Congressman Mike Haridopolos Backs ‘Moon-First, Mars Next’ Approach in U.S. Space Policy

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Mike Haridopolos (R-FL), the newly appointed chair of the House Space Subcommittee, has reaffirmed his commitment to NASA’s current Moon-to-Mars strategy, emphasizing the necessity of lunar exploration as a stepping stone to future Mars missions. His stance aligns with long-standing congressional support for a return to the Moon, despite speculation that President Trump’s administration might prioritize a direct path to Mars due to the president’s connections with SpaceX CEO Elon Musk.

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NASA Reschedules SpaceX Crew-10 Launch, Swaps New Dragon Capsule for Reused Craft

NASA has set a new launch date for the highly anticipated SpaceX Crew-10 mission to the International Space Station (ISS), adjusting its plans after deciding to replace a brand-new Crew Dragon spacecraft with a previously flown capsule. The mission, now targeting liftoff no earlier than Wednesday, March 12, from Kennedy Space Center, marks yet another shift in the evolving schedule of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program.

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Sierra Space Successfully Completes VR35K-A Engine Test Campaign, Secures $16M AFRL Contract

Sierra Space, a leading commercial space and defense technology company, has announced the successful completion of the test campaign for its VR35K-A upper stage engine, marking a significant advancement in next-generation propulsion systems. The testing was conducted under contract with the Air Force Research Laboratory’s (AFRL) Rocket Propulsion Division at Edwards Air Force Base, California.

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SpaceX Set to Launch Groundbreaking Lunar Mission with Intuitive Machines’ IM-2 Lander

Innovative Lunar Hopper and Prospecting Rovers to Explore Moon’s South PoleLater this month, SpaceX will launch a historic lunar mission carrying a groundbreaking suite of robotic explorers. The IM-2 mission, spearheaded by Houston-based Intuitive Machines, is scheduled for liftoff from Florida’s Space Coast within a four-day launch window starting on February 26. If successful, this mission will deploy the Athena lander to an ice-rich plateau just 100 miles (160 kilometers) from the Moon’s south pole, marking a significant step in lunar resource exploration.

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NASA and General Atomics Achieve Major Breakthrough in Nuclear Thermal Propulsion Fuel Testing

Huntsville, AL– In a major advancement for deep-space exploration, General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS), in collaboration with NASA, has successfully tested a high-temperature nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP) reactor fuel at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) in Alabama. The breakthrough moves humanity closer to developing faster, more efficient space travel technologies, potentially cutting months off the journey to Mars.

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