National Aeronautics and Space Administration  - NASA News

Welcome to your weekly space update, listeners. NASA's biggest headline this week: the Artemis 2 rocket rolled out to Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39B on January 17, gearing up for its crewed lunar flyby as early as February 6. This marks the first astronauts orbiting the Moon since Apollo 8 in 1968, with a four-person crew testing Orion's life support on a 10-day mission.

In a huge win, Congress passed H.R. 6938 on January 15, rejecting White House cuts and securing NASA $24.44 billion for FY 2026—plus $10 billion from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the largest budget since 1998 adjusted for inflation. Science Mission Directorate gets $7.25 billion, saving missions like Juno at Jupiter, New Horizons, Dragonfly to Titan, and the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope launching this year. Planetary Society's Casey Dreier called it a "near-complete victory" after advocates pushed back against a proposed 47% science slash.

NASA's also pushing Moon returns by 2028 under President Trump, building a lunar base, while ending formal input from some planetary science groups—a concerning shift. Partnerships shine through Artemis Accords, now five years strong, and international commitments like ESA's EnVision and Rosalind Franklin rover.

For Americans, this means jobs in STEM—$63 million for Space Grant—and inspiration from real exploration. Businesses like SpaceX thrive on Crew-11's recent splashdown and HWO proposals for life-hunting telescopes. States gain from Kennedy launches; globally, it strengthens U.S. leadership.

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson says, "We're well positioned to continue building on recent progress." Watch the February 2 fueling test and potential Feb 6-10 launch window.

Stay engaged: Register for Planetary Society's 2026 Day of Action. For more, visit nasa.gov.

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Welcome to this week's NASA spotlight, listeners. The biggest headline shaking up the agency right now is Congress's lightning-fast passage of H.R. 6938, rejecting massive proposed cuts and securing NASA a whopping $27.53 billion for fiscal year 2026—its largest budget in nearly three decades when adjusted for inflation, according to The Planetary Society.

This budget victory, passed by overwhelming bipartisan votes on January 8 and 15, restores near-full funding for NASA's Science Mission Directorate at $7.25 billion, saving key missions like Dragonfly to Titan, the James Webb Space Telescope, and Mars Odyssey from cancellation. It includes $10 billion more over six years from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, mostly for human spaceflight, with strict spending mandates through 2029. No major policy shifts or leadership changes here, but it enforces accountability on how NASA spends every dollar.

Meanwhile, the Artemis 2 rocket rolled out to Kennedy Space Center's Pad 39B on January 17, prepping for a critical wet dress rehearsal fueling test on February 2. Artemis 2 Launch Director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson noted monthly launch windows, starting February 6-10, carrying four astronauts around the Moon for the first crewed Orion flight.

For Americans, this means protected Earth science for climate insights, advancing tech that boosts jobs in 50 states—from Texas rocket builds to California telescopes. Businesses like SpaceX thrive on steady contracts, while states gain from STEM programs fully funded again. Globally, it sustains U.S. leadership, partnering with ESA on saved missions like EnVision.

Experts at The Planetary Society hailed it as a win against "wasteful cuts" that nearly axed 19 missions. Upcoming: Watch the February fueling test and Artemis crew checks—delays could push to March.

Dive deeper at nasa.gov or planetary.org. Tune your voice to space—contact Congress to keep the momentum.

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Welcome back to Quiet Please, where we bring you the biggest stories shaping science and exploration. This week, NASA achieved a major milestone that marks the beginning of humanity's return to the moon. On Saturday, the agency's towering Artemis II moon rocket completed its journey to Launch Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center, setting the stage for what could be the first crewed lunar mission in over fifty years.

The Artemis II rocket, which consists of NASA's second Space Launch System and the Orion spacecraft, is scheduled to launch as early as February sixth with four astronauts aboard for a ten-day mission around the moon. This isn't just another launch. The Orion spacecraft on this mission will carry astronauts for the first time, featuring life support systems specifically designed to sustain humans on this ambitious journey. According to NASA officials, engineers and technicians are now preparing the rocket for a critical wet dress rehearsal at the end of January, where they'll test fueling operations and countdown procedures with actual cryogenic propellants before draining them safely. This test is essential. NASA plans to conduct a full fueling demonstration on February second to confirm whether the rocket is ready for that early February launch window.

Beyond the launch pad, Congress just delivered significant news for NASA's future. The Senate passed a twenty-four point four billion dollar budget for fiscal year twenty twenty-six, nearly completely rejecting proposed cuts that would have devastated the agency's science programs. The White House had initially proposed just eighteen point eight billion dollars, a twenty-four percent reduction that would have terminated more than forty NASA missions. Instead, Congress allocated seven point two five billion dollars to NASA's Science Mission Directorate alone, protecting critical missions like the James Webb Space Telescope, the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, and planetary exploration programs that were set for termination. Combined with supplemental funding for human spaceflight activities, NASA's total budget for twenty twenty-six will exceed twenty-seven billion dollars, marking the largest budget since nineteen ninety-eight when adjusted for inflation.

