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☆ SpaceX's tech-billionaire astronaut, Jared Isaacman, says his future missions are a 'question mark' now
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-12 | by ( Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The billionaire Jared Isaacman said his Polaris missions with SpaceX are "a question mark" now. AdvertisementJared Isaacman has flown two SpaceX missions to space and is slated to fly two more. However, Isaacman may no longer fly those missions now that President-elect Donald Trump has tapped him to lead NASA. SpaceXThe program is scheduled to fly two future missions, including the first human flight aboard SpaceX's Starship mega-rocket. "The future of the Polaris program is a little bit of a question mark at the moment.

Persons: Jared Isaacman, Donald Trump, Isaacman, Elon Musk's, John Logsdon, Logsdon, SpaceX's, George Nield Organizations: Polaris, SpaceX, NASA, Polaris Program, SpaceX's, Reuters, Space, George Washington University Locations: Orlando

President-elect Donald Trump announced Wednesday that he plans to nominate billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman to lead NASA. He has flown to space twice on commercial SpaceX missions, but has not worked at NASA or in the federal government. Isaacman has close ties to Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO of Tesla and SpaceX. Isaacman was one of four private citizens sent into orbit on the first of that trio of spaceflights, known as Polaris Dawn. Isaacman also bankrolled and flew on SpaceX’s first all-civilian mission to orbit in 2021.

Persons: Donald Trump, Jared Isaacman, “ Jared, ” Trump, Isaacman, spaceflights, Elon Musk Organizations: NASA, SpaceX, Elon, Trump, “ Department, Government, Musk, Polaris Program, Polaris

☆ Trump nominates Jared Isaacman, private astronaut and Shift4 CEO, for NASA chief
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-04 | by ( Michael Sheetz | In Michaeljsheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Inspiration4 mission commander Jared Isaacman, founder and chief executive officer of Shift4 Payments, stands for a portrait in front of the recovered first stage of a Falcon 9 rocket at Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) on February 2, 2021 in Hawthorne, California. President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday nominated Jared Isaacman, the billionaire CEO of Shift4 who has led two private spaceflights, to be the next head of NASA. "Jared will drive NASA's mission of discovery and inspiration, paving the way for groundbreaking achievements in Space science, technology, and exploration," Trump wrote in a post on social media. Isaacman said he plans to leave Shift4 once he's confirmed as NASA administrator. In a letter to Shift4 employees, Isaacman wrote he intends "to remain CEO until my confirmation" and "retain the majority of my equity interest," but will reduce his shareholder voting power.

Persons: Jared Isaacman, Donald Trump, Shift4, Jared, Trump, Isaacman, NASA's Organizations: Space Exploration Technologies Corp, SpaceX, NASA, America Locations: Hawthorne , California

☆ Data reveals how the Artemis I mission fared against space radiation
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-19 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

NASA’s Orion spacecraft for the Artemis I mission was successfully recovered on December 11, 2022, off the coast of Baja California. Regan Geeseman/NASARadiation worriesNASA has studied the impact of space radiation on human health for decades, dating back to the first crewed space missions of the 1960s. Long-duration space missions to the moon and Mars will expose astronauts to radiation from cosmic rays, or high energy particles that move through space. Courtesy NASAPlanning for Artemis IIIf a solar storm were to occur while the Artemis astronauts were in space, it could last for days. NASA astronaut Christina Koch participates on August 1 in crew geology training in Iceland ahead of the Artemis II mission.

Persons: Artemis II, Artemis I, Artemis, torsos, Helga, Zohar, ”, Sergi Vaquer Araujo, Araujo, ” Araujo, NASA’s, Regan Geeseman, Earth’s Van Allen Belts, Van Allen Belts, Stuart George, Kim Shiflett, ” George, George said, Artemis III, Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, Jeremy Hansen, Robert Markowitz, Kelsey Young Organizations: CNN, Orion, European Space Agency, NASA’s Orion, NASA, Space, Apollo, Space Center, Kennedy Space Center, Canadian Space Agency, Goddard Space Flight Locations: Artemis, Baja California, Earth’s, Houston, Mars, Florida, Iceland, Greenbelt , Maryland

A SpaceX capsule carrying four private citizens splashed down off the coast of Florida before dawn 3:36 a.m. The five-day Polaris Dawn flight marked the fifth private mission for SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule. This meant that all four members of the Polaris Dawn mission wore spacesuits during the spacewalk, and the entire capsule was depressurized to vacuum conditions. He was part of the first all-civilian SpaceX mission to orbit in 2021 and funded the Polaris Dawn mission, his second spaceflight, for an undisclosed sum. The Polaris Dawn flight was designed to test new technologies and procedures for future long-duration missions.

