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Northrop Grumman Launches Mission to Extend Life of Aging Satellites with Jetpacks

Northrop Grumman Launches Mission to Extend Life of Aging Satellites with Jetpacks

Northrop Grumman Launches Mission to Extend Life of Aging Satellites with Jetpacks
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NASA Announces New Opportunity for Planetary Science Enabling Facilities

NASA Announces New Opportunity for Planetary Science Enabling Facilities

NASA has announced a new opportunity under the Planetary Science Enabling Facilities (PSEF) program, as part of the Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) 2025. This initiative invites proposals for experimental and analytical research facilities that will support the Planetary Science Division within NASA's Science Mission Directorate. The program aims to make these facilities available to the research community, emphasizing the need for proposals to clearly demonstrate the scientific value and demand for such facilities. The announcement, made on July 21, 2026, marks a shift from the previous status where this opportunity was not solicited. Proposals are due by November 10, 2026, and do not require a Notice of Intent (NOI) or a Step-1 proposal.
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NASA's EARENDIL Project Aims to Overcome Lunar Night Challenges with Radioisotope Technology

NASA's EARENDIL Project Aims to Overcome Lunar Night Challenges with Radioisotope Technology

NASA's EARENDIL project is exploring the use of compact americium-241 radioisotope heat sources integrated into astronaut extravehicular activity (EVA) suits. This initiative addresses the challenges posed by the extreme cold of permanently shadowed regions (PSRs) and the two-week lunar night on the Moon. The project aims to provide astronauts with continuous, passive warmth during extended surface operations, enhancing mission flexibility and safety. By integrating heat sources directly into spacesuits, EARENDIL seeks to reduce reliance on external power and heavy battery systems, enabling longer and more flexible missions in harsh lunar environments.
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NASA's EARENDIL Project Aims to Enhance Lunar Exploration with Radioisotope Technology

NASA's EARENDIL Project Aims to Enhance Lunar Exploration with Radioisotope Technology

NASA is exploring the EARENDIL project, which proposes the integration of americium-241 radioisotope heat sources into astronaut extravehicular activity (EVA) suits. This initiative aims to provide continuous warmth to astronauts operating in the extreme cold of the lunar surface's permanently shadowed regions and during the two-week lunar night. The project addresses the thermal constraints that limit mission flexibility and endanger astronaut safety. By incorporating radioisotope thermal systems directly into spacesuits, EARENDIL seeks to extend the operational range and duration of EVAs, enhancing crew safety and reducing reliance on heavy battery systems. This Phase I study will evaluate the technical and safety feasibility of the concept, focusing on heating requirements, mission dose rates, and compatibility with existing EVA suit architectures.
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NASA's EARENDIL Project Aims to Enhance Lunar Exploration

NASA's EARENDIL Project Aims to Enhance Lunar Exploration

NASA is exploring a new initiative called EARENDIL, which focuses on improving astronaut safety and mission flexibility on the lunar surface. The project proposes integrating americium-241 radioisotope heat sources into extravehicular activity (EVA) suits. This innovation aims to provide astronauts with continuous warmth during operations in the extreme cold of permanently shadowed regions and the lunar night. The initiative is part of NASA's efforts to address the thermal challenges faced during lunar exploration, particularly in areas rich in volatile resources. The project is in its initial phase, involving thermal modeling and safety assessments.
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NASA's EARENDIL Project Aims to Enhance Lunar Exploration Safety

NASA's EARENDIL Project Aims to Enhance Lunar Exploration Safety

NASA is advancing its EARENDIL project, which focuses on improving astronaut safety during lunar exploration. The initiative addresses the challenges posed by the extreme cold of permanently shadowed regions (PSRs) and the two-week lunar night on the Moon. EARENDIL proposes integrating compact americium-241 radioisotope heat sources into extravehicular activity (EVA) suits, providing astronauts with continuous warmth during extended surface operations. This innovation aims to extend the operational range and duration of EVAs, enhance crew safety during habitat power failures, and reduce reliance on heavy battery systems. The project aligns with NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate and Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate priorities, supporting the Artemis program's long-term objectives at the lunar south pole.
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NASA Develops Quantum Wind Lidar for Enhanced Planetary and Earth Science Missions

