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SpacePolicyOnline.com is your first stop for news, information and analysis about civil, commercial, and national security space programs. Marcia Smith is the editor.
Meanwhile, up in Earth orbit, Soyuz MS-27 has just undocked from the ISS at 8:41:30 pm ET. Will land in Kazakhstan at 12:04 am ET. NASA's Jonny Kim, Roscosmos's Sergey Ryzhikov and Aleksey Zubritsky returning home after 8 months (the new standard for Soyuz missions).
December 9, 2025 at 1:43 AM
Meanwhile, up in Earth orbit, Soyuz MS-27 has just undocked from the ISS at 8:41:30 pm ET. Will land in Kazakhstan at 12:04 am ET. NASA's Jonny Kim, Roscosmos's Sergey Ryzhikov and Aleksey Zubritsky returning home after 8 months (the new standard for Soyuz missions).
Isaacman’s NASA Nomination Clears Senate Commerce Committee Again spacepolicyonline.com/news/isaacma...
December 9, 2025 at 1:34 AM
Isaacman’s NASA Nomination Clears Senate Commerce Committee Again spacepolicyonline.com/news/isaacma...
Isaacman was approved by a vote of 18-10. It was 19-9 last time -- Sen Andy Kim (D-NJ) changed to a no.
Here's how the Senators voted tonight:
Here's how the Senators voted tonight:
December 9, 2025 at 12:45 AM
Isaacman was approved by a vote of 18-10. It was 19-9 last time -- Sen Andy Kim (D-NJ) changed to a no.
Here's how the Senators voted tonight:
Here's how the Senators voted tonight:
NASA has issued a statement that Isaacman was approved, but not whether the cmte had a recorded vote and if so, how many votes he got.
December 8, 2025 at 11:14 PM
NASA has issued a statement that Isaacman was approved, but not whether the cmte had a recorded vote and if so, how many votes he got.
Well, the Sen Cmrc Executive Session where they are voting on Isaacman's nomination is NOT being livestreamed. Just spoke to the cmte and they apologize, their press release was in error, they never planned to livestream it. They'll issue a press release later w/results.
December 8, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Well, the Sen Cmrc Executive Session where they are voting on Isaacman's nomination is NOT being livestreamed. Just spoke to the cmte and they apologize, their press release was in error, they never planned to livestream it. They'll issue a press release later w/results.
For anyone planning to attend the vote on Jared Isaacman's nomination in-person this evening at 5:30 pm ET, they've changed the room. Now it'll be in S-207 (not S-216 as previously announced). And still livestreamed on the Commerce Committee's website and YouTube.
December 8, 2025 at 3:54 PM
For anyone planning to attend the vote on Jared Isaacman's nomination in-person this evening at 5:30 pm ET, they've changed the room. Now it'll be in S-207 (not S-216 as previously announced). And still livestreamed on the Commerce Committee's website and YouTube.
Text of the FY2026 NDAA came out late yesterday. Here's a link. Remember it's an AUTHORIZATION bill, not approps. Recommends funding levels, but doesn't have any money to spend.
armedservices.house.gov/ndaa/fy26-nd...
armedservices.house.gov/ndaa/fy26-nd...
FY26 NDAA Resources | House Armed Services Committee
Resources for H.R. 3838, the Streamlining Procurement for Effective Execution and Delivery and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 Conference Resources: FY26 NDAA Conference Text L...
armedservices.house.gov
December 8, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Text of the FY2026 NDAA came out late yesterday. Here's a link. Remember it's an AUTHORIZATION bill, not approps. Recommends funding levels, but doesn't have any money to spend.
armedservices.house.gov/ndaa/fy26-nd...
armedservices.house.gov/ndaa/fy26-nd...
Pick of the week is tomorrow's (Monday's) Senate Cmrc Cmte vote on Jared Isaacman's nomination to be NASA Administrator, but there's SO much more!
What’s Happening in Space Policy December 7-13, 2025 spacepolicyonline.com/news/whats-h...
What’s Happening in Space Policy December 7-13, 2025 spacepolicyonline.com/news/whats-h...
December 7, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Pick of the week is tomorrow's (Monday's) Senate Cmrc Cmte vote on Jared Isaacman's nomination to be NASA Administrator, but there's SO much more!
What’s Happening in Space Policy December 7-13, 2025 spacepolicyonline.com/news/whats-h...
What’s Happening in Space Policy December 7-13, 2025 spacepolicyonline.com/news/whats-h...
