Space

Questions remain about the Shift4 CEO and civilian astronaut’s priorities for the space agency.

Company is developing a commercial replacement for the ISS, which is planned to be retired at the end of the decade.

Trio of launch providers is awarded a total of 54 national security spaceflight missions over about five years.

International four-person crew returns after nearly four days flying a 90-degree polar orbit and observing Earth’s poles from orbit for the first time.

Space agency so far has contracted Axiom Space for five private astronaut missions to the International Space Station.

Billionaire SpaceX ally is a space industry outsider but is broadly viewed as a solid choice to lead the space agency.

Investigation into second recent SpaceX rocket explosion still underway.

Orbital launch vehicle achieves liftoff but tumbles back to Earth after about 30 seconds in the air.

First commercial flights slated for May

Agency describes the flight as a ‘crew-capable post-certification mission’ but acknowledges the possibility of flying without astronauts.