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Andrea Leinfelder

@andrealeinfelder.bsky.social
336 followers 262 following 245 posts

Space and science reporter @HoustonChronicle.com. Foodie, adventure seeker, mom of two kids and one dog. Send tips and favorite sci-fi references to Andrea.leinfelder@houstonchronicle.com.

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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
SpaceX launched its Starship rocket into orbit on Monday, pushing forward despite an engine shutting down early, to unlock a milestone years in the making as the company seeks to put humans on the moon and data centers into space. www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
houstonchronicle.com
SpaceX’s Starship reaches orbit for first time after years of testing
SpaceX launched its Starship rocket into orbit on Monday from Starbase, Texas. It was the 14th launch of the combined Super Heavy rocket and Starship spacecraft but the first to reach orbit.
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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
NASA’s Roman Space Telescope is on its way to uncover the universe’s biggest mysteries www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
houstonchronicle.com
NASA’s Roman telescope is on its way. What scientists hope to discover
NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope launched from Florida on Sunday to find new planets and to study dark energy and dark matter.
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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
I spoke with Matt Anderson, NASA's deputy administrator, to learn more about the U.S. Space Academy. He provided a lot of clarity: www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
houstonchronicle.com
Trump announces NASA-led U.S. Space Academy during trip to Houston
President Donald Trump signed an executive order to create the U.S. Space Academy on Friday during his trip to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.
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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Getting ready for Trump’s visit to NASA today. He’s giving the Artemis II crew the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.
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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Go outside tonight! There will be a *nearly* total lunar eclipse! www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
houstonchronicle.com
Houston, look up: A nearly total ‘blood moon’ is coming Thursday
It won’t be a total lunar eclipse. But at 94% eclipsed, Houstonians will want to step outside before going to bed on Thursday.
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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
Axiom Space CEO Jonathan Cirtain on NASA’s moon race and the fight to build the next space station: www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
houstonchronicle.com
Houston’s Axiom Space has two huge goals: moon suits and a space station
Axiom Space President and CEO Jonathan Cirtain discusses his first year at the company, its work on spacesuits and its drive to build a space station.
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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
Photos and a video show a new crater and pieces of the lunar surface thrown into space after a SpaceX rocket crashed into the moon. www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
houstonchronicle.com
Photos, video show crater and moon dust plume after SpaceX rocket crashes into the moon
Photos and a video show the aftermath of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket crashing into the moon early Wednesday morning.
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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
After months of negotiating incentives from Grimes County, local school districts and the state, SpaceX has officially announced that it will build the Terafab chipmaking plant in Texas outside of College Station. www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
houstonchronicle.com
Musk, Abbott confirm $17B Terafab plant will be built near College Station
SpaceX and Tesla will build the Terafab chipmaking facility in Grimes County, bringing a projected $16.8 billion investment and 3,000 jobs.
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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
NASA is accepting applications for its next yearlong "Mars" mission at the Johnson Space Center -- but this crew should expect tighter quarters. Most of the mission will be spent inside a pretend spacecraft that's just 650 square feet. Could you handle it? www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
houstonchronicle.com
NASA needs recruits for a 'Mars' mission in Houston. Could you handle it?
NASA is accepting applications for a yearlong simulated Mars mission at the Johnson Space Center to study how isolation and confinement will affect astronauts.
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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
Two rural school districts have advanced plans for $1.66 billion in tax breaks for SpaceX’s proposed chipmaking facility outside of College Station. www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
houstonchronicle.com
Two school districts approve $1.66B tax breaks for SpaceX chipmaking plant
Anderson-Shiro CISD and Iola ISD, both located in Grimes County, approved the SpaceX incentives during their separate meetings Tuesday night.
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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
Wally Funk, who fulfilled a dream 60 years in the making when she became the oldest woman to fly to space in 2021, died Wednesday night in her Grapevine home. She was 87. www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
houstonchronicle.com
Wally Funk, pioneering aviator who finally reached space at 82, dies at 87
Wally Funk, 87, was an aviation pioneer and member of the Mercury 13 who underwent astronaut tests. She died Wednesday night in Grapevine.
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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
The Exploration Co., a five-year-old European business developing the Nyx spacecraft, is tapping into Houston's human spaceflight expertise with a new Rapid Innovation Lab. The company could double or triple its U.S. workforce this year. www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
houstonchronicle.com
European spacecraft company opens Houston lab, plans major US hiring
The Exploration Co. has officially opened its Rapid Innovation Lab. It will tap into Houston's human spaceflight expertise to develop a crewed spacecraft.
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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
SpaceX president pledges stock to new Trump Accounts, with ‘bit more emphasis’ on Texas kids www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
houstonchronicle.com
SpaceX president to fund Trump Accounts, emphasize Texas kids
SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell is donating a portion of her company stock to Trump Accounts for more than 2 million children.
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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
NASA planes in Houston get Freedom 250 emblem to celebrate America's big birthday www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
houstonchronicle.com
NASA planes at Ellington Field join America's 250th birthday celebration
The agency's WB-57, T-38s, and Gulfstream V at Ellington Field in Houston were given the Freedom 250 emblem.