Taylor Jordan was appointed as Dir of NOAA's Office of Space Commerce on Tuesday. space.commerce.gov/department-o... Same day as OSC's "Financing the Final Frontier" event. spacepolicyonline.com/events/finan... It's in addition to being Asst Sec of Cmrc for Env Obs & Prediction, a top job at NOAA.
December 5, 2025 at 11:01 PM
Taylor Jordan was appointed as Dir of NOAA's Office of Space Commerce on Tuesday. space.commerce.gov/department-o... Same day as OSC's "Financing the Final Frontier" event. spacepolicyonline.com/events/finan... It's in addition to being Asst Sec of Cmrc for Env Obs & Prediction, a top job at NOAA.
Getting Back to the Moon Before China No Sure Bet spacepolicyonline.com/news/getting...
December 5, 2025 at 4:43 AM
Getting Back to the Moon Before China No Sure Bet spacepolicyonline.com/news/getting...
House SS&T hearing on China should start shortly at 9:00 am ET. "Strategic Trajectories: Assessing China’s Space Rise and the Risks to U.S. Leadership" with Dean Cheng, Clayton Swope, Patrick Besha, and Mike Griffin.
Watch on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0vI...
Watch on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0vI...
December 4, 2025 at 1:57 PM
House SS&T hearing on China should start shortly at 9:00 am ET. "Strategic Trajectories: Assessing China’s Space Rise and the Risks to U.S. Leadership" with Dean Cheng, Clayton Swope, Patrick Besha, and Mike Griffin.
Watch on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0vI...
Watch on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0vI...
Isaacman’s Second Hearing Mostly Friendly, Nomination Could Clear Senate Soon spacepolicyonline.com/news/isaacma...
December 4, 2025 at 12:03 AM
Isaacman’s Second Hearing Mostly Friendly, Nomination Could Clear Senate Soon spacepolicyonline.com/news/isaacma...
Fmr SpX'er Hans Koenigsmann and his friend Michi Benthaus will fly on next New Shepard. He announced in October they'd make the flight together. An engineer at ESA, she's been confined to a wheelchair since 2018 due to a mountain biking accident. www.blueorigin.com/news/new-she...
December 3, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Fmr SpX'er Hans Koenigsmann and his friend Michi Benthaus will fly on next New Shepard. He announced in October they'd make the flight together. An engineer at ESA, she's been confined to a wheelchair since 2018 due to a mountain biking accident. www.blueorigin.com/news/new-she...
Jared Isaacman's 2nd nomination hrg before the Senate Commerce Committee should start shortly. Here's his opening statement: www.commerce.senate.gov/services/fil...
He's one of two nominees this morning. The other is for a Dept of Commerce position.
Watch at: www.commerce.senate.gov/2025/11/chai...
He's one of two nominees this morning. The other is for a Dept of Commerce position.
Watch at: www.commerce.senate.gov/2025/11/chai...
December 3, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Jared Isaacman's 2nd nomination hrg before the Senate Commerce Committee should start shortly. Here's his opening statement: www.commerce.senate.gov/services/fil...
He's one of two nominees this morning. The other is for a Dept of Commerce position.
Watch at: www.commerce.senate.gov/2025/11/chai...
He's one of two nominees this morning. The other is for a Dept of Commerce position.
Watch at: www.commerce.senate.gov/2025/11/chai...
NASA Awards Lunar Freezer System Contract to Univ of Alabama at Birmingham.
www.nasa.gov/news-release...
www.nasa.gov/news-release...
NASA Awards Lunar Freezer System Contract - NASA
NASA has selected the University of Alabama at Birmingham to provide the necessary systems required to return temperature sensitive science payloads to Earth
www.nasa.gov
December 3, 2025 at 12:12 AM
NASA Awards Lunar Freezer System Contract to Univ of Alabama at Birmingham.
www.nasa.gov/news-release...
www.nasa.gov/news-release...
New ltr to NASA OIG from HSS&T RM Lofgren (D-CA) shares skdl of "consolidation" activities at NASA Goddard thru May 2026 and urges OIG to hasten its investigation to what's happening there.
democrats-science.house.gov/imo/media/do...
democrats-science.house.gov/imo/media/do...
democrats-science.house.gov/imo/media/do...
democrats-science.house.gov/imo/media/do...
December 2, 2025 at 11:53 PM
New ltr to NASA OIG from HSS&T RM Lofgren (D-CA) shares skdl of "consolidation" activities at NASA Goddard thru May 2026 and urges OIG to hasten its investigation to what's happening there.
democrats-science.house.gov/imo/media/do...
democrats-science.house.gov/imo/media/do...
democrats-science.house.gov/imo/media/do...
democrats-science.house.gov/imo/media/do...
