By Sarah Myers

By Steve Mallen

By Jeremy Lee

As recent announcements inform us that the SLS will be the primary launch vehicle for the Artemis missions that aim to return to the Moon, it seems as if the SLS is indeed fulfilling this mission. However, a dive into the SLS program’s setbacks provide a warning and lesson for the future of American and broader international space policy.

By Carlos Gonzalez Ortiz

In 2021, the commercial space industry will reach yet another crucial milestone: the first all-civilian flight to space. The Inspiration4 mission operated by SpaceX—and facilitated by a hefty donation from billionaire Jared Isaacman—will launch four civilians on a multi-day journey across low earth orbit. The dual purpose of the venture is to raise funds and awareness for St. Jude´s Children Research Hospital, as well as promote Shift4Payments, a company led and founded by Isaacman.

By Sarah Myers

On Sunday, January 31, a startup named bluShift made history in multiple ways. First, the company is the first to launch a test rocket from the snowy coast of Maine. Even more importantly, bluShift is the first commercial company to launch a rocket using bio-derived solid fuel or fuel made with a renewable, plant-based formula.

Here Comes the Boom - A Russian Space Station - Sounds of Mars

By Andrew Colliton

The outer space and aerospace industries have seen a renaissance in the last decade with the rise of private enterprises such as SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Virgin Galactic among others. With hundreds of satellites being launched annually into Low Earth Orbit (LEO), a small section of the earth’s atmosphere, the proliferation of satellites and space junk is accumulating at an alarming rate.

By Jessica Wahl

Orbital debris jeopardizes indispensable space-based services and future space exploration. Solving this problem will require the active removal of existing space debris in addition to mandating self-disposal mechanisms for all future launches.

By Ty Brownlow

Most have not been to outer space, but there's something about the idea of breaching terrestrial boundaries that makes earthly rules seem as if they have the potential to be less binding. This sentiment leads me to ask; what are the real limitations of our actions? Are there real consequences to our decisions or are they merely socially constructed?

By Nikki Farber

It is no secret that the impact and role of NASA in the exploration of space has been waning for some time. Discussions of private space initiatives run by SpaceX, Blue Origin, and others have dominated the conversation in recent years and some have even been considering the value of the existence of NASA in a post-cold war world.

By Ross Kujdych & Madeleine Meier

The last few years have seen an unprecedented jump in target companies utilizing SPACs to go public. In 2020, SPACs raised $79.87 billion in proceeds from 237 public offerings, surpassing the $13.6 billion raised in 2019. Further, fundraising from SPAC IPOs surpassed that of traditional IPOs, which raised $67 billion in 2020.

By Jessica Wahl and Tim Chiu

In 1955, Stanley Miller and Harold Urey’s now-famous experiment simulated prehistoric ocean-atmospheric conditions on Earth, resulting in the synthesis of twenty-two amino acids (the building blocks of proteins) and, consequently, life, from inorganic components.

Hidden Figures - Rogozin - Maps!

By Connor Brennan

In 2014, India became the fourth nation to reach Mars as the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO; the Indian equivalent of NASA) successfully put its space probe Mangalyaan into the red planet’s orbit. What’s more, they did it with a budget of only 17 million USD.

MARS EDITION - “Perseverance will get you anywhere”

By Sarina Dev

With a federal budget that has decreased dramatically since the Space Race of the Cold War, NASA has turned to commercial contracting in order to send American astronauts to and from the International Space Station.

By Ross Kujdych

Last week, the founder of Momentus Space, Mikhail Kokorich, abruptly resigned from his role as CEO. Kokorich’s involvement with Russian President Vladimir Putin and other Russian business institutions left regulators skeptical of the company—and ultimately suspended Momentus’s ability to go public.

Jim Bridenstine’s Departing Moonshot - Oil Rigs - ‘Another One Leaves the Crust’

By Juan Pablo Espinosa

A new era for space exploration is coming. Government officials from Mexico and Argentina announced in October 2020 the creation of the Latin America and Caribbean Space Agency “ALCE”.

By Ashley B.

Whether to show Geo-political intent, fund R&D for new scientific discoveries and technology, or for American soft power, NASA and National Space Programs are still vital for the modern day State.