Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · 16h

UH scientists find NASA clean room bacterium ‘plays dead.’ Could other dormant germs be in hospitals?

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This bacterium 'plays dead' to survive — even inside a NASA clean room

Microbiologists at the University of Houston confirmed that a bacterium found in NASA spacecraft assembly rooms, called Tersicoccus phoenicis, will go dormant when it runs out of food.

www.houstonchronicle.com

Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · 1d

Updated:

SpaceX and Blue Origin will have "the opportunity to present acceleration approaches by Oct. 29." The agency is also requesting plans from the commercial space industry more broadly for how NASA can "increase the cadence of our mission."

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Could Blue Origin develop Artemis III moon lander? NASA reopens bidding.

Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy announced Monday that he would allow other companies to compete for the Artemis III landing contract that was awarded to the SpaceX Starship spacecraft.

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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · 1d

Historically, SpaceX has offset its wetlands destruction by donating land to the state. But now, SpaceX is hoping to preserve one piece of land that can be tapped again — and again — as it develops the world’s most powerful rocket outside of Brownsville.

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SpaceX seeks wetlands mitigation bank to grow Starship launch site

SpaceX wants to create the Rockhands Mitigation Bank to offset a proposed launch pad expansion that would destroy 18 acres of wetlands in South Texas.

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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · 1d

NASA will allow other companies to vie for its Artemis III human landing system as Starship falls behind schedule in Texas.

Artemis III is now set to launch no later than 2028, suggesting a slip from its launch target of 2027.

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Could Blue Origin develop Artemis III moon lander? NASA reopens bidding.

Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy announced Monday that he would allow other companies to compete for the Artemis III landing contract that was awarded to the SpaceX Starship spacecraft.

www.houstonchronicle.com

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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · 13d

‘Fiddler on the Moon’ examines if Judaism can be adapted to spaceflight.

“The specifics are Jewish, but the themes are universal. They allow us to explore this intersection of religion and science, which are commonly viewed as polar opposites."

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‘Fiddler on the Moon’ examines how Judaism can be adapted to spaceflight

“Fiddler on the Moon: Judaism in Space” is a short documentary on this religion during the Apollo moon landing, space shuttle and International Space Station.

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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · 27d

Using a first-of-its-kind data tool, the Houston Chronicle has mapped out every property that Musk’s companies own in Texas.

We found more than 500 properties across 6,000 acres. Our maps show Musk's sprawling, ambitious and ever-changing empire.

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Search our maps of Elon Musk’s expanding Texas empire across 500 properties

From rockets to Cybertrucks, Elon Musk’s Texas footprint spans 6,000 acres and 500+ properties. See every site on our interactive maps.

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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · 28d

Meet Anna Menon -- a Houston native, private astronaut, mom of two and now one of NASA's newest astronaut candidates.

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Meet the Houston mom of two who’s on track to fly to the moon or even Mars

Houston native Anna Menon, who was inspired by a fourth-grade NASA field trip and has already flown to space on a SpaceX mission, has been selected as one of NASA’s newest astronaut candidates.

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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · Sep 12

Texas A&M researcher helped NASA discover potential signs of past life on Mars

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Texas A&M researcher helped NASA discover potential signs of past life on Mars

Texas A&M University geologist Mike Tice was on the international team of scientists that analyzed data from NASA's Perseverance rover that found a potential sign of past microbial life on Mars.

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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · Sep 10

"This finding, by our incredible Perseverance rover, is the closest we've actually come to discovering ancient life on Mars."

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A rock on Mars could suggest tiny life once existed on the Red Planet, NASA says

NASA's Perseverance rover found a rock with "leopard spots" on the Red Planet that could have been created by ancient microbial life.

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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · Sep 4

From astronauts to algorithms: Houston companies are betting big on space data.

They’re developing artificial intelligence for satellites, data centers that will circle the Earth and a communications network for the moon.

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From astronauts to algorithms: Houston companies are betting big on space data

Houston's Axiom Space, Intuitive Machines, Cognitive Space and Little Place Labs are focused on the growing market of harnessing data collected in space.

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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · Aug 27

SpaceX successfully launches 10th Starship test as Trump eyes looser environmental reviews

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SpaceX launches 10th Starship test as Trump eyes looser environmental reviews

The SpaceX Starship rocket, the world’s most powerful rocket, took its 10th flight test from Starbase, Texas, on Tuesday.

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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · Aug 8

Volunteers and private landowners clearing debris from last month’s deadly flood in Central Texas have made an unexpected discovery: dinosaur footprints.

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Dinosaur footprints spotted while clearing debris from Central Texas floods

Volunteers and private landowners clearing debris from last month’s deadly flood in Central Texas have made an unexpected discovery: dinosaur footprints.

