Space Exploration & Science Missions News

nasawatch.com • Keith Cowing

Senate confirms Jared Isaacman as NASA administrator after renomination

The U.S. Senate confirmed billionaire entrepreneur and private astronaut Jared Isaacman as NASA administrator Dec. 17, ending a prolonged interim and installing a permanent leader after his nomination was withdrawn and later reintroduced amid a public dispute tied to Elon Musk.

2025-12-17T12:30:15.363024-08:00

Ars Technica

NASA’s $4.3B space telescope completes construction, will map the Milky Way in 3D

2025-12-16T13:35:08.592245-08:00

Space.com

Parker Solar Probe maps shifting, spiky boundary where the solar wind originates

2025-12-15T08:03:50.458887-08:00

NASA Spaceflight

Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope construction finished, moves into final testing ahead of 2027 launch

2025-12-14T15:24:53.816270-08:00

Space Exploration & Science Missions News Timeline

SpaceWatch Global

Spaceflight’s Atmospheric Footprint: Early Science and Major Unknowns Spaceflight’s returns—reentries, stage drops and spent hardware—deposit burned and vaporised particulates and metals into the upper atmosphere. Early science maps emissions and chemical impacts but large uncertainties remain about cumulative deposition, climate effects and whether industry growth demands regulatory controls.

2025-12-18T01:30:42.924585-08:00

Spaceflight’s Atmospheric Footprint: Early Science and Major Unknowns

marsdaily.com

Perseverance cleared to drive another 60 km on Mars after mobility hardware certification After nearly five years on Mars and almost 25 miles (40 km) of driving, NASA's Perseverance rover has been certified for extended surface operations. Engineers say the rover is ready to drive another 60 kilometres across Jezero Crater to continue its science traverses.

2025-12-17T18:52:31.935188-08:00

Perseverance cleared to drive another 60 km on Mars after mobility hardware certification

SpaceNews.com

2026 bellwethers: missions, policy and commercial milestones to watch in space exploration A set of high‑impact launches, policy decisions and commercial development deadlines scheduled for 2026 will shape the industrial and strategic trajectory of space exploration. Failures or delays among key missions, return‑to‑flight campaigns, and commercial station award timelines will ripple through procurement, investment and international cooperation.

2025-12-17T14:04:06.709739-08:00

2026 bellwethers: missions, policy and commercial milestones to watch in space exploration

Space.com

James Webb confirms 'runaway' supermassive black hole tearing through 'Cosmic Owl' at ~2.2 million mph James Webb Space Telescope observations confirm a runaway supermassive black hole racing through the 'Cosmic Owl' galaxy system at about 2.2 million mph. Webb's infrared data also reveal 'monster stars' that could drive rapid early black‑hole growth and expose a hidden SMBH inside a 'Jekyll and Hyde' galaxy.

2025-12-17T14:04:00.591919-08:00

James Webb confirms 'runaway' supermassive black hole tearing through 'Cosmic Owl' at ~2.2 million mph

nasawatch.com

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Senate confirms Jared Isaacman as NASA administrator after renomination The U.S. Senate confirmed billionaire entrepreneur and private astronaut Jared Isaacman as NASA administrator Dec. 17, ending a prolonged interim and installing a permanent leader after his nomination was withdrawn and later reintroduced amid a public dispute tied to Elon Musk.

2025-12-17T12:30:15.363024-08:00

Senate confirms Jared Isaacman as NASA administrator after renomination

Universe Today

Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS to sweep past Earth on 19 December as global observation campaign intensifies Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS will make its closest approach to Earth on 19 December, triggering a coordinated observation campaign by NASA, ESA and multiple telescopes and spacecraft. Recent releases of images — including ESA XMM-Newton’s Dec. 3 snapshot from ~283 million km — feed urgent trajectory and composition studies.

2025-12-17T11:47:43.973563-08:00

Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS to sweep past Earth on 19 December as global observation campaign intensifies

SpaceQ

Mission Control wins up to $2M CSA contract to supply iSPI+ infrared sensor for Canada's Lunar Utility Rover The Canadian Space Agency has awarded Mission Control up to $2 million to provide its iSPI+ infrared sensing system for Canada's Lunar Utility Rover. The contract covers delivery and integration of the iSPI+ payload to support the rover's lunar surface sensing capability.

2025-12-17T10:29:01.936714-08:00

Mission Control wins up to $2M CSA contract to supply iSPI+ infrared sensor for Canada's Lunar Utility Rover

Space.com

Vast solicits microgravity research proposals for its commercial space station Vast has opened a call for microgravity research proposals for its commercial space station, calling the move a historic opportunity to expand access to on‑orbit experiments aboard the world's first commercial station. The solicitation seeks to attract users to test science and manufacturing concepts in microgravity.

2025-12-17T05:06:17.287533-08:00

Vast solicits microgravity research proposals for its commercial space station

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