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as NASA administrator Dec. 17, ending a prolonged interim and installing a permanent leader after his nomination was withdrawn and later reintroduced amid a public dispute tied to Elon Musk.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

marsdaily.com

Perseverance cleared for extended Mars traverse after mobility hardware certification After nearly five years in Jezero Crater and almost 25 miles (40 km) of driving, NASA's Perseverance rover has been certified by engineers to continue operations and is cleared to drive an additional roughly 60 kilometres on Mars, enabling an extended campaign of geology and sample collection.

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

Perseverance cleared for extended Mars traverse 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

JWST confirms first 'runaway' supermassive black hole streaking through the 'Cosmic Owl' at ~2.2 million mph The James Webb Space Telescope has confirmed a runaway supermassive black hole tearing through the 'Cosmic Owl' galaxy pair at roughly 2.2 million mph. JWST's infrared observations also reveal buried black holes and 'monster stars' that help explain the rapid growth of early supermassive black holes.

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

JWST confirms first 'runaway' supermassive black hole streaking through the '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

Ars Technica

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NASA’s $4.3B space telescope completes construction, will map the Milky Way in 3D NASA’s $4.3 billion space telescope has completed construction and is designed to produce three‑dimensional maps and time‑series “3D movies” of the Milky Way, giving astronomers unprecedented structural and dynamical views of our galaxy. The observatory aims to transform studies of stellar populations and galactic motion.

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

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

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