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NASA • Leejay Lockhart

NASA selects Rocket Lab Electron for PolSIR and TSIS-2 solar and ice-cloud research missions (Electron launches from New Zealand

NASA has awarded Rocket Lab the launch service for its PolSIR ice-cloud radiometer and TSIS-2 total and spectral solar irradiance missions. Both missions are planned to fly on three dedicated Electron launches from Rocket Lab’s Launch Complex 1 in Māhia, New Zealand, starting in Q1 2027, supporting a growing Electron backlog.

2026-06-25T13:47:47.624199-07:00

Ars Technica

NASA exploration-program cancellations tied to late schedules as contract values reportedly rose from ~$2.8B to $5.9B

2026-06-24T14:55:10.698528-07:00

Space.com

Watchdog warns NASA needs at least $1B in launch-facility upgrades to sustain Artemis cadence

2026-06-24T15:14:29.995446-07:00

Space.com

Perseverance identifies complex organic carbon in Jezero Crater, strengthening evidence for ancient Mars habitability

2026-06-24T11:13:36.090978-07:00

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NASA

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NASA selects Rocket Lab Electron for PolSIR and TSIS-2 solar and ice-cloud research missions (Electron launches from New Zealand NASA has awarded Rocket Lab the launch service for its PolSIR ice-cloud radiometer and TSIS-2 total and spectral solar irradiance missions. Both missions are planned to fly on three dedicated Electron launches from Rocket Lab’s Launch Complex 1 in Māhia, New Zealand, starting in Q1 2027, supporting a growing Electron backlog.

2026-06-25T13:47:47.624199-07:00

NASA selects Rocket Lab Electron for PolSIR and TSIS-2 solar and ice-cloud research missions (Electron launches from New Zealand

Space.com

Watchdog warns NASA needs at least $1B in launch-facility upgrades to sustain Artemis cadence NASA’s Artemis return-to-the-Moon plan is constrained by aging U.S. launch infrastructure, a watchdog warns, saying major upgrades are required for Artemis launches. The report estimates a minimum $1 billion program to bring facilities up to the demands of the Artemis schedule, amid rising launch activity.

2026-06-24T15:14:29.995446-07:00

Watchdog warns NASA needs at least $1B in launch-facility upgrades to sustain Artemis cadence

Ars Technica

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NASA exploration-program cancellations tied to late schedules as contract values reportedly rose from ~$2.8B to $5.9B An analysis finds NASA’s recently canceled exploration programs were significantly behind schedule, with contract values reportedly increasing from nearly $2.8 billion to $5.9 billion. The delays contributed to the programs’ unfavorable trajectory, culminating in cancellation.

2026-06-24T14:55:10.698528-07:00

NASA exploration-program cancellations tied to late schedules as contract values reportedly rose from ~$2.8B to $5.9B

Space.com

Perseverance identifies complex organic carbon in Jezero Crater, strengthening evidence for ancient Mars habitability NASA’s Perseverance rover has detected large, complex carbon compounds in Jezero Crater rocks, building on earlier indications of a potential biosignature from the Bright Angel formation. The findings come from new analyses of unusual rock patterns and layered materials that could preserve microbial activity signals.

2026-06-24T11:13:36.090978-07:00

Perseverance identifies complex organic carbon in Jezero Crater, strengthening evidence for ancient Mars habitability

Payload

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NASA OIG flags U.S. launch-site capacity crunch as launch cadence rises A NASA Office of Inspector General audit warns U.S. launch facilities are nearing capacity, with “severe capacity issues” likely to constrain growing commercial launch demand. The report cites rising cadence tied to increased activity at Kennedy Space Center and Wallops Flight Facility as sites strain aging infrastructure.

2026-06-23T10:40:51.132030-07:00

NASA OIG flags U.S. launch-site capacity crunch as launch cadence rises

Space.com

NASA faces mounting scrutiny over International Space Station deorbit plans as replacement timeline uncertainty grows NASA’s plan to deorbit the International Space Station in coming years has drawn criticism from ocean conservation advocates, who argue disposal “raises serious concerns for ocean health.” The move also revives a replacement debate: the ISS is aging, and options to sustain LEO capabilities remain a strategic dilemma.

2026-06-23T09:13:05.129968-07:00

NASA faces mounting scrutiny over International Space Station deorbit plans as replacement timeline uncertainty grows

SpaceNews.com

Loft Orbital teams with NASA/JPL to test AI models onboard for Earth-science monitoring Loft Orbital is working with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory to test artificial-intelligence models on spacecraft aimed at improving Earth-science monitoring. The effort extends the push toward more capable onboard processing, reducing reliance on ground-only analytics for Earth observation workflows.

2026-06-23T06:02:41.448394-07:00

Loft Orbital teams with NASA/JPL to test AI models onboard for Earth-science monitoring

SpaceNews.com

NASA says Starliner return to flight could slip by up to a year as safety review progresses NASA’s safety advisers say progress continues in resolving issues with Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner, but a return to flight may not occur for as long as a year. The schedule uncertainty follows NASA’s earlier suspension of crewed Starliner flights pending corrective actions.

2026-06-22T18:57:39.576531-07:00

NASA says Starliner return to flight could slip by up to a year as safety review progresses

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NASA News

NASA selects Rocket Lab Electron for PolSIR and TSIS-2 solar and ice-cloud research missions (Electron launches from New Zealand

NASA exploration-program cancellations tied to late schedules as contract values reportedly rose from ~$2.8B to $5.9B

Watchdog warns NASA needs at least $1B in launch-facility upgrades to sustain Artemis cadence

Perseverance identifies complex organic carbon in Jezero Crater, strengthening evidence for ancient Mars habitability

News Timeline