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In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU), the using of native materials and energy sources collected and processed to support human and robotic exploration, would be crucial to the success of manned space missions as ISRU-derived materials would replace those that otherwise would have to be hauled from Earth.
Propellant, energy, water and oxygen, building materials -- all these ISRU products were the topic of discussion at the Space Resources Utilization Roundtable, held here November 1-3 at the Colorado School of Mines.

NASA has recently scripted a trio of piloted design reference missions to the Moon: a single short stay of 7 days duration near the Moon’s equator; multiple short stay missions, but with astronaut crews having access to other lunar spots; and a scenario whereby explorers stay on the Moon for short and medium-length time periods at one area -- preferably at a lunar pole locale.

The Stardust mission spacecraft is derived from the SpaceProbe deep space bus developed by Lockheed Martin Astronautics. Virtually all of the technologies used to create the spacecraft were either already operating in space or were flight qualified for spaceflight before Stardust took advantage of them.

The Northrop/Boeing team will most likely compete against Lockheed Martin for the DEV contract, which may not be awarded for several years: NASA officials have previously stated that they are planning a "flyoff" of two CEV designs in 2008, after which NASA will choose one for full development. Unmanned test flights of that CEV design are scheduled for 2011, with human flights beginning no later than 2014. That schedule is dependent on full funding of the program by Congress; initial versions of NASA's 2005 budget in the House and Senate have made significant cuts in the CEV program.

SPACEHAB, Incorporated today announced that it has filed a formal claim against NASA under the Federal Tort Claims Act seeking restitution of its losses totaling in excess of $79.7 million resulting from the tragic destruction of the Space Shuttle Columbia on February 1, 2003.

The launch of NASA's DART spacecraft aboard an Orbital Sciences Pegasus XL scheduled for Tuesday is postponed.
A review of projected loads data, or the G-forces the payload experiences upon ignition of the Pegasus second stage, is being re-evaluated to ensure mission success.
A new launch date is under review and will be announced as soon as determined.

An electrodynamic tether (EDT) is a simple idea, but one with an amazing number of uses. An EDT system is made up of two masses in orbit connected by a long, flexible, electrically conductive cable; the tether is essentially a wire that moves through the magnetic field of the Earth (or another planet or large body). An EDT takes advantage of two basic principles of electromagnetism: current is produced when a conductive wire moves through a magnetic field, and the field exerts a force on the current.

Advances in computer technology mean that launch teams can be cut from 70 people to 20. Only two experts are needed to guide its flight, compared with 40 previously.