Posts by Jeff Gardner
Artemis III On Track for Triple-Launch in 2027
In less than a year, the Artemis III mission will test two landers to return humans to the lunar surface for the first time in more than 50 years. NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS), the same vehicle type that launched astronauts around the Moon earlier this year, is being prepped to send astronauts back into…
Read MoreWashington Updates – Boosting Starship Cadence
What You Need to Know: SpaceX looks to increase its Starship launch cadence by nearly 20 times. JAXA launches a sample-return mission to the Martian moon Phobos. Blue Origin is building two new launchpads at Cape Canaveral. United States Space Policy Updates FAA regulators are reviewing a proposal to greatly increase the number of Starship launches…
Read MoreMartian Sample-Return Mission Launches
NASA is playing a key role in a JAXA mission that could return a sample from the Mars system for the first time in history. The Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission launched October 20 from Japan. It is scheduled to arrive near the Martian moons Phobos and Deimos in August 2027. The spacecraft will collect…
Read MoreWashington Updates: Space Soldiers
What You Need to Know: The Army welcomes its first class of enlisted space warfighters. The Artemis Accords reach more than 75 signatories. The SpaceX Crew-13 mission breaks the record for the fastest an American spacecraft has docked with the ISS after launch. United States Space Policy Updates The Army welcomes its first class of…
Read MoreSouth Korea deploys 14 satellites in first launch of 2026
South Korea achieved its first orbital launch of the year when a Nuri rocket took off from the nation’s Naro Space Center on Tuesday, Oct. 6. The mission carried 15 satellites into orbit, successfully deploying 14. This is the fifth launch of the nation’s Nuri rocket family since 2021. “Nuri successfully completed its fifth mission…
Read MoreWashington Updates: Competing For The Academy
What You Need to Know: States are vying to host the proposed U.S. Space Academy. The U.K. Royal Air Force launches its first space squadron. SpaceX is preparing for its first Starship orbital launch. United States Space Policy Updates Multiple states, including Texas, Florida, and Alabama, are competing to host the planned U.S. Space Academy.…
Read MoreWashington Updates: Lunar Base Building
What You Need to Know: NASA calls for proposals for lunar surface technologies. The U.K. releases a new space strategy prioritizing defense. Stoke Space raises $1B in a Series E funding round. United States Space Policy Updates NASA calls for proposals to accelerate lunar surface technologies to help establish a Moon Base. The agency is…
Read MoreWashington Updates: New Space Transportation Policy
What You Need to Know: The White House releases a new National Space Transportation Policy. China delays its Chang’e 7 lunar exploration mission to 2027. SpaceX announces a new launch facility in Louisiana. United States Space Policy Updates The White House releases a new National Space Transportation Policy. The policy aims to expand the nation’s capabilities…
Read MoreWashington Updates: New Chief of Space Operations
What You Need to Know: The Senate confirms Lt. Gen. Douglas Schiess as Chief of Space Operations. Europe agrees to expand the planned IRIS² satellite constellation. Rocket Lab unveils a deployable launch system for suborbital and orbital missions. United States Space Policy Updates The Senate confirms Lt. Gen. Douglas Schiess to serve as the next Chief of Space Operations.…
Read MoreWashington Updates: FCC’s new satellite licensing process
What You Need to Know: The FCC overhauls its satellite licensing process. The department that houses the UK Space Agency is dissolved. Amazon signals its intent to join the direct-to-device market. United States Space Policy Updates The FCC adopts an overhaul of its space and earth station. Described as a “licensing assembly line,” the new…
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