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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · 28/06/2026
Texas A&M University is using a centrifuge to better understand how the human body responds to low-gravity environments such as those on the moon and Mars. And unlike the centrifuges used by military pilots, this centrifuge has participants lie down. www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
houstonchronicle.com
Texas A&M revives NASA centrifuge to prepare humans for moon, Mars
Texas A&M is using a centrifuge to better understand how the human body responds to low-gravity environments such as those on the moon and Mars.
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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
Texas Supreme Court dismisses lawsuit over SpaceX beach closures but avoids key question www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
houstonchronicle.com
Texas Supreme Court dismisses lawsuit over SpaceX beach closures
The Texas Supreme Court reinstated the dismissal of a lawsuit challenging Boca Chica Beach closures during SpaceX launches, leaving a key rights question open.
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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
SpaceX is now a public company, and Elon Musk is a trillionaire. www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
houstonchronicle.com
SpaceX IPO makes Elon Musk the world’s first trillionaire
SpaceX shares ended the day 19% higher than the company's IPO listing price after the first day of trading on Nasdaq and Nasdaq Texas.
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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
Why are there no women on Artemis III? NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman explains: www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
houstonchronicle.com
NASA responds to critics asking why Artemis III has no female astronauts
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman defended all-male Artemis III crew after social media criticism, saying astronaut selection focused on mission needs and experience.
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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
NASA unveiled its Artemis III astronauts today and provided an update on the mission. “This mission will be one of the most complex that NASA has undertaken,” said Norm Knight, director of NASA’s Flight Operations Directorate. My story: www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
houstonchronicle.com
NASA names Artemis III crew for critical Earth-orbit test of moon landers
NASA unveiled the four astronauts who will fly on Artemis III: Americans Randy Bresnik, Frank Rubio, Andre Douglas and Italian Luca Parmitano with the European Space Agency.
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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
Grimes County officials approved a tax break for a SpaceX chipmaking facility on Wednesday, providing their support for a $55 billion project that could create 1,800 jobs and transform this rural area outside of College Station. www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
houstonchronicle.com
Grimes County backs SpaceX project that could bring 1,800 jobs
Grimes County approved a property tax abatement for the Terafab semiconductor manufacturing facility that SpaceX wants to build near College Station.
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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
NASA unveiled new contracts on Tuesday as part of its push to build a moon base, awarding work to one Texas company while passing over another firm based in Houston. www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
houstonchronicle.com
Texas companies win, lose contracts as NASA pushes toward a moon base
Cedar Park-based Firefly Aerospace was chosen to deliver NASA's MoonFall drones. Houston's Intuitive Machines was not chosen to build a lunar vehicle.
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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
SpaceX is dual-listing on Nasdaq and Nasdaq Texas, giving a high-profile vote of confidence to the state’s growing financial services sector. Learn about "Y'all Street" in my story with Erica Grieder: www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
houstonchronicle.com
Why Elon Musk’s SpaceX is listing on Texas’ newest stock exchange
Elon Musk’s SpaceX is going for a dual-listed IPO on Nasdaq and Nasdaq Texas. Experts say that’s a win for Texas as 'Y'all Street' grows.
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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · 23/05/2026
SpaceX struggled with its Starship engines on Friday while debuting the latest version of its rocket from South Texas. www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
houstonchronicle.com
SpaceX launches redesigned Starship rocket, but struggles continue
SpaceX debuted its redesigned Starship rocket on Friday with a flight test from Starbase. The vehicle met many of its goals yet struggled with its engines.
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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
IPOs have spillover effects that should benefit the Texas communities where SpaceX operates. But the relationship won’t be one-sided. Relatively new state laws will protect Musk, SpaceX and its board of directors from certain shareholder lawsuits. www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
houstonchronicle.com
What SpaceX’s IPO means for jobs, housing and startups in Texas
A potential SpaceX IPO may reshape South Texas with economic growth and expanded AI ambitions.
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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
SpaceX is seeking to sell shares on Nasdaq and Nasdaq Texas in what could be the world’s largest IPO, unlocking cash that could generate more jobs, home sales, startup companies and tax revenues in Texas. Here's what the IPO means for Texas: www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
houstonchronicle.com
What SpaceX’s IPO means for jobs, housing and startups in Texas
A potential SpaceX IPO may reshape South Texas with economic growth and expanded AI ambitions.
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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
Fun tidbit on Artemis III: the astronauts will spend more time inside Orion. They will circle the Earth inside the tiny capsule for more than 10 days! The extra time is needed because both Blue Origin and SpaceX will launch landers and dock with Orion. www.nasa.gov/missions/art...
nasa.gov
NASA Outlines Preliminary Artemis III Mission Plans - NASA
NASA is moving quickly to define next year’s Artemis III mission in Earth orbit, a crewed flight that will test rendezvous and docking capabilities between
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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
Elon Musk is considering a site outside College Station for the “Terafab” chip manufacturing plant he announced earlier this year. The initial phases would cost $55 billion, with the total project costing up to $119 billion, according to Grimes County. www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
houstonchronicle.com
Elon Musk’s $55B 'Terafab' chip plant could land near College Station
Elon Musk is considering a Grimes County site near College Station for a massive semiconductor manufacturing complex called Terafab.