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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · Aug 6

NASA tells Sen. John Cornyn it’s moving a shuttle to Houston, but nobody is saying which one

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NASA tells John Cornyn Houston is getting a space shuttle. But which one?

The future of space shuttle Discovery and its possible move to Houston remains murky after officials put out a series of vague statements Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning.

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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · Aug 1

NASA has until Sunday to identify a space vehicle to rehome. The Big Beautiful Bill was written with the intention of moving space shuttle Discovery to Houston, but the Smithsonian is fighting back:

“The Smithsonian Institution owns the Discovery."

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Space Shuttle Discovery's move to Houston in limbo as deadline looms

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act gave NASA Administrator Sean Duffy until Sunday to identify a space vehicle to rehome. Will space shuttle Discovery come to Houston?

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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · Aug 1

Three astronauts and a cosmonaut launched toward the International Space Station Friday, beginning a mission that will coincide with the 25th anniversary of the platform sheltering humans in space.

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SpaceX Crew-11 launches to ISS for 25th anniversary mission

Members of the Crew-11 mission – NASA's Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, Japan's Kimiya Yui and Russia's Oleg Platonov – launched from Florida in a SpaceX Dragon capsule.

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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · Aug 1

NASA is watching the weather, but Crew-11 is preparing for liftoff in 2 minutes:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0IL...

NASA's SpaceX Crew-11 Launch

YouTube video by NASA

www.youtube.com

Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · Jul 31

SCRUB for weather

Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · Jul 31

Crew-11 is about to launch. Time to tune in!

plus.nasa.gov/scheduled-vi...

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 Launch

Coverage of the Launch of the NASA/SpaceX Dragon and Crew-11 to the International Space Station (Cardman, Fincke, Yui, Platonov; launch scheduled at 12:09

plus.nasa.gov

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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · Jul 28

The aerospace industry needs more fasteners -- bolts, nuts, washers, pin rivets, etc. -- and this is positioning Houston Precision Fasteners for growth, thanks to its new Italian ownership with roots in Formula One racing.

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Italian firm with Formula One roots is fueling growth at this Houston bolt maker

Houston Precision Fasteners, which makes bolts, nuts, pin rivets and other fasteners for the aerospace industry, is grappling with increased demand and constricted supply.

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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · Jul 17

San Jacinto College and Intuitive Machines are creating a workforce development program for technicians who will handle biopharmaceuticals after they are returned from space.

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San Jacinto College joins Intuitive Machines in biopharma training program

San Jacinto College and Intuitive Machines are creating a workforce development program for technicians to handle biopharmaceuticals returned from space.

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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · Jul 4

The “Big, Beautiful Bill” has nearly $10 billion earmarked for NASA – including funding for a Houston program that was on the chopping block – as lawmakers push back against President Donald Trump’s proposed NASA budget cuts.

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Congress delivers $10 billion to NASA, saving Houston-led program from Trump cut

The “Big, Beautiful Bill” has nearly $10 billion earmarked for NASA – including funding for a Houston program that was on the chopping block.

www.houstonchronicle.com

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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · Jul 3

Houston could get a famed NASA space shuttle thanks to Trump’s 'Big, Beautiful Bill'

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Houston could get a famed NASA space shuttle thanks to the 'Big, Beautiful Bill'

U.S. Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz got language into President Donald Trump's "Big, Beautiful Bill" that creates a path for getting a space shuttle to Houston.

www.houstonchronicle.com

Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · Jun 30

NASA astronaut Don Pettit is an energetic tinkerer and photographer. He’s designed a zero-g coffee cup, turned a vacuum hose into a didgeridoo and written the astronauts’ guide for space photography.

His last mission was about the "science of opportunity."

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See NASA astronaut Don Pettit's stunning photos and experiments from the ISS

NASA astronaut Don Pettit, an energetic tinkerer and photographer, used his off-duty time on the International Space Station for photography and the 'science of opportunity.'

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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · Jun 26

Starbase approved new zoning rules. Here’s how it could affect land not owned by SpaceX.

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A new SpaceX city approved zoning. Here’s how it could affect Texas landowners.

Starbase, the new SpaceX city in South Texas, approved a new zoning ordinance this week. Some properties are now designated as "open" and cannot be developed.

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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · Jun 25

Houston’s Axiom Space launched its fourth human spaceflight mission, Ax-4, at 1:31 a.m. CDT. One of the mission’s roughly 60 science experiments looks to open spaceflight to people with diabetes.

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This Houston company hopes to open spaceflight to people with diabetes

Houston’s Axiom Space launched its fourth human spaceflight mission on Wednesday. One of the mission’s experiments hopes to open spaceflight to people with diabetes.

www.houstonchronicle.com

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