State Department put out a press release today congratulating Hungary, Malaysia and Philippines on joining the Artemis Accords. Each signed in separate ceremonies in October during the U.S. government shutdown. www.state.gov/releases/off...
United States Welcomes Hungary, Malaysia and the Philippines Signing the Artemis Accords - United States Department of State
The Department of State congratulates Hungary, Malaysia and the Philippines on joining the Artemis Accords. The three countries became signatories at separate ceremonies in October, pledging their co...
www.state.gov
December 2, 2025 at 4:03 PM
State Department put out a press release today congratulating Hungary, Malaysia and Philippines on joining the Artemis Accords. Each signed in separate ceremonies in October during the U.S. government shutdown. www.state.gov/releases/off...
Sen. Cruz has already announced the Commerce cmte will vote on Isaacman's nomination next Monday, Dec. 8, at 5:30 pm ET, along with seven others. So the nomination hrg is this Wednesday (Dec 3) and the committee vote on Dec 8. Senate vote can be anytime thereafter.
December 2, 2025 at 12:27 AM
Sen. Cruz has already announced the Commerce cmte will vote on Isaacman's nomination next Monday, Dec. 8, at 5:30 pm ET, along with seven others. So the nomination hrg is this Wednesday (Dec 3) and the committee vote on Dec 8. Senate vote can be anytime thereafter.
Hopes for action on appropriations bills in either the House or Senate before the end of the year are fading accoring to Punchbowl News.
Re Senate: x.com/AndrewDeside...
Re House: x.com/sn_handler/s...
Re Senate: x.com/AndrewDeside...
Re House: x.com/sn_handler/s...
December 1, 2025 at 11:12 PM
Hopes for action on appropriations bills in either the House or Senate before the end of the year are fading accoring to Punchbowl News.
Re Senate: x.com/AndrewDeside...
Re House: x.com/sn_handler/s...
Re Senate: x.com/AndrewDeside...
Re House: x.com/sn_handler/s...
Sen John Cornyn (R-TX) appreciates Jared Isaacman's commitment to moving Space Shuttle Discovery to Texas and will support his nomination to be NASA Administrator.
x.com/JohnCornyn/s...
x.com/JohnCornyn/s...
December 1, 2025 at 10:56 PM
Sen John Cornyn (R-TX) appreciates Jared Isaacman's commitment to moving Space Shuttle Discovery to Texas and will support his nomination to be NASA Administrator.
x.com/JohnCornyn/s...
x.com/JohnCornyn/s...
Good story by Ken Chang about the Russian launch pad problem -- quoting Anatoly, Jeff Manber and others.
Yours truly quoted by the New York Times again (a very dangerous habit for them): www.nytimes.com/2025/12/01/s...
Russian Launch Site Mishap Shows Perilous State of Storied Space Program
www.nytimes.com
December 1, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Good story by Ken Chang about the Russian launch pad problem -- quoting Anatoly, Jeff Manber and others.
Two picks of the wk this time: the Senate Commerce (second) hrg on Jared Isaacman's nomination to be NASA Admin (Wed.) and HSS&T's China hrg (Thurs). But LOTS of other great events, too.
What’s Happening in Space Policy November 30-December 6, 2025 spacepolicyonline.com/news/whats-h...
What’s Happening in Space Policy November 30-December 6, 2025 spacepolicyonline.com/news/whats-h...
November 30, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Two picks of the wk this time: the Senate Commerce (second) hrg on Jared Isaacman's nomination to be NASA Admin (Wed.) and HSS&T's China hrg (Thurs). But LOTS of other great events, too.
What’s Happening in Space Policy November 30-December 6, 2025 spacepolicyonline.com/news/whats-h...
What’s Happening in Space Policy November 30-December 6, 2025 spacepolicyonline.com/news/whats-h...
ESA Member States Pledge Record Level of Funding spacepolicyonline.com/news/esa-mem...
November 28, 2025 at 10:27 PM
ESA Member States Pledge Record Level of Funding spacepolicyonline.com/news/esa-mem...
NASA's reply to my query about what they know about the damage to Russia's launch pad:
November 28, 2025 at 9:18 PM
NASA's reply to my query about what they know about the damage to Russia's launch pad:
Russia’s Launch Pad Damaged After Soyuz MS-28 Launch spacepolicyonline.com/news/russias...
November 28, 2025 at 5:02 AM
Russia’s Launch Pad Damaged After Soyuz MS-28 Launch spacepolicyonline.com/news/russias...