Archive for June, 2025
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June 12th, 2025
Image credit: The Aerospace Corporation
This document provides a deep dive and excellent reference regarding the U.S. federal civil space budget between Fiscal Year 2023 and proposed spending in Fiscal Year 2025.
The term civil space is generally understood among the public and policymakers to refer to non-national security agencies with direct missions to space.
Increased national importance
As pointed out in this document, the growing number of civil space departments and agencies “is one way of measuring space’s increased national importance.”
Indeed, the ubiquitous use of space is also a result of capabilities becoming more accessible, “allowing department agendas to incorporate space as a tool rather than endeavor a space-centric, long-term, strategic mission,” the document adds.
“As a result, the emerging civil space enterprise resembles a complex food chain, with embedded interdependencies between agencies.”
Image credit: The Aerospace Corporation
Foundational dataset
A Comprehensive Guide to the U.S. Federal Civil Space Budget provides a foundational dataset for civil space budget analyses, developed by Lindsay DeMarchi, a policy analyst in the Center for Space Policy and Strategy at The Aerospace Corporation.
Projects that support, enable, or leverage space activities for civil purposes are found among more than 100 individual line items spread across 17 federal departments and agencies and funded by 4 different appropriations bills.
Priority areas
The second half of the report introduces a novel representation of the civil space budget by organizing the data into national priority areas:
♦ American Leadership and Manufacturing
♦ Workforce Development
♦ Fundamental Science
♦ Efficiency, Improvements, and Growth
♦ Homeland Security
♦ Infrastructure, Energy, and Resiliency
♦ Remote Sensing Applications
Credit: White House
The intent of this referential dataset is to begin a broader discussion of the direct and indirect relationships civil space budget line items have to broader national priorities.
To review the document — A Comprehensive Guide to the U.S. Federal Civil Space Budget – go to:
https://csps.aerospace.org/sites/default/files/2025-06/DeMarchi_FedSpaceBudget_20250609_4.pdf
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Terraforming Mars would require warming the atmosphere to enable engineered microbes to create oxygen through photosynthesis, which would further allow for slow oxygen build-up to support liquid water and more complex life.
Image credit: Los Alamos National Laboratory
Transforming Mars to make the Red Planet more palatable for we humans is called terraforming.
But what needs to be done now if there’s intent to overhaul that world to make it more Earth-like? Also, is there science to support such a reconstruction effort?
A research group led by Pioneer Labs and the University of Chicago has taken on those issues and offer some interesting observations.
They note that this research could ultimately help maintain “oasis Earth,” arguing that technologies spurred by inhabiting Mars — such as desiccation-resistant crops, efficiently remediating soil, and improved ecosystem modeling – would likely benefit our resident planet.
A future Mars protected from the direct solar wind should come to a new equilibrium allowing an extensive atmosphere to support liquid water on its
surface.
Credit: J.L.Green, et al.
Vital testbed
“Mars terraforming research offers a vital testbed for planetary science, potentially validating theories or exposing knowledge gaps,” they explain in a newly-issued research paper appearing in Nature Astronomy. “Continued research promises significant scientific progress, regardless of whether full-scale terraforming occurs.”
The research paper, led by Erika Alden DeBenedictis, CEO of Pioneer Labs in San Francisco, California, also notes: “While the possibilities are exciting, anything as big as modification of a planetary climate has major consequences and would require careful thought once we reach the point where it is feasible.”
Without more research, DeBenedictis and colleagues add, “we do not even know what is physically or biologically possible.”
Artist’s concept depicts astronauts and human habitats on Mars.
Image credit: NASA
Should we…can we?
The researchers also underscore that any movement of humans beyond Earth raises ethical issues. “It is a trope of science fiction that, even though humans have already restructured Earth’s land surface, nitrogen cycle and so on at the planetary scale, attempts to do the same for other worlds will be seen as dysfunctional.”
Underlying the paper’s observations is that an important part of the “should we?” is the question “can we?”
“Believe it or not, no one has really addressed whether it’s feasible to terraform Mars since 1991,” said Nina Lanza, a planetary scientist at Los Alamos National Laboratory and a co-author on the paper.
