International Space Station (ISS)

Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.

The planned launch from Kennedy Space Center is set for no earlier than this spring aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon.

Sunita “Suni” Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore enhanced their extended mission to the ISS by recovering an RFG antenna.

The first of two upcoming 6- to 7-hr. spacewalks has been assigned to NASA astronauts Nick Hague, his fourth career excursion; and Sunita “Suni” Williams.

In 2024, the effort oversaw the launch and execution of 110 science and technology projects across seven crew, resupply and private astronaut missions.

The return of U.S. astronauts to the Moon won’t happen until at least mid-2027, says NASA.

Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagnerts began the spacewalk with the installation of the All Sky Monitor.

Like Axiom, Vast has hired SpaceX for PAM crew ferry flights and training.

The funding cut will mean that NASA will have to reallocate $180 million from its current space operations budget.

The fixed-price contract listed a maximum value of $140 million over a five-year base period with an additional two-year option.

The return ended a nearly eight-week roundtrip to the seven-person International Space Station.

The Dragon capsule has a return cargo that includes scientific research and equipment.

NASA’s Lucy mission spacecraft sped close by the Earth for a second gravity assist to place the probe on a course for the first flybys of five Trojan asteroids.

Readers write about space station experiments, the Check 6 podcast, firefighting aircraft and U.S. air base defense. Plus Behind the Scenes with the Photo Contest judges and at the Wings Club.

The demonstration’s multiple objectives include creating and validating new technologies for improving communications between quantum computers.

As the hatch was opened, the Russian cosmonauts observed small droplets of liquid as well as an unanticipated odor.

The uncrewed Russian cargo craft is delivering a 5,500-lb. cargo of food, propellant and crew supplies.

Readers write about seaplanes and the International Space Station. Plus: Behind the Scenes with Lydia Janow, senior vice president of Aviation Week Network Events.

Russia’s Progress MS-29 resupply capsule was on course for a Nov. 23 docking with the ISS, following a launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome.

The International Space Station crew used propulsion from a Russian Progress resupply capsule to carry out an orbital debris avoidance maneuver, NASA says.

Russia’s Progress MS-27 cargo capsule departed the seven-person International Space Station early on Nov. 19.

The Exploration Company, which is working on an ESA cargo return capsule, says it has closed a $160 million Series B funding round.

The session focused on structural cracks with air leaks in the Russian segment and the safe potential deorbiting of the outpost in a contingency.

The challenges are even more relevant because of a constrained federal budget environment.

The Nov. 8 operation had already been set when the resupply mission docked to the U.S. segment of the ISS earlier this week.