NASA's Latest Milestones: SpaceX Crew-11, Budget Updates, and Upcoming Skywatching Events

NASA headlines this week with the successful launch of SpaceX Crew-11 to the International Space Station, marking another milestone in international collaboration and American leadership in space. Early on August 2nd, the Crew-11 dragon capsule docked at the ISS, temporarily bringing the station’s population up to eleven. This diverse group includes NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, JAXA’s Kimiya Yui, and Roscosmos’ Oleg Platonov. Their mission: a blend of cutting-edge science, crucial station operations, and a handoff with the departing Crew-10 team. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson called this another example of “what we can achieve when nations and the private sector work together for the benefit of humanity.” NASA’s live coverage reminded listeners that you can watch every moment across their streaming platforms.

On the policy front, NASA’s budget for 2025 is set at $25.4 billion, according to The Planetary Society, a modest 2% increase. Funding for science and space operations is up slightly, while investments in deep space missions and the flagship Mars Sample Return are being recalibrated. Notably, there’s a significant bump—41%—for construction and environmental compliance, signaling a focus on updating NASA’s facilities and ensuring a sustainable presence both on Earth and in orbit.

Agency-wide, there’s turbulence behind the scenes. The American Astronomical Society reports NASA is closing three major offices—the Office of Technology, Policy, and Strategy, the Office of the Chief Scientist, and the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Branch—following a workforce optimization order. The ongoing review of federal science spending has many in the research community uneasy, with possible future cuts to NASA’s science budget still looming. Congress avoided a government shutdown for now, but many critical research and outreach programs remain on watch.

These changes have real impacts. NASA’s continued partnership with SpaceX and international agencies ensures Americans reap the benefits of global scientific exchange—from new medical research to technology with spin-offs in everyday business and state economies. However, budget constraints and office closures could slow progress on critical climate monitoring, planetary defense, and education initiatives. For local governments and private partners, this means both opportunity and uncertainty as NASA steers toward commercializing low-Earth orbit and readies for the ISS’s eventual retirement.

Looking up this month, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory highlights a stunning close conjunction of Jupiter and Venus on August 11th and 12th. While the Perseid meteor shower will be dimmed by a bright Moon, it’s still a spectacular show for backyard astronomers. For those concerned by rumors circulating online, NASA has confirmed there is no “worldwide blackout” or major solar eclipse on August 2nd—such claims are a hoax. The next major eclipse isn’t until 2027, and it won’t darken the entire globe.

What’s next? Over the coming weeks, monitor NASA’s updates for the SpaceX cargo mission delivering vital research gear—some of it crucial for keeping the ISS in orbit. Lawmakers are still debating longer-term space funding, and there may be more opportunities for public comment as NASA refines its policies and priorities, especially as it prepares for the post-ISS era.

To stay engaged, check out NASA’s coverage through their website and social media, and if you’re passionate about space, consider participating in their citizen science and public outreach initiatives. Thanks for tuning in to stay informed on how NASA’s work shapes our world and beyond—don’t forget to subscribe. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
NASA headlines this week with a successful launch of SpaceX
Crew eleven to the International Space Station, marking another milestone
in international collaboration and American leadership in space. Early on
August second, the Crew eleven Dragon capsule docked at the ISS,
temporarily bringing the station's population up to eleven. This diverse

(00:22):
group includes NASA astronauts Xena Cardman and Mike Finka, Jackson's
Camilla Yueiy and Ross Cosmos Olegg Platinov. Their mission a
blend of cutting edge science, crucial station operations, and a
handoff with the departing Crew ten team. NASA Administrator Bill
Nelson called this another example of what we can achieve

(00:42):
when nations and the private sector worked together for the
benefit of humanity. NASA's live coverage reminded listeners that you
can watch every moment across their streaming platforms. On the
policy front, NASA's budget for twenty twenty five dollars is
set at twenty five dollars and four cents, acording to
the Planetary Society, a modest two percent increase. Funding for

(01:04):
science and space operations is up slightly, while investments in
deep space missions and the flagship Mars sample return are
being recalibrated. Notably, there's a significant bump forty one percent
for construction and environmental compliance, signaling a focus on updating
NASA's facilities and ensuring a sustainable presence both on Earth

(01:25):
and in orbit. Agency wide, there's turbulence behind the scenes.
The American Astronomical Society reports NASA is closing three major offices,
the Office of Technology Policy and Strategy, the Office of
the Chief Scientists, and the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility
Branch following a workforce optimization order. The ongoing review of

(01:49):
federal science spending has many in the research community uneasy,
with possible future cuts to Mass's science budget still looming.
Congress avoided a government shut down for now, but many
critical research and outweach programs remain on watch. These changes
have real impacts. NASA's continued partnership with SpaceX and international
agencies ensures Americans reap the benefits of global scientific exchange,

(02:13):
from new medical research to technology with spinoffs in everyday
business and state economies. However, budget constraints and office closures
could slow progress some critical climate monitoring, planetary defense, and
education initiatives for local governments and private partners. This means
both opportunity and uncertainty as NASA steers toward commercializing low

(02:35):
Earth orbit and readies for the ISS's eventual retirement. Looking
up this month, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory highlights a stunning
close conjunction of Jupiter and Venus on August eleventh and twelfth.
While the Perseed Medior Shower will be dimmed by a
bright moon, it's still a spectacular show for backyard astronomers.
For those concerned by rumors circulating online, NASA has confirmed

(02:59):
there is no worldwide blackout or major solar eclipse on
August second. Such claims are a hoax. The next major
eclipse isn't until twenty twenty seven, and it won't darken
the entire globe. What's next Over the coming weeks, monitor
NASA's updates for the SpaceX cargo mission, delivering vital research gear,
some of it crucial for keeping the ISS in orbit.

(03:22):
Lawmakers are still debating longer term space funding, and there
may be more opportunities for public comment as NASA refines
its policies and priorities, especially as it prepares for the
post ISS era to stay engaged. Check out Mass's coverage
through their website and social media, and if you're passionate
about space, consider participating in their citizen science and public

(03:46):
outreach initiatives. Thanks for tuning in to stay in for
Thanks for tuning in to stay informed on how NASA's
work shapes our world and beyond. Don't forget to subscribe.
This has been a Quiet Please production. For more, check
out Quiet Please dot au