“Yet since then,” Lanza points out, “we’ve made great strides in Mars science, geoengineering, launch capabilities and bioscience, which give us a chance to take a fresh look at terraforming research and ask ourselves what’s actually possible.”
Depiction shows Jezero Crater — the landing locale of the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover — as it might have appeared billions of years ago when it was perhaps a life-sustaining lake. An inlet and outlet are also visible on either side of the lake.
Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Marsshot
The Nature Astronomy perspective paper draws from the proceedings of an April 2024 Mars Terraforming Workshop held in Pasadena, California and hosted by The Astera Institute and Pioneer Labs.
As an Astera Institute resident working to terraform Mars, DeBenedictis founded Pioneer Labs, a nonprofit with a “moonshot,” better yet a “marsshot” mission, to transform microbes to be able to live on Mars.
“Some people might argue that Green Mars is not really a practical application of bioengineering, beyond that transition between a dead planet and a live one,” DeBenedictis says, but asks what are other reasons for terraforming Mars?
Image credit: SpaceX
Eminently doable
“I like Green Mars as a thesis because it is, first of all. a really well defined problem statement. It is a verifiable vision of what could be accomplished in the long term,” says DeBenedictis.
“In terms of practicality, there’s a lot more work to be done, but it’s possible that greening Mars is eminently doable and shockingly fast and cheap,” DeBenedictis senses.
Recent work points to greening Mars within roughly 30-50 years, “in the department of $100B’s” DeBenedictis says, roughly the cost of the US’s interstate highway system.
In the new research paper, fully terraforming Mars “would be (at least) a multicentury project, during which Earth’s politics will change. What will not change, the paper adds, are the physical, chemical and biological constraints—the science—that can be uncovered only through more research.
Credit: Michael Carroll via Chris McKay
“Of course, the biggest problem with these estimates right now is that not enough people are thinking about it. We need more research, more thorough cost estimates, and more discussion about whether or not we want to actually do it if it’s possible,” DeBenedictis concludes.
To access the Nature Astronomy paper – “The case for Mars terraforming research” – go to:
To access the 2024 Mars Terraforming Workshop Proceedings, go to:
https://zenodo.org/records/11390070
For more information on Pioneer Labs, the work of Erika Alden DeBenedictis and colleagues to engineer microbes for Mars, go to
Image credits: (a) D. Knaub, (b) F. Nicklen, (c) D. Perrine, (d) W. Davis, (e) G. Flipse, (f) A. Henry, (g) M. Gaughan, (h) H. Romanchik, (i) D. Patton, (j) D. Perrine, (k) S. Istrup, (l) S. Hilbourne.
Studying the behavior of humpback whales is contributing to the study of non-human intelligence and is aiding the search for extraterrestrial intelligence.
A team of scientists from the SETI Institute and the University of California at Davis have documented that humpback whales produce large bubble rings.
While this behavior may represent play or communications, those whale-produced bubbles cage prey, and also used when competing to escort a female whale.
Under the WhaleSETI project researchers have charted the actions of humpback whales that often exhibit inquisitive actions when approaching boats and swimmers while blowing bubble rings.
Two distinct and very different bubble structures, (a) bubble net and (b) bubble ring.
Image credit: (a) M. Van Aswegen/AWF); (b) D. Knaub.
Curious behavior
The WhaleSETI team is appraising intelligent, non-terrestrial (aquatic), nonhuman communication systems “to develop filters that aid in parsing cosmic signals for signs of extraterrestrial life,” explains a SETI Institute release.
“Because of current limitations on technology, an important assumption of the search for extraterrestrial intelligence is that extraterrestrial intelligence and life will be interested in making contact and so target human receivers,” said Laurance Doyle, SETI Institute scientist.
“This important assumption is certainly supported by the independent evolution of curious behavior in humpback whales,” Doyle explains.
The late Frank Drake with cosmic equation to gauge the presence of intelligent life in the cosmos. The Drake Equation identifies specific factors believed to play a role in the development of civilizations in our galaxy.
Image credit: SETI Institute
Drake Equation
The mission of WhaleSETI is to systematically investigate and comprehend the intricacies of humpback whale communication. By doing so, according to the group, the research offers a unique avenue to contribute valuable data towards the determination of astronomer Frank Drake’s Equation Factor Fi: fi = the fraction of planets with life that go on to develop intelligent life (civilizations).
