Hacker News with Generative AI: NASA

NASA cut $420M for climate science, moon modelling and more (newscientist.com)
NASA has cancelled contracts and grants worth up to $420 million, following guidance from the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The cuts will impact research projects and educational programmes across the US, but NASA is being tight-lipped about confirming exactly which organisations are affected.
NASA, Government Funding, Climate Science, Space Exploration
11 points by melling 1 day ago | 0 comments
Starliner's flight to the space station was far wilder than most of us thought (arstechnica.com)
As it flew up toward the International Space Station last summer, the Starliner spacecraft lost four thrusters. A NASA astronaut, Butch Wilmore, had to take manual control of the vehicle. But as its thrusters failed, Wilmore lost the ability to move Starliner in the direction he wanted to go.
Spaceflight, NASA, Spacecraft
56 points by ranger207 2 days ago | 3 comments
NASA astronauts tell of space odyssey and reject claims of neglect (theguardian.com)
In the end, whatever Elon Musk and Donald Trump liked to insist, astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita Williams were never stuck, nor stranded in space, and definitely not abandoned or marooned.
Space Exploration, NASA, Astronauts
5 points by n1b0m 3 days ago | 2 comments
What Did Hubble See on Your Birthday? (nasa.gov)
Hubble explores the universe 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. That means it has observed some fascinating cosmic wonder every day of the year, including on your birthday.
Space, Astronomy, NASA, Hubble Telescope, Birthday
7 points by throw0101b 4 days ago | 2 comments
NASA terminating $420M in contracts not aligned with its new priorities (independent.co.uk)
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is terminating $420 million in contracts, the space agency says are “misaligned” with its new core priorities.
NASA, Space Exploration, Government Funding, Budget Cuts
6 points by g-b-r 6 days ago | 0 comments
After a spacecraft was damaged en route to launch, NASA says it won't launch (arstechnica.com)
Three weeks ago, NASA revealed that a shipping container protecting a Cygnus spacecraft sustained "damage" while traveling to the launch site in Florida.
Spaceflight, NASA, Delays
6 points by rbanffy 8 days ago | 0 comments
Momentum seems to be building for Jared Isaacman to become NASA administrator (arstechnica.com)
With the vast majority of President Donald Trump's cabinet members now approved by the US Senate, focus is turning to senior positions within the administration that are just below the cabinet level.
Politics, NASA, Space Exploration
6 points by voxadam 9 days ago | 0 comments
As preps continue, it's looking more likely NASA will fly the Artemis II mission (arstechnica.com)
Late Saturday night, technicians at Kennedy Space Center in Florida moved the core stage for NASA's second Space Launch System rocket into position between the vehicle's two solid-fueled boosters.
Space Exploration, NASA, Artemis Program
9 points by kwiktrip 10 days ago | 0 comments
NASA Scraps Promise to Land 'First Woman and Person of Color' on the Moon (gizmodo.com)
After years of promoting its return to the Moon with the promise of inclusion, NASA has concealed its well-publicized intent of landing a diverse crew on the lunar surface as part of the Artemis program.
Space Exploration, NASA, Diversity, Artemis Program
23 points by doener 10 days ago | 4 comments
NASA's Plutonium Problem (youtube.com)
Space Exploration, NASA, Science, Nuclear Energy
3 points by CHB0403085482 12 days ago | 0 comments
NASA drops plan to land first woman and first person of color on the moon (theguardian.com)
Nasa has dropped its longstanding public commitment to land the first woman and person of color on the moon, in response to Donald Trump’s directives to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices at federal agencies.
Space Exploration, NASA, Politics, Diversity
12 points by pseudolus 13 days ago | 1 comments
Can NASA remain nonpartisan when basic spaceflight truths are shredded? (arstechnica.com)
It looked like the final scene of a movie, the denouement of a long adventure in which the good guys finally prevail. Azure skies and brilliant blue seas provided a perfect backdrop on Tuesday evening as a spacecraft carrying four people neared the planet's surface.
Space Exploration, Politics, NASA
47 points by rbanffy 15 days ago | 45 comments
Starliner Astronauts Return to Earth After More Than 9 Months in Space (cnn.com)
Spaceflight, NASA, Astronauts, Space Exploration
23 points by m463 16 days ago | 5 comments
NASA's and SpaceX's Crew-9 Splashdown in Gulf of America (upi.com)
NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore, left, Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, second from left, and NASA astronauts Nick Hague, second from right, and Suni Williams, right are seen inside a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft onboard the SpaceX recovery ship MEGAN shortly after having landed in the water off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida, on Tuesday, March 18, 2025.
Space Exploration, NASA, SpaceX, Crew Missions
7 points by xqcgrek2 16 days ago | 1 comments
NASA Astronauts Return to Earth After Extended ISS Mission (ycombinator.com)
NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry "Butch" Wilmore have safely returned to Earth after spending nine months aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
Space Exploration, NASA
10 points by Mudasir_Fayaz 16 days ago | 0 comments
NASA to Provide Live Coverage of Crew-9 Return (nasa.gov)
NASA will provide live coverage of the agency’s SpaceX Crew-9 return to Earth from the International Space Station, beginning with Dragon spacecraft hatch closure preparations at 10:45 p.m. EDT Monday, March 17.
