Low-Earth Orbit Economy

Editor’s Note: As of late Feb. 5, 2024, NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX are standing down from the Tuesday, Feb. 6, undocking opportunity for the Axiom Mission 3 due to unfavorable weather conditions. The next weather review is planned for 12 p.m. EST on Tuesday, Feb. 6. Follow NASA’s International Space Station blog for the […]

Posted February 2, 2024

Kennedy Space Center

Low-Earth Orbit Economy

Axiom Mission 3 Launches to the International Space Station

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the company’s Dragon spacecraft lifts off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024.

Posted January 23, 2024

Commercial Space

Commercial Crew

International Space Station (ISS)

Low-Earth Orbit Economy

NASA Sets Coverage for Axiom Mission 3 Briefing, Events, Broadcast

Editor’s Note: This advisory was updated Jan. 12, 2024 to reflect a change in start time for docking coverage. NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX will provide coverage of the upcoming prelaunch and launch activities for the third private astronaut mission to the International Space Station. Liftoff of Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3) is scheduled for 5:11 […]

Posted January 11, 2024

Low-Earth Orbit Economy

Commercial Space

General

Humans in Space

NASA Adjusts Agreements to Benefit Commercial Station Development

NASA has modified agreements for two funded commercial space station partners that are on track to develop low Earth orbit destinations for NASA and other customers as the International Space Station retires in 2030.

Posted January 5, 2024

Low-Earth Orbit Economy

Commercial Space

Humans in Space

ISS Research

NASA’s Commercial Partners Continue Progress on New Space Stations

Three NASA-funded commercial space station partners are on track for the design and development of their orbital destinations and the transition of agency’s low Earth orbit needs from the International Space Station.

Posted December 12, 2023

Humans in Space

Commercial Space

International Space Station (ISS)

Low-Earth Orbit Economy

The Future of Commercial Space

NASA to Participate in Next Private Astronaut Mission News Conference

NASA experts will join a virtual news conference hosted by Axiom Space at 10 a.m. EST Wednesday, Dec. 13, to discuss the launch of Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3), the third private astronaut mission to the International Space Station. The Ax-3 launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft is targeted no earlier than […]

Posted December 8, 2023

Low-Earth Orbit Economy

Commercial Space

Humans in Space

NASA, Small Companies Eye New Cargo Delivery, Heat Shield Technologies

Two small businesses are benefitting from NASA’s expertise as they develop heat shield technologies, cargo delivery systems, and new protective materials for spacecraft and space stations in the growing commercial industry of low Earth orbit operations. The two American companies – Canopy Aerospace Inc.

Posted November 29, 2023

General

Ames Research Center

CubeSats

Low-Earth Orbit Economy

Small Satellite Missions

Small Spacecraft Technology Program

SmallSats Program

Space Technology Mission Directorate

Tech Demo Missions

Follow NASA’s Starling Swarm in Real Time

NASA’s Starling CubeSats are zipping through low Earth orbit in the agency’s latest test of robotic swarm technologies for space. The four Starling spacecraft, launched in July 2023, are testing a group of small satellites ability to coordinate and cooperate independently without real-time updates from mission control.

Posted October 24, 2023

Commercial Space

Humans in Space

Low-Earth Orbit Economy

NASA Partners Combine Efforts for Low Earth Orbit Commercial Station

As part of NASA’s efforts to foster commercially owned and operated low Earth orbit destinations, Nanoracks, part of Voyager Space’s Exploration Segment, and Northrop Grumman are teaming up to support Nanoracks’ development of the Starlab commercial space station.

Posted October 4, 2023

Humans in Space

Commercial Space

Low-Earth Orbit Economy

NASA Seeks Feedback on Requirements for New Commercial Space Stations

NASA is asking American companies to provide input on the agency’s requirements for end-to-end services as part of the Commercial Low-Earth Orbit Development Program.

Posted October 2, 2023