Persons: Jared Isaacman, Scott “ Kidd ” Poteet, Sarah Gillis, Anna Menon, ” operatators, Isaacman, Gillis, Van Allen Organizations: SpaceX, Air Force, Polaris, Polaris Dawn Locations: Florida, Tortugas , Florida, Gulf of Mexico

☆ Boeing delays Starliner return by 'weeks' for testing, NASA says astronauts aren't stranded
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-28 | by ( Michael Sheetz | In Michaeljsheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Boeing's crew flight test represents the first time Starliner is carrying people, flying NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams. Before launching on June 5, Boeing and NASA planned for Starliner to be in space for nine days. As of Friday, the Starliner flight has tallied 24 days and counting. NASA and Boeing say the delay for testing is solely to gather more data about the spacecraft's performance, in particular its thruster system. The Starliner crew flight test represents a final major step before NASA certifies Boeing to fly crew on operational, six-month missions.

Persons: Boeing's, Butch Wilmore, Suni Williams, Starliner, Steve Stich, Suni, Stich Organizations: International Space, NASA, Boeing Locations: White Sands , New Mexico

☆ Boeing and NASA delay Starliner astronaut return to June 22, nearly doubling mission length to test spacecraft
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-14 | by ( Michael Sheetz | In Michaeljsheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Boeing 's Starliner capsule "Calypso" will stay at the International Space Station twice as long as the mission originally planned, NASA announced Friday. Before launching on June 5, Boeing and NASA planned for Starliner to be in space for nine days. But Calypso's mission is now expected to return to Earth on June 22 — departing the ISS at 11:42 p.m. That means the Starliner crew flight test will now last at least 17 days, about double the original plan, for further spacecraft testing. The crew flight test represents a final major step before NASA certifies Boeing to fly crew on operational, six-month missions.

Persons: Butch Wilmore, Suni Williams, — Organizations: Boeing, Space, NASA

☆ Investing in Space: Virgin Galactic enters spaceflight hiatus after retiring Unity
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-13 | by ( Michael Sheetz | In Michaeljsheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Virgin Galactic founder Sir Richard Branson, far left, and CEO Michael Colglazier, far right, stand with the crew of the Galactic 07 mission. But Virgin Galactic needs a great suborbital spaceship. But it's a far cry from the forecast Virgin Galactic sold investors on – more than 3,000 "cumulative passengers flown" by 2023 – when it went public five years ago. But that leaves a hiatus before the first Delta spacecraft debuts, with the key target of a first commercial flight in 2026. As a reminder, human spacecraft development is often years delayed, and Virgin Galactic has in the past been no exception: Virgin Galactic was supposed to begin spaceflights in 2010, but didn't until 2018.

Persons: Sir Richard Branson, Michael Colglazier, CNBC's Michael Sheetz, Galactic's, Colglazier, That's, Virgin Organizations: Virgin Galactic, VSS Unity, Galactic, Unity, VSS Imagine, VSS Inspire, VSS, Delta

☆ While Boeing's passenger planes glitch, NASA is entrusting the company's spaceship with 2 astronauts' lives
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-04 | by ( Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Boeing is about to fly NASA astronauts to the International Space Station for the first time. Still, the FAA, NASA, and other aerospace experts have questioned Boeing's overall safety culture. NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams conduct suited operations in the Boeing Starliner simulator at NASA's Johnson Space Center. This Crew Flight Test mission is over a decade in the making. He added that those calculations are for a full 210-day mission, while Whilmore's and Williams's test flight lasts just one week.