“Through rigorous empirical studies, acoustic analysis, and behavioral observations, we aim to unravel the complexities of humpback whale vocalizations, seeking to discern patterns, meanings, and potential modes of interspecies communication,” explains the WhaleSETI website.
“By integrating our findings into the broader context of Drake’s Equation, we aspire to advance our understanding of the factors influencing the emergence of communicative intelligence in extraterrestrial civilizations,” the website adds.
Image of humpback whale and human encounter.
Image credit: NOAA
Interdisciplinary approach
“Through this interdisciplinary approach, our mission is to make significant strides in the quest to comprehend the prevalence and nature of communicative signals in the cosmos, ultimately contributing to the ongoing exploration of the potential for extraterrestrial life,” the WhaleSETI group points out.
The study of animal communication challenges our ideas of intelligence and informs our search for life in the universe. Among the most fascinating of vocalizations are the songs and sounds of humpback whales.
Go to — “Humpback Whale Communication and the Search for Alien Intelligence” — at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CIcIZzz8B4
For more information, go to this podcast – “Blue Dot: Whale-SETI: a communications interaction with Twain the Humpback Whale” — at:
Also, go to this research paper – “Humpback Whales Blow Poloidal Vortex Bubble Rings” – at:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/mms.70026
Lastly, in related research, read my recent Space.com story – “Could deciphering dolphin language help us communicate with ET?” – at:
Image credit: Roscosmos/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Russian President Vladimir Putin led a meeting of the Council for Strategic Development and National Projects on June 6, a gathering that involved moving forward on a number of space sector projects.
“Our rocket and space industry will have to strengthen its position as a technological flagship,” Putin emphasized.
“We are proud of the unique achievements of Soviet and Russian scientists, cosmonauts, and all specialists in the space industry. And we will definitely formulate bold, long-term plans here, set the horizon for comprehensive development for the confident work of rocket builders, spacecraft developers, and their colleagues from related sectors,” Putin said.
Russia’s Angara-A5 booster.
Image credit: Roscosmos
Updated agenda
Accordingly, Russia intends to allocate about 4 trillion 400 billion rubles to implement an updated national space project agenda, including 1 trillion 700 billion over the next six years.
Key goals include the creation of a satellite communications group, and permanent presence in the top three world leaders in the number of launches.
The launch goal is planned to be achieved through the use of reusable engines and returnable stages, and the development of spaceport infrastructure, primarily the Vostochny Cosmodrome, a Russian space launch facility in the Amur Oblast.
Highlighted in the meeting is the technology required for returning the first stage of the Angara booster and developing an oxygen-hydrogen third stage for that launcher.
Image credit: Roscosmos
Communications/Earth remote sensing
“We will continue to increase the number of communication devices in near-earth, geostationary and highly elliptical orbits. Thus, we expect to cover the entire territory of the country, including the Arctic, with stable communication channels by 2030,” First Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Denis Manturov emphasized.
Manturov said there will the involvement of private enterprises in the production of spacecraft to further develop remote sensing of the Earth. The main goals include increasing the resolution of satellite images to values comparable with competitors. Plans call for launching a system to yield remote sensing data on a commercial basis, starting in the fall of 2026.
Projected Russian orbit8ing station.
Image credit: Roscosmos/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Russia’s space station
Russia is planning to press ahead on the country’s Russian Orbital Station (ROS), following the demise of the International Space Station in 2030. At that time, the first ROS modules are to be lofted.
“It will become the world’s first drone platform equipped with robots for its maintenance,” said Manturov. “This is a patented solution of the Russian Federation. Testing the technology will allow us to apply this format to our lunar program,” he said.
Image credit: Bulletin/NPO Lavochkin
Moon, Venus initiatives
There are two separate federal projects aimed at space research : “Space Science” and “Space Atom.”
“In particular, we will have the opportunity to be the first in the world to deploy a nuclear power plant on the Moon and study the atmosphere of Venus. I would like to note that today we are the only country that has ever landed on this planet,” added the Deputy Prime Minister.
Luna-27 landing leg testing.
Image credit: NPO Lavochkin
Work on future robotic moon projects is pressing forward, recently highlighted by NPO Lavochkin in spotlighting work on Luna-27.
