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NASA Transfers Management of Lunar Science Instruments to Intuitive Machines

NASA Transfers Management of Lunar Science Instruments to Intuitive Machines

NASA has transferred the management of two lunar science instruments to Intuitive Machines. This change comes as the principal investigators and science team members of these instruments have joined the company. The instruments involved are the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC) and ShadowCam. LROC, part of NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter mission since 2009, captures high-resolution images of the lunar surface. ShadowCam, a similar instrument, is designed to image the Moon's permanently shadowed regions. Both instruments were originally managed by Arizona State University and built by Malin Space Science Systems. The data from these instruments is now managed by Texas A&M University as part of NASA's Planetary Data System.
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Intuitive Machines Secures Key Lunar Reconnaissance Contracts to Enhance Moon Exploration

Intuitive Machines Secures Key Lunar Reconnaissance Contracts to Enhance Moon Exploration

Intuitive Machines Secures Key Lunar Reconnaissance Contracts to Enhance Moon Exploration
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Intuitive Machines Secures Contracts for Lunar Reconnaissance Operations

Intuitive Machines Secures Contracts for Lunar Reconnaissance Operations

Intuitive Machines Secures Contracts for Lunar Reconnaissance Operations
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NASA's Landsat 10 Mission to Enhance Global Land Imaging with Advanced Capabilities

NASA's Landsat 10 Mission to Enhance Global Land Imaging with Advanced Capabilities

NASA, in collaboration with the USGS, is preparing to launch the Landsat 10 mission under the Sustainable Land Imaging (SLI) Program. This mission aims to continue the legacy of global land imaging by acquiring high-quality, medium-resolution data for a minimum of five years. Landsat 10 will feature improved spatial resolutions and enhanced spectral capabilities, collecting 26 spectral bands to support emerging applications in land monitoring. The mission will occupy a sun-synchronous orbit and utilize a new Worldwide Reference System-3 (WRS-3) for cataloging and distributing data. The mission reflects advances in technology and user application priorities, aiming to provide consistent data with previous Landsat missions while supporting new scientific applications.
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Potomac Database Systems Plans to Gather Lunar Data for Commercial Use

Potomac Database Systems Plans to Gather Lunar Data for Commercial Use

Potomac Database Systems Plans to Gather Lunar Data for Commercial Use
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NASA Crew Initiates New Space Experiments Following Dragon Cargo Delivery

NASA Crew Initiates New Space Experiments Following Dragon Cargo Delivery

The International Space Station (ISS) has commenced new scientific experiments following the delivery of approximately 6,500 pounds of cargo by a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft on May 17. The Expedition 74 crew, including NASA flight engineer Jack Hathaway, began unloading the supplies and initiating research activities. Key experiments involve studying the effects of microgravity on blood-making cells, with NASA astronaut Jessica Meir preparing samples in the Kibo laboratory module. The research aims to understand how weightlessness impacts blood clotting and immune function. Additionally, NASA astronaut Chris Williams activated student-designed experiments involving biological and material samples. The crew is also preparing for an upcoming spacewalk, with Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergey Mikaev readying tools and spacesuits.
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SpaceX Prepares to Launch Record-Breaking Starship for NASA's Artemis Program

SpaceX Prepares to Launch Record-Breaking Starship for NASA's Artemis Program

SpaceX is set to launch an upgraded version of its Starship rocket, which will be the tallest and most powerful rocket in history. This launch is crucial for NASA's Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the moon by 2028. The Starship, consisting of an upper stage and a Super Heavy lower stage, has undergone significant revisions, including new Raptor engines and enhanced heat-resistant tiles. The upcoming test flight will be a critical step in verifying the design for the Human Lander System, which SpaceX plans to use for lunar missions.
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SpaceX Achieves Milestone with Sixth Cargo Dragon Mission to ISS, Redefining Resupply Economics

SpaceX Achieves Milestone with Sixth Cargo Dragon Mission to ISS, Redefining Resupply Economics

SpaceX Achieves Milestone with Sixth Cargo Dragon Mission to ISS, Redefining Resupply Economics
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SpaceX Falcon 9 Launches Dragon Cargo to International Space Station with Scientific Payload

SpaceX Falcon 9 Launches Dragon Cargo to International Space Station with Scientific Payload

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched the Dragon cargo spacecraft from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on May 15, 2026. This mission marks the 34th commercial resupply mission under NASA's contract with SpaceX. The Dragon spacecraft is carrying nearly 6,500 pounds of cargo, including scientific experiments and equipment, to the International Space Station (ISS). The cargo includes a project to test Earth-based simulators in microgravity, a bone scaffold for osteoporosis research, and instruments to study charged particles around Earth. The spacecraft is scheduled to autonomously dock with the ISS on May 17, 2026, and will remain there until mid-June before returning to Earth with research and cargo.
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NASA Seeks Proposals for Mars Telecommunications Network to Enhance Future Missions

NASA Seeks Proposals for Mars Telecommunications Network to Enhance Future Missions

NASA has issued a request for proposals (RFP) for the development of the Mars Telecommunications Network (MTN), a communications system intended to support future Mars exploration missions. The MTN is expected to provide high-bandwidth connectivity for both robotic and human missions, with the goal of being operational by 2030. The RFP calls for industry input on current and future operational missions, including the accommodation of science payloads. The contract will cover the delivery of the MTN, with optional services for launch, integration, and up to five years of mission operations. This initiative is part of NASA's broader strategy to expand continuous communications services to the Moon and Mars.
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SpaceX Shareholders Approve 5-for-1 Stock Split Ahead of IPO

SpaceX Shareholders Approve 5-for-1 Stock Split Ahead of IPO

SpaceX Shareholders Approve 5-for-1 Stock Split Ahead of IPO
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NASA Faces Challenges in Maintaining Voyager Spacecraft Due to Aging Code and Documentation

NASA Faces Challenges in Maintaining Voyager Spacecraft Due to Aging Code and Documentation

NASA continues to operate the Voyager spacecraft using software written in a 1970s-era programming language that is now largely obsolete. The spacecraft's onboard computers run on assembly language designed for General Electric processors from the early 1970s. The team responsible for maintaining this software is aging, with many original engineers no longer alive. The documentation for the software is incomplete, as much of it was lost or fragmented over decades. The current team at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is small, and while they have managed to keep the spacecraft operational, they face challenges due to the lack of comprehensive documentation and the specialized nature of the programming language.