Deep Space Extra

Here is a list of news that were published in our Newsletter the week of April 28th, 2025:

Human Space Exploration

• NASA astronauts step outside space station to perform the 5th all-female spacewalk;
• Lockheed Martin completes Orion spacecraft for Artemis II Moon mission
  Coalition Member in the News – Lockheed Martin;
• Isaacman nomination clears Senate Commerce Committee;
• Next private astronaut mission to the ISS will launch on May 29 with Axiom Space
  Coalition Member in the News – Axiom Space;
• China’s Shenzhou-19 astronauts return to Earth after six-month mission;
• Pettit wants more spaceflights, ISS beyond 2030;

Space Science

• NASA delays astrophysics mission call for proposals amid budget uncertainties;
• Evidence of controversial Planet 9 uncovered in sky surveys taken 23 years apart;
• These are the sharpest images yet of planets being born around distant stars;
• Vesta isn’t what we thought could it be a chunk of a lost planet?
• NASA still trying to revive silent Lunar Trailblazer Moon orbiter;
• Science, industry, and advocacy groups unite in opposition to deep cuts to NASA science
  Coalition for Deep Space Exploration in the News;
• NASA preparing for steep workforce cuts but hopeful it can avoid more layoffs;
• NASA investigating problem with Psyche electric thrusters;
• Cyclones on Jupiter and a moon with flowing magma: NASA Juno probe’s latest discoveries are awesome;
• JWST completes a huge survey of the earliest galaxies;
• NASA’s new Roman space telescope mission plans revealed;
• European forest-monitoring satellite heads toward orbit on 4th-ever launch of Vega-C rocket;
• Scientists believe they’ve witnessed ‘planetary suicide’ for the first time;
• Scientists discover massive molecular cloud close to Earth;
• Uranus passed between Earth and a distant star this month and NASA caught the rare event;

Opinion

• Expanding the human presence in orbit faces growing risk from space debris
  Coalition Member in the News – Axiom Space
  With an anticipated surge in human space operations in low Earth orbit, including the future introduction of commercial space stations, the risk of collisions with orbital debris is on the rise. “The future of human activity in LEO depends on our ability to keep the orbital environment safe,” writes Siamak Hesar, co-founder and CEO of Kayhan Space, in an op-ed. Hesar urges implementation of active robotic orbital debris removal technologies, improved monitoring of small, fast-moving debris and launch debris mitigation..

Other News

• U.S. Space Force taps 12 firms for $237 million small-satellite procurement
  Coalition Member in the News – Lockheed Martin;
• Watch Trump’s pick for NASA chief Jared Isaacman return to Capitol Hill for Senate vote on April 30;
• New record! 6 rockets launch in less than 24 hours
  Coalition Members in the News – Axiom Space, Lockheed Martin;
• Firefly’s Alpha rocket fails in space, send Lockheed satellite falling into ocean
  Coalition Member in the News – Lockheed Martin;
• Amazon launches 27 satellites to begin building huge ‘Project Kuiper’ internet constellation (video);
• Head of FAA’s commercial space office takes buyout;
• A failed Soviet Venus lander will fall back to Earth after being stranded for 53 years;

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