Politics « AmericaSpace

Back to the Moon? New House Bill Defunds NASA's Asteroid Redirect Mission

By Paul Scott Anderson, on May 25th, 2016

Artist’s conception of the Asteroid Redirect Mission (ARM). The new House bill directs NASA to bypass this mission and return to the Moon instead, before going to Mars. Image Credit: NASA

Sending human astronauts to Mars is a dream shared by many, but there are still challenges to overcome and the question of […]

Commentary: A Path to Nowhere and the Absence of Leadership (Part 2)

By Leonidas Papadopoulos, on April 16th, 2014

Despite a plethora of deep-space mission concepts currently envisioned by NASA, there’s little consensus between Congress and the White House on where the space agency should go next in space, in the lack of a coherent vision and direction. Image Credit: NASA

Last week’s article had focused on examining some of the events […]

Commentary: A Path to Nowhere and the Absence of Leadership (Part 1)

By Leonidas Papadopoulos, on April 12th, 2014

In the aftermath of the recent geopolitical crisis in Crimea, a series of sanctions has been imposed on Russia by many countries, including the United States. Many observers fear that Russia might answer back, by denying to transport U.S. astronauts to the International Space Station. Image Credit: NASA

The recent geopolitical tensions resulting […]

SpaceX and United Launch Alliance Face-Off at Hearing for Military Launch Contracts

By Mike Killian, on March 6th, 2014

United Launch Alliance CEO Michael Gass (top left) and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk (bottom right) testified at a hearing before the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense on Wed., March 5, each outlining why their respective launch services are the best choice for the U.S. Government and tax-payer. Photo Credits: Committee on Appropriations […]

Experts Emphasised Need for Long-Term Vision and More Funding for NASA During Recent Congressional Hearing

By Leonidas Papadopoulos, on March 3rd, 2014

The long-term goal in NASA’s human spaceflight program is human trips to Mars during the mid-2030s. Will the 2021 manned Mars-Venus flyby mission proposal discussed at a recent Congressional hearing help to accelerate the agency’s plans by gaining the political support of Congress? Image Credit: NASA

The Science, Space, and Technology Committee of […]

'On the Edge': The Legacy of Valentina Tereshkova

By Ben Evans, on June 9th, 2013

By the summer of 1963, the Soviets had launched the world’s first man in space (Yuri Gagarin) and its first woman in space (Valentina Tereshkova). For an image-conscious Soviet leadership, these achievements were exploited for the political advantages which they afforded. Photo Credit: Roscosmos

It is a quirk of historical coincidence that both […]

NASA Administrator Details Impact of 2014 Budget

By Jason Rhian, on April 10th, 2013

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden discussed the White House’s 2014 FY Budget Request, which was released earlier today. Photo Credit: Julian Leek / Blue Sawtooth Studio

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden spoke with the media today regarding the White House’s 2014 FY Budget Request, which was unveiled Wednesday, April 10, 2013, a few hours prior […]

NASA Official Describes Commercial Crew and Its Importance to Human Space Exploration

By Jason Rhian, on March 9th, 2013

[youtube_video]http://youtu.be/OIo3WqLczzY[/youtube_video]

Video courtesy of AmericaSpace

TALLAHASSEE, Fla — AmericaSpace spoke with Trent Smith with NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. He detailed the basics behind efforts to cede responsibility of delivering crew and cargo to low-Earth orbit (LEO), primarily to the International Space Station, to commercial companies. Under this plan, this should allow NASA to […]

NASA Announces Key Investment Plan for Space Technology Development

By Jason Rhian, on February 12th, 2013

Image Credit: NASA

NASA has unveiled its plans to prioritize space technology that will be essential if the space agency is going to achieve the goals that have been laid out in front of it. NASA posted its Strategic Space Technology Investment Plan on the agency’s website.

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On @ The 90: NASA Re-Reaches for the Nuclear Future

By Christopher Paul, on January 27th, 2013

NASA is revisiting sources of propulsion that could greatly aid crews visiting distant locations in our solar system. Photo Credit: MSFC / Emmett Given

Research at the Marshall Space Flight Center has picked up on an old thread to advance rocket technology. Known as the Nuclear Thermal Rocket, this technology uses the heat […]