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• Jeff Foust
Paragon Space Development Corp. has laid off 70 employees after NASA halted work on a module being developed for the lunar Gateway, underscoring the workforce and supplier impact of program-level changes. The company was a subcontractor on the affected module.
NASA
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Paragon Space Development Corp. has laid off 70 employees after NASA halted work on a module being developed for the lunar Gateway, underscoring the workforce and supplier impact of program-level changes. The company was a subcontractor on the affected module.
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A 26-kilogram radiation-shielding vest flown on a model human torso during NASA’s uncrewed Artemis I mission reduced exposure during simulated severe solar storms, a new study suggests. The result supports further development of wearable protection for astronauts on extended lunar and Mars missions.
A visit to a national laboratory has strengthened NASA officials’ confidence in launching a nuclear electric propulsion demonstration mission by the end of 2028. The milestone would advance the agency’s effort to validate nuclear-powered propulsion for future deep-space missions.
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MDA Space plans to adapt technology developed for Canadarm3, the robotic arm intended for NASA’s Gateway lunar-orbit station, for operations on the Moon’s surface after NASA put Gateway plans on hold. The shift preserves a role for the technology in lunar exploration despite changes to the station program.
Katalyst Space is recovering control of its spacecraft after encountering problems with the vehicle. The spacecraft was developed to boost the orbit of NASA’s Swift observatory, making the company’s recovery effort central to the planned servicing mission’s prospects.
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NASA’s latest Artemis updates span commercial robotic lunar landers, technology demonstrations for future surface habitats, and hardware development for the Space Launch System and Orion spacecraft. The agency’s progress report provides a cross-program view of preparations for Artemis III and subsequent missions to the Moon.
NASA and the European Space Agency are defining the infrastructure needed to support a sustainable lunar base, while Northrop Grumman and the Canadian Space Agency are adapting work from NASA’s planned Gateway station for future lunar-base applications.
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