NASA Develops Quantum Wind Lidar for Enhanced Planetary and Earth Science Missions

NASA is advancing a new concept for wind measurement using Quantum Wind Lidar technology, which employs compact photonic integrated chips (PICs) for space-based missions. This innovative approach utilizes phase-squeezed light sources and quantum interference phenomena to create a miniaturized, high-performance lidar receiver. The technology aims to provide precise high-altitude wind profiling of the Martian atmosphere, surpassing current ground-based methods. The project aligns with NASA's objectives in the Planetary Science and Astrobiology Decadal Survey and the Earth Science Decadal Survey, with applications extending to Mars atmospheric modeling, dust storm prediction, and climate monitoring on Earth.
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NASA to Use SpaceX Starlink Lasers for Artemis III Video Streaming

NASA to Use SpaceX Starlink Lasers for Artemis III Video Streaming

NASA has selected SpaceX's Starlink laser communication technology to stream high-definition video from the Orion spacecraft during the Artemis III mission in 2027. This mission will involve four astronauts testing rendezvous and docking operations with commercial human landing systems, as part of NASA's efforts to return humans to the lunar surface by 2028. The Starlink mini laser terminals will be mounted on Orion's exterior, utilizing SpaceX's crosslink technology to transmit 4K imagery and video to NASA's Mission Control Center. This decision follows successful demonstrations of laser communication on previous missions, where optical systems transmitted significantly more data than traditional radio frequency links.
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NASA Cancels Draper Lunar Lander Due to Development Delays

NASA Cancels Draper Lunar Lander Due to Development Delays

NASA has decided to terminate its contract with Draper for a commercial lunar lander due to significant development delays. This decision affects the agency's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, which aims to deliver scientific instruments and technology demonstrations to the Moon. The cancellation of Draper's lander is part of a series of setbacks within the CLPS program, which has faced challenges with other private landers as well. The termination leaves NASA with fewer options for lunar exploration vehicles, impacting the agency's plans for future lunar missions. No replacement contractor has been announced, and the timeline for the program remains uncertain.
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On This Day: STS-135 Closed the Space Shuttle Era in 2011

On This Day: STS-135 Closed the Space Shuttle Era in 2011

STS-135 was not only the final mission of NASA's Space Shuttle program but also a pivotal moment in the transition of space operations. Launched on...
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SpaceX Reschedules Starship Flight 13 Test Launch for July 23

SpaceX Reschedules Starship Flight 13 Test Launch for July 23

SpaceX has rescheduled the test launch of its Starship Flight 13 for July 23, 2026, after an initial abort on July 16. The launch will take place from SpaceX's Starbase in Texas, with a 90-minute window opening at 6:45 p.m. EDT. This test is crucial for the development of the Starship, a fully reusable spacecraft intended for missions to the moon and Mars. The launch will include deploying 20 next-generation Starlink V3 satellites, although they will not remain in orbit due to the suborbital nature of the flight.
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NASA's Artemis III Mission to Test Complex Spacecraft Coordination for Lunar Return

NASA's Artemis III Mission to Test Complex Spacecraft Coordination for Lunar Return

NASA is preparing for the Artemis III mission, which is set to be one of the most complex spaceflights in history. Scheduled for next year, the mission will involve four astronauts and three spacecraft over a two-week period in orbit. The mission aims to test NASA's Orion spacecraft as it docks and performs operations with two commercial lunar landers: SpaceX's Starship and Blue Origin's Blue Moon. This mission will be a precursor to a crewed moon landing on Artemis IV. The Artemis III mission will require a highly choreographed sequence of launches from multiple launch pads, involving significant coordination between NASA and commercial partners. The mission will test the interoperability of the spacecraft and gather data to refine the designs of the lunar landers.