Space Exploration & Science Missions News

Ars Technica • Eric Berger

Acting NASA chief reopens Artemis III human-landing contract, inviting competition with SpaceX Starship

Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy said he will reopen the Human Landing System (Artemis III) contract, allowing other companies — including Blue Origin and Lockheed Martin — to compete with the SpaceX Starship award after finding SpaceX behind schedule. The move signals agency concern that delays could imperil U.S. timelines.

2025-10-20T15:13:10.980624-07:00

Wall Street Journal

Political fight over NASA leadership intensifies as Sean Duffy serves interim and Jared Isaacman eyes role

2025-10-20T15:32:39.466558-07:00

Reuters

NASA to reopen Artemis 3 lunar lander competition, putting SpaceX award back into play

2025-10-20T06:28:25.249950-07:00

SpaceNews.com

Opinion: The U.S. Needs a 'Plan B' to Secure the Lead in the Next Moon Race

2025-10-20T06:04:28.178291-07:00

Space Exploration & Science Missions News Timeline

Wall Street Journal

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Political fight over NASA leadership intensifies as Sean Duffy serves interim and Jared Isaacman eyes role Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is serving as NASA's interim administrator while a political fight over the agency's leadership intensifies. Jared Isaacman — the former White House nominee for NASA administrator — has signalled renewed interest in the role, raising stakes over program direction and budgets.

2025-10-20T15:32:39.466558-07:00

Political fight over NASA leadership intensifies as Sean Duffy serves interim and Jared Isaacman eyes role

Ars Technica

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Acting NASA chief reopens Artemis III human-landing contract, inviting competition with SpaceX Starship Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy said he will reopen the Human Landing System (Artemis III) contract, allowing other companies — including Blue Origin and Lockheed Martin — to compete with the SpaceX Starship award after finding SpaceX behind schedule. The move signals agency concern that delays could imperil U.S. timelines.

2025-10-20T15:13:10.980624-07:00

Acting NASA chief reopens Artemis III human-landing contract, inviting competition with SpaceX Starship

Reuters

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NASA to reopen Artemis 3 lunar lander competition, putting SpaceX award back into play Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy said he will reopen the Human Landing System contract for Artemis 3, putting SpaceX’s Starship award back into competition after finding SpaceX "behind" schedule. NASA plans to solicit proposals from other contractors, including Blue Origin and Lockheed Martin.

2025-10-20T06:28:25.249950-07:00

NASA to reopen Artemis 3 lunar lander competition, putting SpaceX award back into play

SpaceNews.com

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Opinion: The U.S. Needs a 'Plan B' to Secure the Lead in the Next Moon Race An opinion argues the U.S. must adopt a 'Plan B' to secure leadership in the next Moon race, warning that reliance on current programs and timelines risks ceding advantage to rivals. It calls for immediate contingency planning, alternative pathways and quicker policy action to protect U.S. momentum.

2025-10-20T06:04:28.178291-07:00

Opinion: The U.S. Needs a 'Plan B' to Secure the Lead in the Next Moon Race

SpaceWatch Global

Four ESA astronauts complete Bundeswehr helicopter training to rehearse lunar surface operations Four ESA astronauts — Alexander Gerst, Matthias Maurer, Samantha Cristoforetti and Thomas Pesquet — have completed an intensive helicopter training course with the German Bundeswehr. The rotary‑wing exercises serve as a practical rehearsal for approach, landing and surface operations in Europe’s preparations for future Moon missions.

2025-10-20T01:33:41.742086-07:00

Four ESA astronauts complete Bundeswehr helicopter training to rehearse lunar surface operations

dailygalaxy.com

NASA's OSIRIS-APEX Secures $20M to Avert Cancellation; Apophis Mission Survives but Remains Precarious NASA’s OSIRIS-APEX mission to rendezvous with asteroid Apophis has narrowly avoided cancellation after securing $20 million in emergency funding. The mission, which overcame recent programmatic and budgetary hurdles, will proceed toward planned observations of Apophis, though its long‑term viability remains uncertain.

2025-10-19T11:44:03.016041-07:00

NASA's OSIRIS-APEX Secures $20M to Avert Cancellation; Apophis Mission Survives but Remains Precarious

prototypingchina.com

China begins construction of 15‑m submillimeter telescope on Tibetan Plateau, targets 2027 operations China has quietly begun building a 15‑meter submillimeter telescope on the Tibetan Plateau, with Chinese sources saying it could be operational by 2027. The high‑altitude facility will deliver sensitive submillimeter observations and could transform ground‑based astronomical and space‑science capabilities globally.

2025-10-19T06:48:37.772482-07:00

China begins construction of 15‑m submillimeter telescope on Tibetan Plateau, targets 2027 operations

orbitaltoday.com

Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui photographs aurora from the ISS as NASA updates pause amid U.S. shutdown Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui released striking photographs of Earth’s aurora taken from the International Space Station, offering rare high‑latitude night views. The images were shared as NASA updated pauses tied to a U.S. government shutdown, underscoring ongoing ISS crew activity amid agency disruptions.

2025-10-19T06:04:01.894295-07:00

Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui photographs aurora from the ISS as NASA updates pause amid U.S. shutdown

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