s civilian role and the military’s space activities.
NASA and IBM have developed an artificial intelligence model designed to sift through the vast volume of data the agency has collected about the moon. The collaboration applies AI to lunar research, potentially helping scientists identify patterns and prioritize areas for further study.
High activity
Rocket Lab has challenged NASA’s decision to award Blue Origin a $700 million contract for a Mars orbiter, arguing the selection conflicts with eligibility requirements established by Congress. The protest puts the procurement’s compliance with those statutory rules under review.
High activity
NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope successfully launched Aug. 30 from Kennedy Space Center aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy. After reaching space, the observatory deployed its solar array and communications systems and powered on its Coronagraph Instrument, marking early progress in commissioning the mission.
High activity
European partners will move forward without NASA on a Venus mission after the agency withdrew its planned radar instrument, highlighting the potential impact of shifting U.S. space partnerships. The decision could push Europe toward greater independence in planetary science while increasing the significance of alternative international partners, including China.
Katalyst Space’s LINK spacecraft reached NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory but was unable to complete the planned mission to boost the observatory’s orbit. LINK remains operational, allowing the spacecraft to continue conducting operations despite the failed rescue attempt.
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