Andrea Leinfelder

UT and Texas A&M researchers grow chickpeas in moon dirt, thanks to Reddit Texas scientists test using fungi and earthworms to turn toxic, abrasive moon dirt into soil capable of growing crops.

Researchers from UT and Texas A&M are growing chickpeas in simulated moon dirt.

Their study — using fungi and worm poop to battle the abrasive, toxic dirt — could be an important step as NASA seeks to return humans to the lunar surface.

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I'm writing an article about NASA hiring folks through "NASA Force" and turning contractors into civil servants.

I'm curious how people who took last year's buyout (DRP) feel about this. Please contact me for an article in the paper: andrea.leinfelder@houstonchronicle.com

Exclusive: Brian Babin backs Houston’s bid to host major global space event The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) has submitted a bid to host the 80th International Astronautical Congress in Houston in 2029.

Houston would like to host the 80th International Astronautical Congress in October 2029 — just months after the 60th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing.

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Tuesday’s total lunar eclipse is ‘about perfect’ for photographers in Houston Houston skywatchers can catch a red moon Tuesday morning as a total lunar eclipse occurs just before sunrise.

A total lunar eclipse, where the moon turns red, will be visible Tuesday morning in Houston. The moon's position in the sky will be "just about perfect from a photography standpoint."

If there aren't clouds.

Weather report by @justinballardwx.bsky.social

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Space Center Houston program helps professionals break into aerospace Space Center Houston’s Accelerate Space program helps professionals transition into aerospace jobs through training and networking.

Many people know Space Center Houston as a museum and the visitor’s center for NASA’s Johnson Space Center. But it also has adult programming.

With Accelerate Space, it's helping people change careers and find aerospace jobs.

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What’s the future of space tourism as flights stall? Experts weigh in. Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic have paused their suborbital flights, leaving customers and analysts questioning the future of suborbital space tourism.

Blue Origin, Virgin Galactic have paused their flights. What's the future for suborbital space tourism?

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NASA identifies astronaut who prompted Crew-11's early return NASA astronaut Mike Fincke was the astronaut who prompted the agency's SpaceX Crew-11 mission to return home early.

Mike Fincke was the NASA astronaut who prompted the agency's SpaceX Crew-11 mission to return home early. He released a statement on Wednesday:

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NASA finds new issue that will delay Artemis II moon mission NASA found an issue with helium flow in the upper stage of the Space Launch System rocket, prompting engineers to prep for a rollback. Artemis II will miss its March launch window.

NASA has found a new issue with its Space Launch System rocket that will prevent the Artemis II moon mission from launching in March.

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Starliner’s problems go beyond hardware, NASA says NASA released an independent investigation in Boeing's crewed flight test that launched in 2024. Hardware was not the most troubling failure.

“Starliner has design and engineering deficiencies that must be corrected,” NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman wrote in a letter to NASA employees, “but the most troubling failure revealed by this investigation is not hardware.”

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How Texas is using $150 million in funding to fuel its space push The Space Commission grants will be used to study inland launch pads, bolster university programs and create orbital data centers, fake moon soil and more.

Learn more about the Texas Space Commission and how it divided the $150 million:

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The Texas Space Commission has committed the full $150M it received in 2023 to issue as grants. Funded projects include:

-Inland launch pad studies
-Orbital data centers
-Fake moon soil
-Commercial space station labs

This chart by @kenduque.bsky.social shows the 24 companies that received grants:

SpaceX gets green light to expand launch pad into wetlands area The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has approved SpaceX to expand its launch pad into Texas wetlands and to offset this destruction with a new mitigation bank.

SpaceX has permission to fill 17 acres of wetlands to expand its TX launch pad. That's significantly more wetlands than it has previously developed.

SpaceX will offset its footprint by creating a mitigation bank, which is a new approach for the company:

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Crew-12 will return ISS to full strength after Crew-11 left early NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission launched Friday to restore full staffing aboard the International Space Station while delivering research and international crew.

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission launched Friday with four crew members who will return the International Space Station to its typical capacity after an unspecified medical situation prompted Crew-11 to return home early.

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Thank you! Please send me an email so we can exchange numbers and pick a time to chat!

Andrea.leinfelder@houstonchronicle.com

Are you willing to talk to me about this for an article? I’m interested in how people are feeling about this lull in suborbital space tourism.

Have you purchased a seat with Blue Origin or Virgin Galactic, and you're still waiting to fly? Please contact me for a story in the Houston Chronicle: andrea.leinfelder@houstonchronicle.com

NASA moves Artemis II moon mission to March NASA is moving its Artemis II launch to March to address issues that arose during a wet dress rehearsal. This mission will send four astronauts around the moon.