Persons: —, NASA's Butch Wilmore, Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore, Robert Markowitz They're, jetliner, AeroSystems, Bill Nelson, Kim Shiflett, George Nield, Bjorn Fehrm, Fehrm, KPIs, Doug Loverro, Baz Ratner, Bill Ingalls, Steve Stich, Nield, We've, Wilmore, Starliner, Whitmore, Williams Organizations: Boeing, NASA, International Space Station, FAA, Service, Defense, Boeing's, International Space, Space Center, ISS, Max, NTSB, AP, Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Justice, Atlas, Cape Canaveral Space Force, Space Transportation, New York Times, Leeham, Business, Ethiopian, Ethiopian Airlines, Aerospace, Committee, White, Bill Ingalls NASA, US, Spaceflight Locations: Portland, Florida, It's, New Mexico

☆ Bezos resuming Blue Origin spaceflights with the man selected to be the nation's first Black astronaut — in 1961
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-06 | by ( Lloyd Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Blue Origin is prepping to embark on its 25th mission to space. Among the 6 crew members will be 90-year-old Ed Dwight. AdvertisementSix decades ago, John F. Kennedy's White House chose Ed Dwight to train and become the nation's first Black astronaut. Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin announced on Thursday its six-member crew that will embark on the company's 25th mission to space aboard the New Shepard rocket. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

Persons: Ed Dwight, JFK, Dwight, —, John F, Jeff Bezos's Organizations: Black, Service, Kansas City, Shepard, Business

☆ SpaceX SVP Tom Ochinero is leaving the company in a rare high-level departure
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Michael Sheetz | In Michaeljsheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket, carrying the Arabsat 6A communications satellite, lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, April 11, 2019. One of SpaceX's senior executives is leaving, CNBC has learned, in a rare high-level departure from Elon Musk's space company. Tom Ochinero, SpaceX senior vice president of commercial business, resigned on Monday, people familiar with the matter told CNBC. Ochinero, like many of SpaceX's dozen or so senior executives, has been with the company for more than a decade. He started his career at SpaceX as an engineer helping design the nosecone used on its Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets.

Persons: Tom Ochinero Organizations: SpaceX, Kennedy Space Center, CNBC Locations: Cape Canaveral , Florida, Elon

☆ 2024 is a big year for the sun. This Helio year, see a total eclipse, solar storms, and NASA almost landing on our star.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-27 | by ( Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The sun has a big year in 2024, starting with a total solar eclipse across the US. NASA's Parker Solar Probe will fly closer to the sun than any spacecraft ever, almost landing on it. One of the main events this year will be a historically cool total solar eclipse crossing the US in April. AdvertisementIn a total solar eclipse, the moon passes in front of the sun as seen from Earth, darkening the sky. For example, NASA is launching three rockets during the April total solar eclipse, loaded with instruments to study how the sudden darkness changes our upper atmosphere.

Persons: NASA's Parker, —, It's, Rodrigo Garrido, Rune Stoltz Bertinussen, Kelly Korreck, Connie Moore, NASA's, Nour Raouafi, Johns Hopkins, Steve Gribben, Raouafi, That's Organizations: Probe, Service, American Geophysical Union, Reuters, NASA, Parker Locations: San Francisco, Northern, Arizona, Australia, New Zealand, South America, Tromso, Norway

☆ Mary Cleave, the first woman to fly on NASA’s space shuttle after Challenger disaster, dies at 76
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Jackie Wattles | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Mary Cleave, the NASA astronaut who in 1989 became the first woman to fly on a space shuttle mission after the Challenger disaster, has died at the age of 76, the space agency announced on Wednesday. “For me, space flight was great, but it was gravy on top of getting to fly in great airplanes,” she told NASA. Getting to orbitOn her first mission, flying on NASA’s Space Shuttle Atlantis in 1985, Cleave became the 10th woman to travel into space. Over the course of her two shuttle missions, Cleave spent more than 10 days in orbit. Cleave said she made the difficult decision to move on from the corps and NASA’s astronaut hub in Houston, taking a role at Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland in 1991.

