Stories tagged space.
SpacePolicyOnline / The Space Review
Human missions to Mars seem more distant now than just a year ago, as governments and companies focus their attention on the Moon. Jeff Foust reviews a book that suggests that maybe we shouldn't be in a rush to establish a long-term human presence there given medical and related challenges.
SpacePolicyOnline / The Space Review
Last week, on very short notice, NASA released an independent report on the flawed Starliner crewed test flight in 2024. Jeff Foust reports on that study and its assessment of both the technical and organization problems at the root of that mission.
SpacePolicyOnline / The Space Review
More than 20 years ago, NASA embarked on an effort to develop a massive nuclear-powered mission to the moons of Jupiter. Dwayne Day examines that ill-fated effort and the legacy it created for future missions.
SpacePolicyOnline / The Space Review
As companies follow the lead of countries in returning humans to the Moon, it raises new questions of governance of those efforts. Rachel Williams and Jatan Mehta discuss how precedents set in the coming years should shape lunar activity for decades to come.
SpacePolicyOnline / The Space Review
Protestors in Iran turned to Starlink to maintain connection with the outside world when the government restricted Internet access. Bharath Gopalaswamy argues this puts private companies into roles of making policy traditionally held by governments.
SpacePolicyOnline / The Space Review
As astronauts, including those from the military, go deeper into space, they will face medical challenges that can't be resolved by simply returning to Earth. Mitch Topaloglu says alternative solutions have to be balanced with those that protect the astronauts' privacy.
SpacePolicyOnline / The Space Review
In the early years of the Space Age, the US military had ambitious plans for communications satellites but found them difficult to implement. Dwayne Day describes how a backup plan emerged using smaller, less complex satellites.
SpacePolicyOnline / The Space Review
Elon Musk and SpaceX have long been associated with establishing a human presence on Mars, but that appears to be changing. Jeff Foust reports on how Musk is turning his attention towards the Moon, one tied to AI and orbital data centers.
SpacePolicyOnline / The Space Review
While reuse of the first stage of launch vehicle has long been proven by SpaceX, reusing a rocket's upper stage is more difficult. Robert Oler examine options for reusing some or all of an upper stage.
SpacePolicyOnline / The Space Review
For 15 years, the Wolf Amendment has severely restricted US-China civil space cooperation. Jimin Park makes the case that it's time for those restrictions to end.
SpacePolicyOnline / The Space Review
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has hit its stride since its launch more than four years ago, producing stunning images. Christopher Cokinos reviews a book that compiles some of the best images from it so far.
SpacePolicyOnline / The Space Review
There are more than a dozen licensed spaceports in the United States and even more prospective ones, yet nearly all the orbital launches in the country take place from two sites in Florida and California. Jeff Foust reports on how the Cape and Vandenberg have met the growing demand for launches…
SpacePolicyOnline / The Space Review
Last year the Ukrainian military attacked a satellite tracking station in Russian-occupied Crimea. Dwayne Day examines the long history of that facility, built during the Cold War.
SpacePolicyOnline / The Space Review
Networking protocols used on Earth today don't work well in space, given distances and other challenges. Scott Pace and Yosuke Kaneko discuss how new protocols and approaches can enable enhanced communications across the solar system.
SpacePolicyOnline / The Space Review
Plans for lunar outposts, like the one included in an executive order by the White House in December, will require large amounts of cargo that would be unaffordable if delivered by the SLS. Ajay Kothari offers an alternative approach that avoids both the SLS as well as the complexities of in-space…
SpacePolicyOnline / The Space Review
The International Space Station program has a long, complex history that spans decades. Jeff Foust reviews a book that provides one former NASA manager's insights into the ISS and related programs from a key, early era.
Podcasts: Practical AI / TWIML / No Priors / Dwarkesh
In this episode, John and I got to do a real deep-dive with Elon. We discuss the economics of orbital data centers, the difficulties of scaling power on Earth, what it would take to manufacture humanoids at high-volume in America, xAI’s business and alignment plans, DOGE, and much more. Watch on…
SpacePolicyOnline / The Space Review
Last week the National Reconnaissance Office announced it had declassified information about a signals intelligence satellite program called JUMPSEAT. Dwayne Day examines what that declassification reveals about the program.
SpacePolicyOnline / The Space Review
Ahead of the launch of Artemis 2, some have raised concerns about the Orion spacecraft's heat shield. Robert Oler says NASA's decision to move ahead with the the current heat shield raises concerns about the agency's decision-making processes and safety.
SpacePolicyOnline / The Space Review
In a surprise move, Blue Origin announced Friday it was suspending New Shepard suborbital flights for at least two years as it focuses on lunar exploration. Jeff Foust reports on that development and its implications for suborbital spaceflight.
SpacePolicyOnline / The Space Review
China is building up its navy, including what appears to be its first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. Dwayne Day shows how satellite imagery, including from commercial spacecraft, is helping follow that vessel's development.
SpacePolicyOnline / The Space Review
Japan, which once ruled out any military use of space, has gradually made use of space for reconnaissance and other national security activities. Safia Mansoor charts Japan's changing policies in this area.
SpacePolicyOnline / The Space Review
A little over a week ago, SLS/Orion rolled out to the pad for Artemis 2, the first crewed mission beyond Earth orbit in more than 50 years. Jeff Foust reports on the slow progress towards that launch, which could happen as soon as next month.
SpacePolicyOnline / The Space Review
While kinetic attacks, like direct-ascent missiles, on satellites are well understood, less appreciated are non-kinetic attacks that can disrupt or disable satellites without debris. Aakansh Vijay and Udit Jain argue it's time international space law took up the issue of how to define, and prevent…
SpacePolicyOnline / The Space Review
New large launch vehicles like Starship and New Glenn open up many new opportunities. Martin Elvis describes how they enable space telescopes that are both bigger and cheaper.
SpacePolicyOnline / The Space Review
Kazakhstan is best known in the space community as the home of the Baikonur Cosmodrome. Three experts examine how the country can leverage that role to become a leading space power in Eurasia.
SpacePolicyOnline / The Space Review
Japan's space efforts have had their ups and downs, with launch failures but also major space science achievements. Jeff Foust reviews a history of Japanese space programs from before World War II to the start of the 21st century.
SpacePolicyOnline / The Space Review
Isar Aerospace is returning to the launch pad this week to make its second orbital launch attempt. Jeff Foust reports on that company and other European startups developing launch vehicles that got financial support from a European Space Agency program.
SpacePolicyOnline / The Space Review
Earlier this month India suffered a second failure of its PSLV rocket in as many flights. Ajey Lele examines the implications of the back-to-back failures of a rocket that had been the workhorse of the Indian space program.
SpacePolicyOnline / The Space Review
A Florida space museum has an exhibit on Martin Caidin, a prolific author both space fact and fiction books. Dwayne Day discusses his life and career, whose works became the inspiration for a movie and TV series.