National Aeronautics and Space Administration  - NASA News

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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NASA’s top headline this week is all about the International Space Station: the agency is ending the SpaceX Crew-11 mission early after a medical situation involving one of the astronauts on board. According to NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, “a single crew member on board the station experienced a medical situation and is now stable,” and after consulting Chief Health and Medical Officer Dr. JD Polk and agency leadership, he decided it’s “in the best interest of our astronauts to return Crew-11 ahead of their planned departure.”

NASA stresses this is not an emergency, but it is unprecedented: it’s effectively the first medical-driven early return of a long-duration ISS crew. ABC News reports that three of the seven astronauts will remain on the station, while four Crew-11 members ride a SpaceX Dragon capsule back to Earth. Due to medical privacy rules, NASA is not naming the affected astronaut or sharing details about their condition.

In the near term, this decision reshuffles NASA’s human spaceflight schedule. The follow-on SpaceX Crew-12 mission, carrying NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot, and a veteran Russian cosmonaut, is officially targeted for launch no earlier than February 15. NASA and SpaceX are studying whether that launch can be moved up, while still keeping the high-profile Artemis II lunar flyby on track for early February. NASA has also postponed and re-planned upcoming spacewalks as the crew transition plays out.

For American listeners, the impact is about confidence and continuity: NASA is signaling that astronaut health overrides schedule pressure, even with big missions like Artemis on the horizon. For businesses working with NASA, especially SpaceX and other commercial partners, this is a real-time test of flexibility, redundancy, and rapid mission replanning. For state and local governments that host NASA centers and contractors, it reinforces how human spaceflight operations can shift quickly, but also how resilient the overall program has become. Internationally, partners on the ISS and in Artemis see NASA honoring its safety culture while still coordinating closely to keep station operations and future lunar plans moving.

Looking ahead, NASA says it will announce the exact undocking and landing timeline for Crew-11, along with any adjustment to the Crew-12 launch date, in the coming days. Listeners who want the latest details can check NASA’s official website and social media channels, or watch replays of the Washington news conference on NASA TV and YouTube.

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Imagine this: NASA's Voyager 1, the plucky probe launched back in 1977, is barreling toward a mind-blowing milestone, set to hit one light-day from Earth by November 2026. That's NDTV reporting on the sheer scale of our cosmic neighborhood, reminding us how far human ingenuity has taken us.

But closer to home, NASA's gearing up for high-stakes action on the International Space Station. Astronauts kick off two spacewalks this January during Expedition 74, prepping for roll-out solar array upgrades, swapping cameras, and rerouting fluid systems—vital for keeping the station powered and humming for years ahead, per NASA's own news release. Meanwhile, veteran astronaut Brig. Gen. Nick Hague just retired after 374 days in space and key EVAs, shifting to the U.S. Space Force, marking a leadership pivot amid transitions.

The big shadow? The FY26 President's Budget Request slashes science funding—32% off Planetary Science to $1.9 billion, axing Mars Sample Return and missions like DAVINCI and VERITAS; 66% cuts to Astrophysics and Heliophysics, killing Chandra, Fermi, and more, as detailed by the American Astronomical Society. Congress funds NASA only through late January via continuing resolution, per SpacePolicyOnline, fueling uncertainty for Artemis launches like the possible early February Artemis II window.

For everyday Americans, this means fewer breakthroughs in climate tech, exoplanet hunts, and Mars dreams that inspire kids and drive jobs. Businesses like SpaceX and Blue Origin face contract tweaks on HLS for Artemis III, potentially delaying lunar landings to 2028 or later, hitting supply chains. States with NASA centers, like Florida and Texas, brace for workforce ripples, while international partners on ISS and Artemis feel the strain on collaborations.

Experts note data analysis will boost yields from surviving missions, with ROSES solicitations in June 2025 and Hubble Cycle 34 proposals early 2026.

Watch those January spacewalks briefings and Artemis updates post-January funding cliff. Dive deeper at nasa.gov or science.nasa.gov. Tune your voice to Congress on budgets—your input shapes the stars.

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