Persons: Mary Cleave, “, ”, Bob Cabana, “ Mary, ” Cleave —, —, Cleave, ” Cleave, Judith Resnick, Sally Ride, Sally, Cleave “ Organizations: CNN, NASA, Challenger, Science, Colorado State University, Utah State University, Atlantis, CapCom, Ride, Goddard Space Flight, Maryland Locations: Neck , New York, Utah, Houston, Maryland, Washington , DC

☆ Senators want faster FAA approval for commercial spaceflights
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Kristin Fisher | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The top two lawmakers on the US Senate’s space and science subcommittee are pushing federal regulators to accelerate the approval of commercial space launches, arguing that the current pace could cost the United States its edge in the new space race. ‘Keeping pace with industry demand’The FAA’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation is responsible for protecting public safety while simultaneously greenlighting a growing number of commercial space launches, which have quadrupled in just four years. The FAA has already licensed 104 launches this year, compared to 26 launches in 2019. We cannot be our own worst enemy when it comes to beating China to the moon and Mars,” Schmitt told CNN. The senators are now asking Coleman to respond to several questions, including what additional resources he may need to accelerate the launch licensing process, by November 28.

Persons: Kyrsten Sinema, Eric Schmitt, Kelvin Coleman, ”, “, Coleman, Senators Kyrsten Sinema, Al Drago, Eva Marie Uzcategui, we’re, William Gerstenmaier, Sinema, Schmitt of Missouri, ” Schmitt Organizations: CNN, United, Federal Aviation, FAA, Transportation, Senators, Bloomberg, Getty, Elon, SpaceX, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Regulators, Republican, China Locations: United States, Arizona, China, Beijing

☆ Billionaire Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic lays off 185 employees as it doubles down on efforts to build new spaceships
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Virgin Galactic has laid off 185 employees, which represented about 18% of its workforce. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe ships are designed to carry six passengers on weekly spaceflights, Virgin Galactic has previously said . Virgin Galactic completed its first commercial space flight in June and carried out a total of five commercial flights this year, Space News reported. Earlier this year, Virgin Galactic was selling tickets for its commercial flights at $450,000 each, per a brochure previously listed on its website. Virgin Galactic didn't immediately respond to Insider's request for comment, made outside of normal working hours.

Persons: —, Michael Colglazier, Colglazier, Richard Branson, Virgin Galactic didn't Organizations: Virgin Galactic, Service, Galactic, CNBC, Delta, New Mexico's, Space News Locations: Phoenix , Arizona, Phoenix, New, America

☆ Astronaut Frank Rubio sets US record for longest trip in space
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Jackie Wattles | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —Astronaut Frank Rubio has now been in low-Earth orbit for more than 355 days, breaking the record for the longest space mission by a US astronaut. Rubio — who has been on the International Space Station since September 2022 — bested the previous record, held by retired NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei, at 1:40 p.m. NASAIn the record booksIf all goes to plan, and Rubio departs on September 27, his 371-day stay will not be a world record for the longest space mission. She now serves as a private astronaut for Axiom Space, which so far has hosted two commercial trips to the space station that have allowed paying customers to experience a trip to the orbiting laboratory alongside a veteran professional astronaut. During his stay in space, Rubio has seen several crews of astronauts rotate through via SpaceX vehicles.

Persons: Frank Rubio, Rubio —, —, Mark Vande Hei, Rubio, crewmates, Sergey Prokopyev, Dmitri Petelin —, Roscosmos, Rubio’s, Vande Hei, Bill Nelson, Frank ! ” Rubio, Valeri Polyakov, Vande Hei’s, Scott Kelly, Gennadi Padalka, Peggy Whitson, Whitson, Anna Kikina, Joel Montalbano, ” Montalbano, European Space Agency — Organizations: CNN, Space Station, NASA, Russian Soyuz, Soyuz, SpaceX, Roscosmos, Space, Russian, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, European Space Agency Locations: Russian, Roscosmos, Russia, United States, Ukraine

☆ Virgin Galactic's first space tourism flight took off this week. Here are the players taking civilians to space.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-12 | by ( Will Gendron | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Virgin Galactic launched its first space tourism flight for paying customers on August 10. It marks a new era in space tourism for the company, with monthly flights expected to follow. Seats on a Virgin Galactic flight cost $450,000 each. This week, Virgin Galactic's first space tourism flight successfully launched from New Mexico, taking three passengers who weren't traditional astronauts, to the edge of space and back. Virgin Galactic, Richard Branson's commercial space venture, was established in 2004 and completed its first commercial spaceflight in June.

