Welcome to the NASA Weekly Roundup, your quick guide to the agency’s biggest headlines and what they mean for you. This week’s top story: NASA and SpaceX successfully launched the 32nd commercial resupply mission to the International Space Station on April 21, delivering vital scientific experiments and supplies that keep the orbiting laboratory—and its research—running strong. NASA is also preparing for the homecoming of astronaut Don Pettit and his fellow Soyuz crew, who are set to depart the ISS and return to Earth on April 19 after months of scientific work in microgravity.
On Capitol Hill, change is brewing: Jared Isaacman, known for commanding the first all-civilian spaceflight, underwent a Senate hearing this month to become NASA’s next administrator. If confirmed, Isaacman could bring a fresh perspective from the private space sector, potentially accelerating NASA’s partnerships with commercial companies and reshaping its exploration roadmap.
Budget news is also making waves. The House’s proposed 2025 NASA budget includes a modest 1% increase, enough to keep flagship programs like Artemis—America’s return to the Moon—on track, ensuring $7.6 billion for deep space exploration. But this comes at the cost of science. The Science Mission Directorate faces a $200 million shortfall compared to the White House’s request, putting pressure on Earth and planetary science projects. As one agency official put it, “This places enormous pressure on NASA’s science projects,” highlighting challenges for researchers, students, and businesses that depend on NASA grants and technology contracts.
NASA’s Glenn Research Center is launching the High School Engineering Institute this summer, offering hands-on aerospace experience to prepare students for tomorrow’s jobs—an initiative aimed at growing the next generation of American innovators.
Meanwhile, international teamwork is front and center. Scientists from NASA, universities, and even amateur astronomers collaborated globally to observe a rare planetary alignment, unlocking new data about the atmospheres of Uranus and other gas giants. According to Caltech’s Emma Dahl, “As scientists, we do our best work when we collaborate.” These efforts strengthen US leadership in space science and deepen partnerships with allies.
Looking ahead, watch for updates on new Artemis missions, leadership confirmations, and potential adjustments to science funding as Congress hammers out the budget. Citizens can follow developments at nasa.gov, tune in to upcoming space-to-Earth calls with astronauts, and, when public comment periods open, make their voices heard on the future of American space exploration. Stay tuned—NASA’s next chapter is unfolding above and around us, and everyone has a stake in what comes next.