The Shifting Goalposts of Orbital Success A rocket splashing down on target after a maiden flight is not typically described as ‘mostly successful.’ Yet, this curious qualifier framed much of the commentary following the first Read More
The Quiet Resource Race Begins A recent gravitational assist from Mars, executed by NASA’s Psyche spacecraft, was more than just a routine orbital maneuver. While the Jet Propulsion Laboratory navigators celebrated a precise trajectory Read More
The Commercial Space Revolution NASA Is Overlooking “I’ll buy 10 of those,” a NASA science chief recently declared, expressing a wistful desire for readily available, mass-produced satellites. This isn’t a casual remark from a Read More
The Illusory Open Door of Space Procurement The whispers around NASA’s latest Mars spacecraft solicitation are louder than any thruster burn, suggesting that the agency’s promise of a “full and open competition” is Read More
The Shifting Trajectory of Lunar Ambition NASA’s latest pronouncement about the Artemis III mission feels less like an acceleration toward the Moon and more like a carefully managed deceleration. Last Wednesday, the agency confirmed Read More