# NASA
Latest news and articles about NASA
Total: 21 articles found
NASA Probe Plunges Back to Earth Sooner Than Expected as Sun’s Fury Raises Drag
A retired NASA Van Allen probe re-entered Earth’s atmosphere years earlier than predicted after an unexpectedly active solar cycle increased atmospheric drag. NASA says the risk to people on the ground is low, but the event spotlights the limits of current disposal practices and the growing need for improved space-traffic and debris management.
NASA Inspector-General Warns Starship Lander Is Years Late, Putting 2028 Moon Return at Risk
NASA’s Inspector General reports that SpaceX’s Starship lunar lander is approximately two years behind its original schedule and faces further delays, while Blue Origin’s lander work is also late. These setbacks threaten NASA’s goal of a crewed lunar return in 2028 and increase pressure on programme management, budgets and international partnerships.
Setbacks Force NASA to Reboot Artemis: Lunar Landing Pushed Back, Extra Test Flight Added
NASA has restructured the Artemis lunar programme after recent technical faults and safety concerns, adding a test flight and turning Artemis III into an orbital practice mission in 2027. Crewed lunar landings are now planned for Artemis IV (2028) and Artemis V (2030), reflecting a shift toward caution and institutional reform under the agency’s new chief.
NASA Recasts Artemis: Pushes Commercial Landers into the Spotlight as SLS Troubles Force Rethink
NASA has restructured the Artemis programme to reduce mission risk and allow commercial landers more testing time, after SLS launch vehicle leaks delayed operations. Artemis II's crewed lunar flyaround remains planned pending rocket repairs; Artemis III has been converted into an orbit‑docking and test mission, with crewed lunar landings pushed to Artemis IV in 2028 if timelines hold.
NASA Pushes First Crewed Artemis Moonshot to 2028, Extending a Program of Rolling Delays
NASA has delayed the first crewed Artemis lunar landing from 2027 to 2028, continuing a pattern of timetable adjustments for the flagship return-to-the-Moon programme. The move reflects ongoing technical integration, testing and budgetary challenges and sharpens attention on commercial partners, international competition and next-stage milestones.
NASA Scales Back SLS Upgrades to Boost Launch Pace, Hitting Boeing Contract Value
NASA has cancelled a planned upgrade to its SLS rocket to focus on increasing launch cadence and added an extra unmanned docking test ahead of crewed lunar missions. The shift affects a roughly $2 billion Boeing contract and signals NASA’s prioritisation of reliability and tempo over expanded vehicle capability in the near term.
SpaceX’s Crew Dragon Delivers New Astronaut Team to the ISS, Underscoring U.S. Commercial Space Reliance
A Crew Dragon mission has delivered a new team of astronauts to the International Space Station, highlighting the operational success of NASA’s commercial crew model. The flight reinforces U.S. access to low‑Earth orbit while raising strategic questions about competition, resilience and the future of orbital infrastructure.
SpaceX’s Dragon Carries Multinational Crew to ISS in Another Boost for Commercial Spaceflight
SpaceX’s Dragon launched four astronauts from Cape Canaveral to the International Space Station on February 13, beginning an eight‑month mission focused on experiments to support future Moon and Mars exploration. The flight highlights the maturation of commercial crew services and continued multinational cooperation aboard the ISS despite broader geopolitical tensions.
SpaceX’s Crew Dragon Delivers Four Astronauts to ISS for Eight-Month Science Push
SpaceX launched a Crew Dragon on 13 February from Florida, ferrying four astronauts to the International Space Station for an eight‑month mission centered on experiments that support lunar and Mars exploration, such as plant–bacteria research to improve food production. The flight highlights the growing role of commercial providers in sustaining human presence in low Earth orbit and testing technologies needed for deep‑space missions.
Musk and Washington Push a New Lunar Sprint — But the Moon’s Practicalities and Politics Remain Fraught
Elon Musk’s public call to "return to the Moon" and SpaceX hiring for AI satellite and space data-centre work have dovetailed with U.S. government plans to accelerate lunar missions, industrial infrastructure and even nuclear deployments. The combination of private ambition and an assertive U.S. policy raises technical, economic and geopolitical questions about feasibility, cost and the militarisation of cislunar space.
SpaceX Reportedly Puts Mars on Hold to Prioritise an Unmanned Moon Landing
Cailian reports that SpaceX has told investors it will delay an in‑year Mars launch and concentrate on an uncrewed lunar landing targeted for March 2027. The shift responds to technical priorities, regulatory nudges from Washington and the company’s broader commercial and fundraising context, while leaving long‑term plans for Mars intact but deferred.
SpaceX Pivots from Mars to Moon, Aiming for Uncrewed Lunar Landing in March 2027
SpaceX has delayed a Mars mission slated for 2026 and told investors it will prioritise lunar operations tied to NASA, aiming for an uncrewed Moon landing in March 2027. The move recalibrates timelines, concentrates resources on an attainable near‑term goal and has implications for investors, U.S. space policy and international competition in cislunar space.