Lavochkin has completed development tests of a dynamically similar model of the landing vehicle for the Luna-27 mission, a south pole lander slated for launch after 2030.
Image credit: Roscosmos
Test stands
“This is one of the important stages of preparation for the upcoming lunar expedition, during which specialists worked out soft landing modes in conditions as close to real ones as possible,” reports a Lavochkin posting.
Artwork depiction of Luna-27 Moon lander.
Image credit: NPO Lavochkin
The device was also tested with a simulation of lunar gravity and contact with an analogue soil.
Lavochkin has created specialized stands to practice Moon landing modes. Last year, the stands were upgraded to meet the landing conditions of the Luna-27 spacecraft.
Lunar orbiter
Luna-27 is being developed as part of the Luna-Resource-1 project.
The first mission of the project is Luna-26 that will explore the surface from lunar orbit and select safe landing sites. To be launched in 2027, the lunar orbiter would create a topographic map of the Moon with a resolution of 2-3 meters in the southern polar region using stereo photography.
Russia’s Luna-26, a Moon orbiter.
Image credit: NPO Lavochkin
The second mission is the Luna-27 landing module itself. Its task is to study the composition of the regolith, record the presence of water, and measure the physical characteristics of the soil.
Luna-25 mishap
As part of the Luna-Glob project, NPO Lavochkin built the Luna-25 spacecraft, a small-sized demonstration landing station for testing basic soft landing technologies in the near-polar region and conducting contact studies of the south pole of the Moon.
Luna-25
Credit: Roscosmos
After Luna-25’s launch on August 10, 2023, the craft did enter lunar orbit. However, a maneuvering engine on the craft overshot its burn time, running for 127 seconds instead of 84 second. Subsequently, Luna-25 crashed onto the lunar surface on August 19, 2023.
During preparations for descent to the surface, Russia’s Luna-25 Moon lander experienced an anomaly that caused it to impact into the southwest rim of Pontécoulant G crater on Aug. 19, 2023.
Image credit: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center/Arizona State University
Image credit: NASA
Over the years, NASA has undergone ups and downs in terms of financial hits and shifts of priority.
While the projected White House recommended financial reductions and face-lifting ideas for the civilian space agency are not unique – they are being viewed by many as a budgetary bombshell.
But first a little space history.
More details at:
Image credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls
U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, unveiled yesterday his legislative directives for Senate Republicans’ budget reconciliation bill.
“Talking Points & Messaging” includes beating China to Mars and the Moon. It dedicates almost $10 billion to win the new space race with China and ensure America dominates space. Makes targeted, critical investments in Mars-forward technology, Artemis Missions and Moon to Mars program, and the International Space Station.
Artist’s view of Space Launch System/Orion spacecraft on the launch pad.
Credit: NASA
Details, details, details
Section 0005, under Mars missions, Artemis missions, and Moon to Mars program.
This section would provide $9.995 billion for fiscal year 2025 as supplemental funds for critical Mars-forward infrastructure, broader Moon-to-Mars program, and NASA’s Artemis missions.
Of the amount appropriated under this section:
o Mars Telecommunications Orbiter – $700 million for the commercial procurement of a Mars Telecommunications Orbiter. This orbiter is dual-use for both a Mars Sample Return mission, to return core samples of Mars to Earth, and future manned Mars missions.
The Gateway space station will operate in a Near Rectilinear Halo Orbit supporting crewed Artemis missions to the moon.
Image credit: NASA/Alberto Bertolin, Bradley Reynolds
o Gateway – $2.6 billion to fully fund the lunar space station known as Gateway, which is critical for establishing a sustained human presence at the Moon, as required by statute.
o Space Launch System Rockets – $4.1 billion to fund two Space Launch System (SLS) rockets for the Artemis IV and V missions. The SLS is the only human-rated rocket available that can get humans to the Moon. Importantly, this funding would not preclude integrating new, commercial options if and when they become available.
o Orion Crew Vehicle – $20 million to fund the continued procurement of the fourth Orion multi-purpose crew vehicle for use with SLS for Artemis IV and reuse with subsequent Artemis Missions. Orion is the vehicle which will take astronauts to Gateway and return them safely to Earth.
