Policy

House Science Dems call for investigation into NASA Goddard cuts

The administration’s ongoing push to close labs and facilities at the Goddard Space Flight Center “risks permanently degrading Goddard’s scientific and technical capabilities with these moves,” Democratic members of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee wrote.

Emerging Tech

NASA wants you to help kick some tires — on the moon

The Rock and Roll with NASA Challenge offers $155,000 in prizes for top designs that can handle the punishing surface of the moon.

Emerging Tech

US risks losing space dominance to China without NASA support, experts say

Continuing the space agency’s programs “is a matter of national security,” Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said during a congressional hearing.

Emerging Tech

A new lunar benchmark: NIST’s moonlight data brings satellites into focus

NIST is releasing the first set of what it’s calling the Moonlight Radiometric Reference Dataset, a trove of data so precise that it could change the way we see our own planet.

Acquisition

The acquisition rule (re)writers really want you to have your say

Industry will get visibility into and be able to weigh in on efforts by the GSA, Defense Department and NASA to reform the Federal Acquisition Regulation.

Exclusive Acquisition

GSA prepping plans to move NASA SEWP and NIH contract vehicles under its management

The General Services Administration’s role in federal acquisition may soon expand further.

Emerging Tech

Celebrating Citizen Science Month with new government-sponsored projects

NASA is contributing to the One Million Acts of Science event, which seeks to encourage people to participate in various scientific projects and rack up one million individual contributions by the end of the month.

People

Science Dems press NASA about data security as DOGE turns its attention to the agency

A space agency official told House lawmakers that DOGE “has identified an individual who will be employed by NASA.”

Emerging Tech

Trump, Musk set sights on Mars

NASA is still developing technologies necessary to send humans to Mars.

Artificial Intelligence

IBM, NASA and Oak Ridge develop a new AI foundation model for weather

The foundation artificial intelligence model will handle specific meteorological data to offer improved accuracy in weather patterns and forecasting.

Modernization

Space missions rely on private sector engagement, NASA official says

The space agency needs to work more closely with its commercial providers to meet critical flight requirements.

Emerging Tech

NASA’s astronauts return after a year living on simulated Mars

Everything about the mission was conducted to simulate an actual Martian environment.

Acquisition

Lockheed Martin tapped to develop NOAA’s new series of weather satellites

Lockheed Martin won a contract to build three satellites for NOAA’s Geostationary Extended Observations program, with the option to develop an additional four spacecraft, under a $2.27 billion award announced on Tuesday.

Acquisition

CACI wins $2B NASA IT centralization job

The space agency is looking to standardize and consolidate how it manages IT systems and applications.

Ideas

NASA’s asteroid sample mission gave scientists around the world the rare opportunity to study an artificial meteor

While very small meteoroids are common, larger ones – bigger than a dishwasher – are not.

Artificial Intelligence

NASA is working to onboard AI tools

The space agency is testing a generative AI capability that officials expect to go live this summer with approvals to use sensitive internal data.

People

NASA names first head of AI

David Salvagnini will take on new roles as the agency’s chief AI officer, helping usher more cohesive AI programming across the space agency.

Cybersecurity

NASA doesn't know if its spacecraft have adequate cyber defenses, GAO warns

The agency encourages its spacecraft programs to use an optional best practices guide when it comes to implementing cybersecurity requirements.

Modernization

NASA’s long-term missions could be hurt by budget caps, lawmakers warn

House Science Chairman Frank Lucas R-Okla., said Congress needs to provide NASA with “sufficient support” to carry out its work.