NASA News

Wall Street Journal • Andrew Tangel, Micah Maidenberg, Natalie Andrews

FAA objects as NASA leader flies vintage jet at Washington air show, regulator initially denies request for Freedom 250 celebrat

A regulator rejected Jared Isaacman’s request to fly in connection with the Freedom 250 celebration, citing safety concerns that the aircraft was too dangerous for densely populated areas. The episode followed FAA objections over a NASA leader flying a vintage jet at a DC air show.

1 Source

2026-07-05T16:28:51.788699-07:00

Space.com

NASA tests prototype Mars rover designed for autonomous navigation in dust-prone terrain

2 Sources

2026-07-05T07:13:46.643713-07:00

Reuters

NASA launches (and briefly holds) orbital-rescue mission to raise the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory’s orbit before reentry

35 Sources

2026-07-03T02:00:40.584972-07:00

Reuters

NASA ramps Artemis Moon Base delivery with ~$600M in new robotic lander contracts and considers sending Perseverance’s full-scal

43 Sources

2026-06-30T12:17:35.514226-07:00

NASA News Timeline

SpaceNews.com

1 source

NASA and U.S. Small Business Administration partner to channel capital into critical space technology suppliers NASA is partnering with the U.S. Small Business Administration to attract capital for investment in companies producing critical space components. The effort targets space technology supply-chain capacity by increasing access to funding for firms developing key components.

2026-07-05T18:58:50.654750-07:00

NASA and U.S. Small Business Administration partner to channel capital into critical space technology suppliers

Wall Street Journal

1 source

FAA objects as NASA leader flies vintage jet at Washington air show, regulator initially denies request for Freedom 250 celebrat A regulator rejected Jared Isaacman’s request to fly in connection with the Freedom 250 celebration, citing safety concerns that the aircraft was too dangerous for densely populated areas. The episode followed FAA objections over a NASA leader flying a vintage jet at a DC air show.

2026-07-05T16:28:51.788699-07:00

FAA objects as NASA leader flies vintage jet at Washington air show, regulator initially denies request for Freedom 250 celebrat

Space.com

2 sources

NASA tests prototype Mars rover designed for autonomous navigation in dust-prone terrain NASA has run tests of an advanced Mars rover prototype in California’s desert, using the field environment to validate designs aimed at avoiding entrapment in fine lunar or Martian dust. The prototype is intended to help scientists develop robots that can reason about conditions and navigate challenging terrain more reliably.

2026-07-05T07:13:46.643713-07:00

NASA tests prototype Mars rover designed for autonomous navigation in dust-prone terrain

Ars Technica

3 sources

NASA awards Rocket Lab three dedicated Electron-launch deals NASA has awarded Rocket Lab contracts for three dedicated launches using the company’s Electron rocket, underscoring continued demand for responsive, small-satellite launch capacity in government missions. The same Rocket Report notes an Indian startup nearing its first launch, while highlighting progress across the launch-services market.

2026-07-03T07:00:06.603059-07:00

NASA awards Rocket Lab three dedicated Electron-launch deals

Reuters

35 sources

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NASA launches (and briefly holds) orbital-rescue mission to raise the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory’s orbit before reentry NASA has launched a robotic LINK spacecraft to rendezvous with the aging Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory and boost it into a higher orbit ahead of a dangerous atmospheric reentry risk. The mission was executed by a U.S.-China–era tech supplier effort led by Arizona startup Katalyst after a last-minute launch issue delayed takeoff.

2026-07-03T02:00:40.584972-07:00

NASA launches (and briefly holds) orbital-rescue mission to raise the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory’s orbit before reentry

Washington Post

1 source

NASA moves to address orbital debris risks as space traffic and policy priorities—including President Trump’s agenda—gain scruti The cluster ties NASA’s efforts to mitigate orbital debris to the growing policy focus on space sustainability, collision risk, and traffic management. It frames debris as a near-term operational and strategic concern for any administration seeking to accelerate space activity and resilience.

2026-07-02T03:17:03.921531-07:00

NASA moves to address orbital debris risks as space traffic and policy priorities—including President Trump’s agenda—gain scruti

Ars Technica

3 sources

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NASA watchdog flags Starliner certification slipping to ~2027, putting Boeing’s crew-capsule program a decade behind original sc The NASA Office of Inspector General says Boeing’s Starliner certification may be delayed until 2027, roughly a decade later than the program’s original schedule. The assessment highlights continued schedule risk for Starliner’s readiness to support crewed missions.

2026-07-01T09:18:32.475423-07:00

NASA watchdog flags Starliner certification slipping to ~2027, putting Boeing’s crew-capsule program a decade behind original sc

AeroTime

20 sources

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NASA awards Moon Base Phase One lander and lunar science delivery contracts, targeting monthly landings with updated lander desi NASA selected new commercial partners for its Moon Base Phase One effort, including multiple lunar lander contracts and prime roles for delivering NASA payloads. NASA also said vendors plan to fly updated versions of already-flown lander designs to support an agency goal of monthly lunar landings. The program adds to a near-$600M push across four lunar missions and includes Intuitive Machines’ prime lunar reconnaissance contracts and Blue Origin progress updates.

2026-07-01T03:44:59.807551-07:00

NASA awards Moon Base Phase One lander and lunar science delivery contracts, targeting monthly landings with updated lander desi