Space Exploration & Science Missions News

NASA • Jessica Taveau

Jared Isaacman confirmed as NASA's 15th administrator after Senate 67–30 vote

The U.S. Senate confirmed commercial astronaut and entrepreneur Jared Isaacman as NASA's 15th administrator Wednesday, approving his nomination 67–30 after President Trump renominated him following an earlier withdrawal of support. Isaacman was sworn in Thursday by District Judge Timothy J. Kelly during a ceremonial oath.

2025-12-18T10:11:06.248552-08:00

Bloomberg

Trump signs executive order to protect Artemis and direct plans for a lunar outpost

2025-12-18T13:18:46.282079-08:00

nasawatch.com

Senate confirms Jared Isaacman as NASA administrator after renomination

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 Exploration & Science Missions News Timeline

Bloomberg

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Trump signs executive order to protect Artemis and direct plans for a lunar outpost President Donald Trump signed an executive order to protect NASA’s Artemis program and direct plans for a Moon outpost, reaffirming U.S. commitment to return astronauts to the lunar surface and build a sustained, permanent lunar presence as agency teams advance mission milestones.

2025-12-18T13:18:46.282079-08:00

Trump signs executive order to protect Artemis and direct plans for a lunar outpost

Space.com

First direct images of collisions in nearby star system reveal violent early solar‑system activity Astronomers have captured the first direct images of collisions in a nearby star system, offering a rare 'look back in time' at violent planet‑building processes that operated when young solar systems were under a billion years old. The observations reveal energetic impacts and debris consistent with early‑stage planetary assembly.

2025-12-18T11:05:14.905914-08:00

First direct images of collisions in nearby star system reveal violent early solar‑system activity

NASA

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Jared Isaacman confirmed as NASA's 15th administrator after Senate 67–30 vote The U.S. Senate confirmed commercial astronaut and entrepreneur Jared Isaacman as NASA's 15th administrator Wednesday, approving his nomination 67–30 after President Trump renominated him following an earlier withdrawal of support. Isaacman was sworn in Thursday by District Judge Timothy J. Kelly during a ceremonial oath.

2025-12-18T10:11:06.248552-08:00

Jared Isaacman confirmed as NASA's 15th administrator after Senate 67–30 vote

Space.com

X‑rays from interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS reveal solar‑wind interaction and hidden gases Two X‑ray space telescopes — ESA's XMM‑Newton and a JAXA instrument — have detected X‑ray emission from interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS as it approaches Earth. The high‑energy glow, extending roughly 250,000 miles, indicates solar‑wind charge‑exchange and reveals otherwise hidden volatile gases in the comet's coma.

2025-12-18T07:09:56.656558-08:00

X‑rays from interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS reveal solar‑wind interaction and hidden gases

Universe Today

Study: Roman Space Telescope's microlensing survey could uncover many multiplanet exoplanet systems A pre-print by Vito Saggese and the Roman Galactic Exoplanet Survey Infrastructure Team argues the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope's wide-field microlensing survey is uniquely positioned to detect large numbers of multiplanet systems via gravitational lensing. The result would expand Roman's exoplanet yield and refine statistics on planetary architectures.

2025-12-18T06:48:01.829021-08:00

Study: Roman Space Telescope's microlensing survey could uncover many multiplanet exoplanet systems

Payload

2025: Over a Dozen Companies Advance Orbital Reentry and Payload‑Return Vehicles The orbital‑reentry sector surged in 2025: more than a dozen companies passed development milestones advancing vehicles designed to return payloads from orbit. The cluster of successes marks concentrated progress across commercial and institutional efforts to field near‑term orbital return capability.

2025-12-18T05:52:30.322548-08:00

2025: Over a Dozen Companies Advance Orbital Reentry and Payload‑Return Vehicles

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 for extended Mars campaign after logging nearly 25 miles; engineers OK ~60 km more After nearly five years in Jezero Crater, NASA's Perseverance rover has driven almost 25 miles (40 km). Engineers have certified its mobility hardware and cleared the rover to drive another ~60 km, extending surface operations and preserving the ability to collect and cache high‑priority samples for eventual return.

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

Perseverance cleared for extended Mars campaign after logging nearly 25 miles; engineers OK ~60 km more

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