Space Exploration, NASA, SpaceX
15 points by gnarlynarwhal42 16 days ago | 4 comments
NASA Astronauts Depart Space Station After Nine Months in Orbit (bloomberg.com)
Two NASA astronauts stuck in orbit for nine months finally departed the International Space Station aboard a SpaceX capsule on Tuesday, kicking off their long-awaited voyage home.
Space Exploration, NASA, SpaceX
23 points by JumpCrisscross 17 days ago | 18 comments
Scenes of joy as stranded US astronauts moved a step closer to returning home (businessinsider.com)
SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft successfully docked at the International Space Station on Sunday, clearing the way for stranded US astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to return home after more than nine months in space.
Space Travel, Space Exploration, NASA
19 points by gnabgib 18 days ago | 7 comments
SpaceX's Crew-10 mission arrives at ISS to relieve Starliner astronauts (space.com)
SpaceX, ISS, Space Travel, NASA, Crew Missions
7 points by saikatsg 19 days ago | 0 comments
NASA's Punch Begins Mission to Study Solar Wind (nasa.gov)
Mission controllers for NASA’s PUNCH (Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere) have received full acquisition of signal from the four small satellites, indicating that they are functioning normally and at full power.
Space Exploration, NASA, Solar Wind
12 points by taubek 22 days ago | 1 comments
NASA Eliminates Chief Scientist and Other Jobs at Its Headquarters (nytimes.com)
NASA is eliminating its chief scientist and other roles as part of efforts by the Trump administration to pare back staff at the agency’s Washington headquarters.
NASA, Government, Jobs, Space Exploration
23 points by reaperducer 24 days ago | 1 comments
NASA closes offices, lays off staff, prepares for larger workforce reductions (spacenews.com)
WASHINGTON — NASA is closing three offices and laying off their staff as a first step in broader workforce reductions at the agency ordered by the Trump administration.
NASA, Space Exploration, Government, Workforce Reduction, Layoffs
19 points by consumer451 24 days ago | 6 comments
The NASA RIF has begun (nasawatch.com)
As directed by President Trump’s Executive Order, “Implementing the President’s ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ Workforce Optimization Initiative,” all federal agencies, including NASA, have been instructed to submit an initial plan for reductions in force and reorganization.
NASA, Government, Workforce Reduction, Politics
18 points by gooseyard 24 days ago | 1 comments
NASA officials undermine Musk's claims about 'stranded' astronauts (arstechnica.com)
The decision to swap to Endurance was made in late January, Stich said, and this allowed the launch date to be moved forward. Asked if political pressure was a reason, Stich said it was not. "It really was driven by a lot of other factors, and we were looking at this before some of those statements were made by the President and Mr. Musk," he said.
Space Exploration, NASA, Elon Musk, Politics
18 points by _mitterpach 25 days ago | 1 comments
'Extinction level' cuts coming to NASA, report says (independent.co.uk)
NASA could experience “extinction-level” cuts in President Donald Trump’s upcoming budget request, sources say.
NASA, Government Funding, Budget Cuts, Space Exploration
12 points by xqcgrek2 27 days ago | 2 comments
NASA to launch space observatory that will map 450M galaxies (nbcnews.com)
A new NASA space observatory is scheduled to launch into orbit this week on a lofty mission to map more than 450 million galaxies.
Space Exploration, Astronomy, NASA, Galaxies, Observatories
270 points by gmays 27 days ago | 121 comments
NASA Shuts Off Voyager Science Instrument (gizmodo.com)
The Voyager spacecraft have been cruising through interstellar space for more than 47 years, collecting precious data on the vast cosmos. All that traveling has taken a toll on the farthest human-made objects, and the spacecraft’s days are numbered. NASA engineers are resorting to shutting off science instruments on both Voyager probes to keep the two iconic missions alive.
Space Exploration, NASA, Voyager Spacecraft
209 points by 01-_- 28 days ago | 95 comments
Yes, we are about to be treated to a second lunar landing in a week (arstechnica.com)
The Apollo 17 mission landed on the Moon on December 11, in 1972. From that point on, literally for decades, NASA and the United States did not go back to the surface of our nearest planetary body.
Space Exploration, NASA, History, Lunar Missions
4 points by _mitterpach 29 days ago | 0 comments
NASA photo captures sound barrier being broken (cnn.com)
NASA, Aerospace, Photography, Sound Barrier
6 points by ungut 29 days ago | 3 comments
NASA Turns Off 2 Voyager Science Instruments to Extend Mission (nasa.gov)
The farthest-flung human-made objects will be able to take their science-gathering even farther, thanks to these energy-conserving measures.
Space Exploration, NASA, Voyager, Technology, Science
74 points by sohkamyung 29 days ago | 28 comments