National Aeronautics and Space Administration  - NASA News

Welcome to your weekly space update, listeners. NASA's biggest headline this week: the Artemis II mission slips from February to March after a hydrogen leak during its wet dress rehearsal at Kennedy Space Center. Technicians swapped out two seals where gas levels spiked too high, and engineers are analyzing them now, with repairs wrapping up today at Stennis Space Center in Mississippi.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman captured the moment on X: "We fully anticipated encountering challenges. That's precisely why we conduct a wet dress rehearsal—to surface issues before flight and set up launch day with the highest probability of success." The crew—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Jeremy Hansen—gets a quarantine break, with five launch windows from March 6 to 11.

Meantime, SpaceX Crew-12 is "go" for liftoff no earlier than 6:01 a.m. to the International Space Station, cleared after reviewing a Falcon 9 issue—different profiles mean no crew risk. And the House Science Committee unanimously passed the NASA Reauthorization Act of 2026, backing Artemis, SLS, Orion, and commercial deep-space services. Chairman Brian Babin said it "strengthens our human exploration efforts, supports a growing commercial space economy, and invests in technologies from the Moon to Mars." Commercial Space Federation President Dave Cavossa called it "a big step in the right direction for commercial space transportation."

For Americans, this means jobs in states like Florida and Mississippi, inspiring the next generation through education boosts. Businesses like SpaceX thrive on partnerships, fueling innovation and economic growth. States gain from sustained funding, while international ties with Canada deepen cooperation.

Watch the next wet dress rehearsal and March launch attempts. Catch NASA's Artemis II news conference replay on YouTube, or dive into nasa.gov/artemis-ii.

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# NASA This Week: Moon Missions and Space Leadership

Welcome back, listeners. This week, NASA faced a significant setback in its ambitious timeline to return astronauts to the Moon, but the agency is charging forward with renewed determination and congressional backing that's stronger than ever.

The headline: NASA's Artemis II wet dress rehearsal encountered multiple challenges this week, most notably an out-of-limits hydrogen fuel leak that forced the agency to wave off its February launch window. According to NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, the team fully anticipated encountering these obstacles. That's precisely why they conduct these tests before actual flight. Engineers will now review all the data, troubleshoot each issue, and conduct a second rehearsal before targeting March as the earliest possible launch opportunity. For the four astronauts selected for this mission—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen—this means they'll be released from quarantine and will re-enter about two weeks before the new target launch date.

But here's the bigger picture that matters to all of you: Congress just passed the NASA Reauthorization Act of 2026, and it demonstrates remarkable bipartisan commitment to space exploration. The House Science, Space, and Technology Committee approved this legislation with overwhelming support, and it directly addresses America's Moon-to-Mars mission. The bill strengthens human exploration through continued development of the Space Launch System and Orion, supports a growing commercial space economy in low-Earth orbit, and invests in breakthrough technologies including advanced propulsion and deep-space communications.

Among the key provisions, lawmakers required NASA to establish initial elements of a lunar outpost by December 31, 2030, creating sustained American presence on the Moon. The bill also directs NASA to align its technology development to facilitate acquiring and returning Martian samples from future exploration missions.

For everyday Americans, this means job creation in aerospace and technology sectors, educational opportunities for the next generation of explorers, and positioning the United States as the world's leading spacefaring nation. Businesses in the commercial space sector will find new opportunities as NASA transitions toward commercial low-Earth orbit platforms.

The March launch window opens March 6 through March 11. Listeners can stay updated through NASA's official website and YouTube channel, where the agency streams all major announcements and mission coverage.

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Welcome to your weekly space update, listeners. NASA's biggest headline this week: the Artemis II rocket is powering through its critical wet dress rehearsal right now at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. According to NASA updates, engineers powered up the massive 322-foot Space Launch System core stage and second stage after a countdown kicked off Saturday night, targeting a simulated launch at 9 p.m. EST tonight, February 2. Weather delays pushed tanking back from earlier dates, but if it succeeds, four astronauts could orbit the Moon as soon as February 8.

This test is make-or-break for the 10-day mission, flying a free-return path around the Moon—the first crewed lunar trip since Apollo. NASA reports the crew is in quarantine in Houston, ready to go. Meanwhile, Congress just delivered a budget win: a bipartisan minibus bill allocates $24.4 billion for NASA in fiscal 2026, far above the Trump administration's $18.8 billion request. It pumps $7.3 billion into science missions, rejecting deep cuts to Earth observatories, Mars Sample Return, and more, as detailed by Payload Space and the House Appropriations Committee.

These moves boost American innovation, securing jobs at centers like Marshall in Alabama, where billionaire astronaut Jared Isaacman announced demolishing old structures for new tech. Businesses like SpaceX face launch delays—Crew-12 to the ISS slips to at least February 19 if Artemis lifts off. States like Florida gain economically from launches, while international partners stay locked in for Artemis.

NASA Administrator notes, "This funding restores our science leadership." Key data: science gets nearly double the proposed amount, with $341 million for planetary defense.

Impacts hit home—citizens get inspiring STEM opportunities, like restored $63 million for Space Grant programs. Watch the 24/7 livestream for go/no-go at L-10 hours tonight.

Next, eyes on February 8 launch window. Catch skywatching tips from NASA on Jupiter's glow. Dive deeper at nasa.gov/artemis-ii. Tune in, subscribe, and share your lunar excitement.

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Good morning, listeners. This is your NASA update, and we're starting with a story that could reshape American space exploration for decades to come. NASA just cleared a massive hurdle this week when Congress passed the FY2026 spending bill, restoring nearly full funding to the space agency after what could have been a catastrophic budget crisis.

Here's what almost happened. Early last year, a proposal came through to slash NASA's science budget by nearly half, cutting it from 7.3 billion dollars down to just 3.9 billion. That wasn't abstract—it meant terminating dozens of active missions and throwing the entire space science community into uncertainty. But Congress rejected this wholesale. Lawmakers passed the spending bill with overwhelming bipartisan support, providing NASA with 24.4 billion dollars for the year. That's only a 400 million dollar cut from last year, and it includes strong protections for NASA's most ambitious programs. Specifically, Congress rejected any attempt to terminate the Space Launch System and Orion spacecraft after Artemis Three, directing NASA to keep these programs as options for future lunar missions.

This victory matters enormously for American citizens and the space industry. Hundreds of active space science missions are now protected, from Earth observation satellites to deep space probes. Universities and research institutions across the country that depend on NASA funding can move forward with confidence. The commercial space sector also benefits, as sustained NASA investment drives partnerships and innovation.

Now, speaking of Artemis, listeners, NASA is about to attempt something historic this weekend. The agency is conducting a critical wet dress rehearsal on Saturday, January 31st, essentially a full simulation of the launch sequence for Artemis Two. If everything goes smoothly, NASA could proceed toward a launch window opening February 6th through 10th. Artemis Two will send astronauts around the Moon for the first time since 1972. Teams at Kennedy Space Center in Florida have been working ahead of schedule, and they're even accounting for the cold weather sweeping across the country by ensuring environmental systems keep the Orion spacecraft and SLS rocket at proper operating temperatures.

What's remarkable about this moment is the clarity of direction. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman has stated the agency is moving with purpose toward returning Americans to the lunar surface by 2028 and establishing a long-term human presence on the Moon.

For listeners wanting to follow these developments, you can track the wet dress rehearsal coverage on NASA's official website, and the space community will be watching closely this weekend as we move closer to humanity's return to deep space exploration.

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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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