Persons: Virgin Galactic's, Keisha Schahaff, Anastatia, Jon Goodwin, Richard Branson's, Goodwin, Jeff Bezos, Shepard, There's, Jared Issacman Organizations: Virgin Galactic, Virgin, Caribbean, Galactic, Italian Air Force, National Research Council, Origin, Amazon, SpaceX, Elon Musk's, SpaceX's, Space, International Locations: New Mexico

☆ Virgin Galactic's first space tourism flight is set to take off this week. Here are the players taking civilians to space.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( Will Gendron | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Virgin Galactic is set to launch its first space tourism flight on August 10. It marks a new era in space tourism for the company, which will have have monthly flights. Seats on a Virgin Galactic flight cost $450,000 each. This week, Virgin Galactic's first space tourism flight is set to take off from New Mexico — and three of the passengers on board aren't traditional astronauts. Virgin Galactic, Richard Branson's commercial space venture, was established in 2004 and completed its first commercial spaceflight in June.

Persons: Virgin Galactic's, Keisha Schahaff, Anastatia, Jon Goodwin, Richard Branson's, Goodwin, Jeff Bezos, Shepard, There's, Jared Issacman Organizations: Virgin Galactic, Virgin, New Mexico —, Caribbean, Galactic, Italian Air Force, National Research Council, Origin, Amazon, SpaceX, Elon Musk's, SpaceX's, Space, International Locations: New Mexico

☆ Boeing resets Starliner plan to be ready for first NASA crew flight by March
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( Michael Sheetz | In Michaeljsheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Boeing's Starliner spacecraft is seen before docking with the International Space Station on May 20, 2022 during the uncrewed OFT-2 mission. Boeing said Monday it aims to be ready to fly NASA astronauts with its Starliner capsule for the first time by March, resetting its timeline after the company delayed a planned launch this summer. "Based on the current plans, we're anticipating that we're going to be ready with the spacecraft in early March," Boeing VP and Starliner manager Mark Nappi said during a press conference. The company continues to work toward Starliner's crew flight test, which is planned to carry NASA astronauts to the ISS in a final demonstration before beginning regular spaceflights. NASA's Commercial Crew manager Steve Stich said that Starliner is 98% complete in terms of progress toward the agency certifying the spacecraft to carry its astronauts.

Persons: Mark Nappi, Nappi, We're, Boeing's Nappi, Steve Stich, Starliner, Stich, It's Organizations: International, Station, Boeing, NASA Locations: ULA

☆ Virgin Galactic banks $2 million in quarterly revenue after first commercial spaceflight
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( Michael Sheetz | In Michaeljsheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Virgin Galactic flew two spaceflights during the second quarter: Its final test spaceflight and its first commercial spaceflight, the latter a long-awaited step to bring its service to market. It expects to fly its second commercial spaceflight on Aug. 10. Virgin Galactic stock slipped about 3% in after-hours trading from its close at $4.14 a share. Virgin Galactic had cash and securities totaling $980 million at the end of the quarter, up from about $874 million at the end of the first quarter. That increase came as Virgin Galactic brought in funds through "at the market" sales of common stock.

Persons: Michael Colglazier Organizations: Virgin Galactic, America, VSS Unity, Galactic Locations: New Mexico, U.S

☆ The disappearance of the Titan submersible won't stop the super-rich from embarking on 'extreme' travel, an adventure tourism expert says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( Chris Johnston | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Some wealthy people now may have "second thoughts" about going on adventure tourism, a lecturer said. Trips to the deep sea, space or remote parts of the planet offered "bragging rights," she said. The possible loss of the Titan submersible will not dampen demand for "extreme" tourism where a rescue is unlikely or even impossible, an academic told Insider. Hamish Harding, one of the people on the missing sub, also went to space with Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin last year. Space tourism "may or may not" become viable and affordable to more than just the very wealthy in our lifetimes, the academic said, but the rise of "last chance" tourism would continue.

