Space.com
• Tariq Malik
One veteran astronaut and three first-time flyers are preparing for NASA and SpaceX’s Crew-13 mission to the International Space Station. The six-month expedition is targeting an Oct. 1 launch from Florida, with forecasts showing roughly a 55%–60% chance of favorable weather.
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One veteran astronaut and three first-time flyers are preparing for NASA and SpaceX’s Crew-13 mission to the International Space Station. The six-month expedition is targeting an Oct. 1 launch from Florida, with forecasts showing roughly a 55%–60% chance of favorable weather.
An SR-71 Blackbird has been removed from its outdoor display at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center nearly 27 years after its final flight. Former program personnel have reportedly been contacted about potentially returning the iconic aircraft to the skies, though NASA has not publicly confirmed a revival effort.
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NASA is confronting a difficult choice involving SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, with the available options appearing to carry significant drawbacks. The situation highlights the agency’s dependence on a commercial crew and cargo system whose strategic importance can make even seemingly narrow decisions consequential.
A NASA workshop with satellite manufacturers and operators found that commercial practices for passivating spacecraft batteries—intended to prevent explosions after mission end—often fall short of NASA recommendations. The findings raise concerns as commercial satellite buses become increasingly common across government and civil space programs.
NASA Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson and Peruvian Space Agency director Maj. Gen. Roberto Melgar Sheen will lead the Artemis Accords Principals’ Meeting in Turkey. The discussions will address lunar debris and emerging space assistance, highlighting practical coordination challenges as participating nations expand lunar activity.
Côte d’Ivoire has signed NASA’s Artemis Accords, becoming the ninth African country to join the framework for cooperation in lunar exploration and space activities. The accession expands African participation as NASA works to build broader continental support for the Artemis program.
NASA is signaling a broader approach to crewed space transportation, investing in Boeing while encouraging commercial-space entrants to develop alternatives to SpaceX’s Dragon. Isaacman framed the move as a clear demand signal, suggesting the agency wants more competition and resilience in future human-spaceflight services.
The large robotic arm on the International Space Station has stopped working, with NASA providing limited information and indicating the issue may be temporary. The arm is a key external maintenance and cargo-handling asset, making the status relevant to station operations and upcoming activities.
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