NASA is delaying its Artemis II moon mission to address issues that arose during its wet dress rehearsal. It's now targeting March with launch opportunities March 6, 7, 8, 9 and 11.

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Blue Origin is pausing suborbital flights from West Texas for at least two years Blue Origin is pausing suborbital flights on its New Shepard rocket from West Texas to focus on its "human lunar capabilities."

Blue Origin is pausing its New Shepard flights from West Texas for at least two years so it can focus on helping NASA return humans to the moon.

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NASA Updates Artemis II Wet Dress Rehearsal, Launch Opportunities - NASA NASA is targeting Monday, Feb. 2, as the tanking day for the upcoming Artemis II wet dress rehearsal at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, as a

Due to weather, NASA is now planning to hold its wet dress rehearsal on Monday, Feb. 2. The earliest possible launch date is now Sunday, Feb. 8. NASA will announce its launch date after the wet dress rehearsal has been completed.

Read more: go.nasa.gov/4rrJ9Xc

NASA’s Artemis II rocket prepares for first crewed moon mission in 50 years The Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft are at Launch Pad 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Artemis II could launch in February.

NASA’s Artemis II moon rocket is at the launch pad as the agency begins its final testing before flying four astronauts to the moon as soon as February.

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Crew-11 is back in Houston.

"Following splashdown and recovery, the four crew members completed a planned overnight stay at a local medical facility for additional evaluation and have been released as expected. All crew members remain stable," NASA said.

NASA's SpaceX Crew-11 returns to Earth ahead of schedule after medical issue NASA said the four crew members returned to Earth early Thursday after one of them experienced a medical situation on the International Space Station.

Crew-11 landed off the coast of California early Thursday morning after one of its members experienced a medical issue on the ISS. That person, who NASA did not identify, was doing fine after landing. The crew was headed to a hospital in the San Diego area.

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NASA's SpaceX Crew-11 returns to Earth ahead of schedule after medical issue NASA said the four crew members returned to Earth early Thursday after one of them experienced a medical situation on the International Space Station.

Members of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 landed off the coast of California early Thursday morning, prematurely ending their stay on the International Space Station after one person experienced a medical issue.

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Crew-11 will return to Earth Thursday to address medical situation, NASA says NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 is set to come home Thursday to address a medical concern with a crew member.

The members of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 are preparing to undock from the International Space Station on Wednesday and splash into the Pacific Ocean the following day, bringing home a crewmate who suffered a medical situation on the orbiting platform.

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‘There’s life after NASA.’ Employees who took the buyout are moving forward. Most of the NASA civil servants who participated in last year's second deferred resignation program saw their pay and benefits end Friday.

‘There’s life after NASA.’ Friday marked the official last day for many employees who took the buyout.

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Unspecified medical concern prompts NASA to cut ISS mission short A member of NASA's SpaceX Crew-11 experienced a medical issue on Wednesday and remained in stable condition as of Thursday. NASA planned to bring the crew home within the coming days.

UPDATE: NASA will bring Crew-11 home in the coming days to better diagnose the medical situation. It's looking to move up the launch of Crew-12 and said this should not interfere with the Artemis II moon mission.

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'Medical situation' on the space station might have astronauts coming home early NASA said a medical situation on the International Space Station has it "evaluating all options," including bringing the Crew-11 astronauts home early.

NASA said a medical situation on the International Space Station has it "evaluating all options," including bringing the Crew-11 astronauts home early.

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Meet the biologist who safeguards wildlife and space missions at NASA At NASA’s Johnson Space Center, Matthew Strausser protects wildlife, from snakes to deer, and ensures they don't interrupt critical spaceflight operations.

Matthew Strausser was called after a snake slithered inside one of NASA's T-38 jets.

He coaxes alligators from beneath vehicles, counts deer and once captured skunks inside Building 1.

Meet the biologist who protects wildlife and NASA space missions:

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A moon mission, a new boss and a potential museum fight: NASA’s year ahead Jared Isaacman will lead NASA as it sends astronauts around the moon and hopes to launch a space telescope to study dark matter and dark energy.

Next year at NASA could bring two flagship missions (Artemis II and the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope), more clarity on the fate of space shuttle Discovery and new guidance from recently confirmed NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman.

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SpaceX considers new land swap deal in South Texas, report says Space X is considering a land swap with the Trump administration that would see Elon Musk’s company receiving nearly 800 acres of wildlife refuge near Starbase.

Last year, SpaceX backed out of a land swap deal with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

Today, the New York Times reported that SpaceX is considering a new land swap -- this time with the federal government.

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