Blue Origin’s New Glenn Rocket Explodes During Pre-Launch Test
Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket exploded during a pre-launch test this evening. The company said all personnel are safe and accounted for following the “anomaly.”
NASA Awards Initial Moon Base Rover and Lander Contracts
Pressing forward with plans to build a Moon Base as part of the Artemis program, today NASA announced awards of several service contracts to build and/or deliver landers and rovers to the Moon by 2028 as well as a “MoonFall” set of drones. The awards continue NASA’s recent practice of awarding firm fixed-price contracts where the companies design, build and launch spacecraft and NASA buys services from them.
What’s Happening in Space Policy May 24-30, 2026
Here is SpacePolicyOnline.com’s list of space policy events for the week of May 24-30, 2026 and any insight we can offer about them. The House and Senate are in recess this week except for pro forma sessions.
SpaceX Launches New Starship V3 For First Time
After a scrub yesterday, SpaceX successfully launched the new version of Starship today. It was the 12th launch in the series, but the first of Version 3, or V3, with completely redesigned Raptor engines and other significant upgrades. Not everything went as planned, but overall it appears to have been a success. [UPDATE, May 27: The FAA is requiring a mishap investigation.]
NASA Announces Major Reorganization
NASA announced a major reorganization today that Administrator Jared Isaacman said is designed to “accelerate mission delivery.” He also emphasized it is not about a reduction-in-force, program cancellations or closures, but an effort to achieve cost savings and “deliver on the mission.”
It’s a Scrub for First Flight of Starship V3, But SpaceX Has Other News
SpaceX’s first attempt to launch the new version of Starship, Version 3, almost got off the launch pad today, but several hiccups with less than a minute to go meant a scrub in the end. During the webcast, however, SpaceX had other news — an interview with the man who plans to make the first interplanetary human spaceflight, flying Starship around Mars.
Isaacman: Chinese Taikonauts Likely to Fly Around Moon in 2027
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman asserted today that next year Chinese taikonauts “likely” will fly around the Moon and the United States no longer will hold the distinction as the only country to accomplish that feat.
Anderson Confirmed as Deputy NASA Administrator
This evening the Senate confirmed Matthew “Matt” Anderson to be NASA Deputy Administrator. His nomination was one of 49 considered together under Senate rules that were revised last year to allow bundled “en bloc” confirmations.
What’s Happening in Space Policy May 17-23, 2026
Here is SpacepolicyOnline.com’s list of space policy events for the week of May 17-23, 2026 and any insight we can offer about them. The House and Senate are in session for all or part of the week.
NASA Shares Early Planning for Artemis III
NASA is beginning to share plans for the next Artemis mission, Artemis III, scheduled to launch next year. Artemis III was going to be the first human landing on the Moon since the Apollo era, but NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman reformulated the Artemis program on February 27, inserting an earth-orbiting flight into the sequence. It will test integrated operations between Orion and the landers needed to get the crew down to and back from the lunar surface. The launch date for this reimagined Artemis III mission hasn’t been announced, but some basic elements are now public.