Artist rendering of Lockheed Martin-built Orion spacecraft in deep space.
Credit: Lockheed Martin
o International Space Station – $1.25 billion for the International Space Station (ISS) operations over five years. This would provide necessary funding for space operations to, from, and on the ISS to ensure an orderly transition from ISS to commercial platforms after 2030 and ensure there is no gap in American leadership in low-Earth orbit.
o U.S. Deorbit Vehicle – $325 million to fund the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle to safely deorbit the ISS. This vehicle is necessary to safely deorbit the ISS once it has reached the end of its useful life, and without which the odds of re-entry over a population center are roughly one in ten.
Kennedy Space Center.
Credit: NASA
NASA centers
o NASA Center Improvements – $1 billion for infrastructure improvements at manned spaceflight centers. Between deferred maintenance and delayed construction of new facilities, NASA’s infrastructure backlog across all centers is above $5 billion. The funds in this subsection would focus only on the manned spaceflight centers and on the infrastructure needed to beat China to Mars and the Moon.
Specifically:
▪ John C. Stennis Space Center – $120 million for infrastructure repairs and upgrades. Stennis is the home of NASA’s rocket engine testing for the heavy-lift rocket engines necessary to get to deep space.
▪ John F. Kennedy Space Center – $250 million for infrastructure repairs. The Kennedy Space Center is NASA’s premier launch complex and from which every American astronaut has been sent to space.
▪ Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center – $300 million for infrastructure repairs and upgrades. JSC is home to mission control, the astronaut corps, and overall space operations.
▪ George C. Marshall Space Flight Center – $100 million for infrastructure repairs and upgrades. Marshall is NASA’s home for propulsion.
▪ Michoud Assembly Facility – $30 million for infrastructure repairs and upgrades.
Moon to Mars?
Image credit: NASA
Time lines
Section 0005 would also require that not less than 50 percent of the funds shall be obligated not later than September 30, 2028, 100 percent of the funds shall be obligated not later than September 30, 2029, and all associated outlays shall occur not later than September 30, 2034.
The CBO preliminarily estimates $9.96 billion will be obligated and expended within the ten year window.
To read the bill text, go to:
https://www.commerce.senate.gov/services/files/AD3D04CF-52B4-411F-854B-44C55ABBADDA
Image credit: ispace/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Japan’s ispace Resilience lunar lander mission has been concluded.
Following the landing sequence, the Mission Control Center was unable to establish communications with the lander, determining that it is unlikely that communication with the Moon probe will be restored.
ispace lunar lander/rover.
Image credit: ispace
“After communication with the lander was lost, a command was sent to reboot the lander, but communication was unable to be re-established.” For press conference, go to:
https://www.youtube.com/live/0yr1a-hf7SQ?si=4nrphBwP4p3YFUAX
Image credit: Shawn Ryan Show, a Vigilance Elite production/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Steven L. Kwast appears to be the candidate of rumor to be a President Trump-nominee as NASA Administrator.
Kwast is a retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant General and the Co-founder and CEO of SpaceBilt. He has been a key advocate for the U.S. Space Force, and an innovative thinker about space technology, speaking on national security, space policy, and economic development beyond Earth.
Go to this informative Shawn Ryan Show interview on May 22 with Kwast at:
Image credit: Blue Origin
Blue Origin has begun rolling out company plans to establish itself as a provider of hardware to enable long-term human stays on the moon.
One newly revealed key element is tagged the “Transporter,” a vehicle that can be launched on a single Blue Origin New Glenn launcher into low Earth orbit. It would harvest leftover propellant from the booster’s 2nd stage and then haul the hydrogen and oxygen to lunar orbit.
Earth orbit to Moon orbit…and beyond. Blue Origin’s Transporter.
Image credit: Blue Origin
On the mark
Blue Origin is also busily developing its Mark 1, a robotic lander, as well as a Mark 2 version able to land up to four astronauts on the moon, either to equatorial or polar sites, depending on NASA needs.
For more information on Blue Origin planning, go to my new Space.com story – “Lunar landers and ‘Transporter’ Tankers: Blue Origin unveils its blueprint for the moon” at: https://www.space.com/astronomy/moon/lunar-landers-and-transporter-tankers-blue-origin-unveils-its-blueprint-for-the-moon
