Bhavya Lal
b-lal.bsky.social
Bhavya Lal
@b-lal.bsky.social
Wishes to bring the solar system in our economic sphere!
Reposted by Bhavya Lal
Bad news for the new version of Starship.
@SpaceX posted images of Booster 18, the first Version 3 (V3) Super Heavy first stage, ystrdy as it was about to begin prelaunch testing. The test early this morning “seems to have just exploded” per
@LabPadre (see video: x.com/LabPadre/sta...)
.
November 21, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Reposted by Bhavya Lal
Quindar raises $18 million to scale satellite operations software

Startup founded by ex-OneWeb engineers aims to replace bespoke ground systems with automated tools
Quindar raises $18 million to scale satellite operations software
Startup founded by ex-OneWeb engineers aims to replace bespoke ground systems with automated tools
spacenews.com
November 19, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Reposted by Bhavya Lal
In answer to the question -- yes, Senate Commerce will hold another nomination hearing for Jared Isaacman to be NASA Admin. Dec 3. 10:00 am ET. Webcast.
November 18, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Reposted by Bhavya Lal
No specific date, but NASA has opened media accreditation for the Artemis II launch "in early 2026."
www.nasa.gov/news-release...
NASA Invites Media to Attend Crewed Artemis II Moon Mission Launch - NASA
Targeted to launch in early 2026, the Artemis II test flight will send NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and CSA (Canadian Space
www.nasa.gov
November 17, 2025 at 10:04 PM
I’ll be teaching a new class on cislunar governance at Georgetown this spring. It’s gonna be a ride! See here: spacestudies.georgetown.edu/courses/stia...

And yes, I’ll be coming to many of you for help, guidance, reality checks, and guest appearances. Consider this your early warning!
November 17, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Reposted by Bhavya Lal
Looks like the #shutdown is over - for now. #NASA
November 10, 2025 at 1:38 AM
Reposted by Bhavya Lal
Hegseth pledges sweeping overhaul of Pentagon procurement

Shift toward 'commercial first' buying could benefit fast-moving space and tech firms
Hegseth pledges sweeping overhaul of Pentagon procurement
Shift toward 'commercial first' buying could benefit fast-moving space and tech firms
spacenews.com
November 7, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Reposted by Bhavya Lal
Nuclear energy is key to American leadership in space

The future of American leadership in space will hinge on one factor: the ability to generate high power on orbit and on the surface of celestial bodies such as the moon. From a physics standpoint, nuclear energy offers the highest energy…
Nuclear energy is key to American leadership in space
The future of American leadership in space will hinge on one factor: the ability to generate high power on orbit and on the surface of celestial bodies such as the moon. From a physics standpoint, nuclear energy offers the highest energy density available for spacecraft, enabling more efficient and compact power generation compared to solar. In August, NASA announced a plan to deploy a 100 kilowatt nuclear fission reactor on the moon by 2030.
spacenews.com
November 6, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Reposted by Bhavya Lal
President Trump announces he is renominating Jared Isaacman to be NASA administrator. truthsocial.com/@realDonaldT...
Truth Social
Truth Social is America's
truthsocial.com
November 4, 2025 at 11:02 PM
Reposted by Bhavya Lal
White House renominates Isaacman to be NASA administrator

The White House said Nov. 4 it is renominating Jared Isaacman to be NASA administrator, the latest twist in an unprecedented saga over the agency’s leadership.
White House renominates Isaacman to be NASA administrator
The White House said Nov. 4 it is renominating Jared Isaacman to be NASA administrator, the latest twist in an unprecedented saga over the agency’s leadership.
spacenews.com
November 4, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Reposted by Bhavya Lal
I recommend this article by @meghanbartels.bsky.social and @leebillings.bsky.social for folks who are looking for *factual* information about why 3I/ATLAS is of interest to planetary astronomers: www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-...
The Race to Study an Interstellar Comet from Deep Space
Astronomers are hustling to use interplanetary spacecraft to study the interstellar comet dubbed 3I/ATLAS while the sun is hiding it from Earth
www.scientificamerican.com
October 31, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Reposted by Bhavya Lal
The next space race will be won at night

The first space race was about getting to the moon. Today’s race to the moon and Mars is about staying there.
The next space race will be won at night
The first space race was about getting to the moon. Today’s race to the moon and Mars is about staying there.
spacenews.com
October 23, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Reposted by Bhavya Lal
I have a new essay in Bloomberg Weekend about how important government science is to advanced tech like SpaceX's Starship, and what we can expect from big cuts to government R&D:
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
What Happens When the US Stops Funding the Science Behind SpaceX?
NASA’s shrinking budget threatens the public science behind SpaceX’s success, and it could weaken America’s ability to develop breakthrough technologies.
www.bloomberg.com
October 24, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Reposted by Bhavya Lal
This is one of those weeks where I'm reminded that space reporting is 95% talking about going to space and 5% actually going to space
October 21, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Reposted by Bhavya Lal
“History shows that when it comes to space nuclear power, the United States is far better at setting goals than seeing them through.”

@b-lal.bsky.social and Roger Meyers on what it will actually take to get a high-powered nuclear reactor working on the Moon by 2030: issues.org/space-nuclea...
A Strategy for Building Space Nuclear Systems That Fly
Bhavya Lal and Roger M. Myers assess what it will take for NASA to design, build, and deploy a nuclear reactor on the Moon by 2030.
issues.org
October 16, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Reposted by Bhavya Lal
Isaacman Back in the Running for NASA Administrator spacepolicyonline.com/news/isaacma...
October 15, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Reposted by Bhavya Lal
Reposted by Bhavya Lal
The NASA IG is worried about maintenance of the >50-yr old spacesuits on ISS by Collins Aerospace. Questions the award fees given to Collins over past 5 yrs bc their performance has declined. Makes recs to help NASA hold Collins accountable and ensure astronaut safety on ISS.
x.com/NASAOIG/stat...
September 30, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Reposted by Bhavya Lal
Sean Duffy re NASA in Fox News: "the budget ensures taxpayers' money drives real exploration rather than endless delays and waste." "Bloated bureaucracy, inefficiencies in contract procurement and a culture of overcaution have consistently grounded NASA missions."
x.com/SecDuffyNASA...
September 15, 2025 at 12:23 PM
If we find even fossil microbes on Mars, is it a Copernicus moment? Proof that life is not unique to Earth but a cosmic phenomenon (as all us Star Trek fans knew anyway).
September 10, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Reposted by Bhavya Lal
China proposes flyby mission to asteroid Apophis during 2029 Earth encounter

Chinese scientists are proposing using a pathfinder spacecraft to make a flyby of asteroid Apophis when it makes a close approach to Earth in 2029.
China proposes flyby mission to asteroid Apophis during 2029 Earth encounter
Chinese scientists are proposing using a pathfinder spacecraft to make a flyby of asteroid Apophis when it makes a close approach to Earth in 2029.
spacenews.com
September 9, 2025 at 7:55 AM
Reposted by Bhavya Lal
Office of Space Commerce loses 40% of budget in rescission

The Commerce Department has moved to rescind 40% of the current-year funding for the Office of Space Commerce.
Office of Space Commerce loses 40% of budget in rescission
The Commerce Department has moved to rescind 40% of the current-year funding for the Office of Space Commerce.
spacenews.com
September 9, 2025 at 10:03 AM