Persons: Adele Doran of, Adele Doran, Mariana Trench's, it'll, Hamish Harding, Jeff Bezos, Doran, " Doran Organizations: Adele Doran of Sheffield Hallam University, Morning, Titan, Sheffield Hallam University, EYOS Expeditions, Mariana, Virgin Galactic Locations: England, South America

☆ Virgin Galactic plans first commercial space service for June; shares take off
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

June 15 (Reuters) - Virgin Galactic Holdings (SPCE.N), the space tourism firm founded by Richard Branson, said on Thursday its long-awaited commercial spaceflight service would launch later this month, sending its shares up over 55% in trading after the bell. The first spaceflight, called "Galactic 01", is planned between June 27 and June 30, the company said. Shares of Virgin Galactic had lost over two-thirds of their value last year due to delays in the company's launch of commercial service. But in February, it said it had completed a lengthy upgrade period for its centerpiece tourist spacecraft, clearing the path for its first commercial spaceflight. The first commercial mission will carry three crew members from the Italian Air Force and the National Research Council of Italy to conduct microgravity research, Virgin Galactic said.

Persons: Richard Branson, Chavi Mehta, Pooja Desai, Krishna Chandra Organizations: Virgin Galactic Holdings, Virgin Galactic, VSS Unity, Italian Air Force, National Research Council, Thomson Locations: Italy, Bengaluru

Axiom Space recently completed its second human spaceflight mission traveling to and from the International Space Station via a SpaceX Dragon Capsule. CNBC's "Manifest Space" podcast sat down with the retired NASA astronaut to discuss her return to space, the commercialization of human spaceflight and her outlook on the private space economy. You're back at the space station, you're somebody who's commanded the space station, you've been there multiple times before. And a part of being a NASA astronaut, I had many experiences where we trade responsibilities in command. And although I was a farm kid and a farm girl, I didn't really know if that would ever be an option for me.

Persons: Peggy Whitson, She's, Whitson, Morgan Brennan, who's, you've, You've, who've, it's, followership, Neil Armstrong Organizations: NASA, Kennedy Space Center, International Space, SpaceX, Soyuz, Space Locations: Saudi Arabia, United States, Cape Canaveral , Florida, U.S

☆ Astronauts’ brains take a hit during long spaceflights
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Spaceflights lasting six months or longer take a toll on the brains of astronauts, and crew members may need to wait at least three years before returning to space, according to new research. Scientists compared the brain scans of 30 astronauts taken before spaceflights lasting two weeks, six months or a year with scans taken after they returned to Earth. During the analysis, the researchers determined that the degree to which the ventricles enlarged varied depending on how long the astronauts were in space. Seven of the astronauts with a shorter period of recovery between missions showed little ventricular enlargement after their most recent flight. However, astronauts have very specialized skill sets and training and there may be rationale to include them on additional missions before this time.”

Persons: CNN —, Artemis, ”, Rachael Seidler, Seidler, ” Seidler Organizations: CNN, International, Station, NASA, University of Florida, UF, Norman Fixel Institute, Neurological Diseases, “ Locations: ”

☆ Investing in Space: Virgin Galactic still has a big hurdle to clear for commercial service
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Michael Sheetz | In Michaeljsheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

After Virgin Galactic last week flew its final developmental spaceflight, which it crowned successful, it'd be easy to think the space tourism company is at a turning point. But the Virgin Galactic story is not about its first operational spaceflight, as long-awaited as that may be. Virgin Galactic sold about 600 tickets at $250,000 or less, representing the majority of its total reservations. Yes, Virgin Galactic has nearly $900 million in cash and securities to continue to cover losses in the meantime. Colglazier has described Delta as "the economic engine" for Virgin Galactic, estimating revenue of over $2.7 million per flight.

Persons: CNBC's Michael Sheetz, it's, It's, Elon, Michael Colglazier, Colglazier, Beth Moses, Moses, Delta, he's, bode, Galactic's, Shepard Organizations: Virgin Galactic, SpaceX, Elon Musk's, VSS Unity, VSS, Virgin Locations: that's, Virgin, Everest

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