Welcome to this week's NASA Update. I'm your host, bringing you the latest from America's space agency.
Our top story: NASA's SpaceX Crew-10 mission successfully docked with the International Space Station on March 16th, delivering four new astronauts to the orbiting laboratory. This marks the beginning of a six-month science expedition and continues NASA's commitment to maintaining a continuous human presence in low Earth orbit.
The arrival of Crew-10 was quickly followed by the departure of Crew-9 on March 18th. NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, and Butch Wilmore, along with Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, splashed down safely off the coast of Florida, concluding their mission after 171 days in space.
Commander Nick Hague reflected on their journey, saying, "It was a privilege to call station home, to live and work and be a part of a mission and a team that spans the globe working together in cooperation for the benefit of humanity."
In other developments, NASA is gearing up for its next cargo resupply mission to the ISS. Scheduled for no earlier than April 21st, SpaceX's 32nd commercial resupply services mission will deliver critical scientific investigations, supplies, and equipment to the station. This mission will carry experiments ranging from refined maneuvers for free-floating robots to enhanced air quality monitoring systems that could protect future lunar and Martian explorers.
On the policy front, the House Science Committee, now chaired by Rep. Brian Babin, has outlined its space priorities for the coming year. These include maintaining a vibrant commercial space sector and ensuring American astronauts return to the Moon before China. The committee has also requested a GAO review of FAA launch rules, signaling a focus on reducing regulatory barriers to U.S. space innovation.
Looking ahead, NASA is preparing to release its updated Science Plan for 2025-2026. While details are still under wraps, the plan is expected to reflect recent accomplishments and refine the agency's scientific priorities across its Earth and space science programs.
For businesses and researchers, NASA continues to offer opportunities for collaboration. The agency has open requests for proposals on various projects, including the Mission Technical Integration Contract and the Simulation and Advanced Software Services II program. These initiatives underscore NASA's commitment to partnering with industry to drive innovation in space exploration.
As we wrap up, mark your calendars for the upcoming release of NASA's Spinoff 2025 publication. This annual report highlights how space technology is benefiting life on Earth, from medical advancements to agricultural innovations.
That's all for this week's NASA Update. For more information on these stories and to stay informed about NASA's latest activities, visit nasa.gov. Until next time, keep looking up!