For American citizens and space enthusiasts, this means the nation's commitment to space exploration remains strong despite fiscal pressures. For businesses partnered with NASA, continued funding ensures ongoing contracts and opportunities. The next critical deadline listeners should watch is early February, when the wet dress rehearsal will determine whether humanity takes that crucial step back to the moon this month.

For more updates on NASA's missions and space exploration, visit NASA dot gov. Thank you for tuning in to Quiet Please. Be sure to subscribe for more stories about the future we're building together. This has been a Quiet Please production. For more, check out Quiet Please dot ai.

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Welcome back, listeners, to your weekly dive into NASA's cosmic frontier. This week's blockbuster: NASA's SpaceX Crew-11 mission splashed down safely off California early Thursday morning after an early return sparked by a crew member's medical issue. NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, along with JAXA's Kimiya Yui and Roscosmos' Oleg Platonov, are in good shape, as NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said in the post-splashdown briefing, "This is NASA at its finest—handling the unexpected with precision."

The crew undocked from the ISS Tuesday, splashing down at 3:41 a.m. on January 15, ahead of schedule after NASA flagged the concern on January 8. This international partnership highlights seamless teamwork amid real-world challenges, ensuring crew safety first.

In policy news, Congress delivered a huge win with the January 5 minibus bill, allocating $24.4 billion for NASA in FY2026—rejecting the White House's $18.8 billion request and slashing deep cuts to science programs. The Planetary Society reports this, plus $10 billion from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, pushes NASA's total to over $27.5 billion, the largest since 1998 adjusted for inflation. Key saves: $7.25 billion for Science Mission Directorate, full funding for Dragonfly to Titan at $500 million, NEO Surveyor at $300 million, and restored missions like DAVINCI and VERITAS. No cuts to STEM Engagement or international commitments like the Rosalind Franklin Rover.

For Americans, this means bolstered Earth observation for climate insights, planetary defense against asteroids, and STEM jobs fueling innovation. Businesses like SpaceX thrive on steady contracts, while states like Florida gear up for Artemis 2's potential February 6 launch from the Space Coast and Crew-12 on February 15. Globally, it strengthens ties with JAXA, Roscosmos, and new Artemis Accords signatory Portugal, our 60th partner.

Experts note this budget stability counters months of uncertainty that shook NASA's workforce. Watch for Artemis 2's rollout starting January 17 and that postponed ISS spacewalk now set for January 15.

Dive deeper at nasa.gov, and if you're innovating, check NASA's 2026 Civil Space Shortfall Ranking for crowdsourcing input.

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Welcome to your weekly dive into NASA's world, where space dreams meet real-world action. This week, the biggest headline: NASA and SpaceX are targeting no earlier than 5 p.m. ET Wednesday, January 14, to undock the Crew-11 Dragon from the International Space Station for an early splashdown off California by early Thursday, January 15. NASA announced this unprecedented move on January 8 after a stable, undisclosed medical issue—not an injury—with one crew member aboard since August 1. Astronauts Mike Fincke, Zena Cardman, Japan's Kimiya Yui, and Russia's Oleg Platonov are packing up, while Chris Williams stays to keep a U.S. presence. NASA blogs confirm the crew is testing suits and prepping, with coverage starting at 3 p.m. Wednesday.

This first-ever ISS medical evac shakes things up but won't delay Artemis 2's early February moon flyby around Earth, per NASA chief Jared Isaacman. For American citizens, it highlights space health risks, advancing medical tech that could save lives back home—think better emergency protocols from 250 miles up. Businesses like SpaceX benefit from accelerated Crew-12 launches, boosting jobs and innovation. International partners, including JAXA and Roscosmos, show seamless teamwork amid tensions, strengthening global ties.

On the funding front, Congress rejected President Trump's $18.8 billion cuts, proposing a robust $24.4 billion for fiscal year 2026—nearly $6 billion more—via a January 5 minibus bill from Space.com and Phys.org reports. This protects science missions, rejects over 40 terminations, and funds gems like NASA's Pandora exoplanet observer, now deployed by SpaceX.

NASA Administrator Isaacman noted, "The crew member is stable," emphasizing safety first. Experts like former astronauts call it a smart, rare call.

Watch for splashdown weather updates and Crew-12 launch tweaks. Track live on NASA.gov or SpaceX streams. Citizens, follow @NASA and @Space_Station on X to stay engaged.

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