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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
Midland-based AST SpaceMobile is building satellites that can provide 4G and 5G service directly to smartphones. It lost a satellite this week when Blue Origin's rocket malfunctioned, but it still hopes to have 45 BlueBirds in orbit this year. www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
houstonchronicle.com
Rocket failure won’t stop AST SpaceMobile’s phone-from-space plan
AST SpaceMobile continues its satellite rollout despite losing BlueBird 7 in a Blue Origin rocket malfunction, aiming for global cell phone coverage.
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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · 12/04/2026
“With their safe return to their families, the Artemis II mission is now complete.” www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
houstonchronicle.com
Artemis II astronauts make emotional return to Houston
The four astronauts who only returned to Earth yesterday explained on Saturday what the mission meant to them.
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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · 11/04/2026
What a great group of humans
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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · 11/04/2026
Big event to welcome the Artemis II crew back to Houston!
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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · 11/04/2026
The Artemis II crew is on the USS John P. Murtha. They'll go to the medical bay before flying to shore. They'll be back in Houston tomorrow.
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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · 11/04/2026
They keep saying all four astronauts are "green," which apparently means they're feeling great. I think I'd actually be green if I was bobbing this much 🤢
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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · 11/04/2026
The Artemis II astronauts are back on Earth, ending a historic flight that pushed the boundaries of exploration and laid a successful foundation for future moon-landing missions. www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
houstonchronicle.com
Client Challenge
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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · 11/04/2026
"I can't imagine a better crew than the Artemis II crew that just completed a perfect mission right now," NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said. "It's a huge moment for everybody. We are back in the business of sending astronauts to the moon."
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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · 11/04/2026
Welcome home Artemis II! Americans Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Hammock Koch and Canadian Jeremy Hansen are back on Earth. They splashed down into the Pacific Ocean at 7:07 p.m. Central time. I can't wait to see them back in Houston tomorrow!
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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · 11/04/2026
"We have a great view of the moon out window 2," Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman said. "Looks a little smaller than yesterday."
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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · 11/04/2026
Artemis II splashdown is less than an hour away. Americans Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Hammock Koch and Canadian Jeremy Hansen are expected to land in the Pacific Ocean at 7:07 p.m. Central time. www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3kR...
youtube.com
NASA's Artemis II Live Mission Coverage (Official Broadcast)
YouTube video by NASA
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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · 09/04/2026
I was fortunate to speak with the Artemis II crew during their mission. I love how @Astro_Christina answered my question last night! I'm excited to see this crew come back home. They splash down Friday night and should be back in Houston on Saturday.
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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
Look at the Artemis II astronauts in their eclipse glasses!
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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
NASA is starting to unveil its lunar flyby photos 🌝 www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
houstonchronicle.com
See stunning photos from NASA's Artemis II mission
The astronauts and cameras on NASA's Artemis II mission are capturing stunning photos of the Earth, moon and Orion spacecraft.
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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
I love this detail: The Artemis II crew ate Canadian maple cookies on the far side of the moon.
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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · 06/04/2026
Orion, the moon and Earth — from NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.
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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · 06/04/2026
The Artemis II astronauts have traveled farther from Earth than any other humans. Jim Lovell, a former NASA astronaut on Apollo 8 and Apollo 13, recorded a message before he died last year. "I know how busy you'll be, but don't forget to enjoy the view." www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
houstonchronicle.com
Artemis II astronauts go farther from Earth than any other humans
The Artemis II astronauts surpassed the Apollo 13 record of 248,655 miles from Earth on Monday at 12:56 p.m. Central time.
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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · 06/04/2026
The Artemis II astronauts will fly around the moon today. Here's what they could see. www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
houstonchronicle.com
What the Artemis II astronauts could see as they fly around the moon
Artemis II astronauts will observe the moon’s far side, break a distance record and study lunar features during the NASA mission's historic lunar flyby.
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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · 05/04/2026
The toilet is still an issue on Artemis II. Its wastewater couldn’t be vented, likely due to ice blockage. NASA moved Orion so that portion would get more sun, and it later vented half the wastewater. They can use the toilet for No. 2, but they were using Collapsable Contingency Urinals for No. 1.
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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · 04/04/2026
NASA's Artemis II mission captures stunning photos of the Earth, moon and Orion spacecraft www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
houstonchronicle.com
See stunning photos from NASA's Artemis II mission
The astronauts and cameras on NASA's Artemis II mission are capturing stunning photos of the Earth, moon and Orion spacecraft.
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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · 03/04/2026
The Artemis II trajectory is so accurate that Orion did not need its small trajectory correction burn today.
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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · 03/04/2026
Last night, Reid Wiseman said: "You could see the entire globe, from pole to pole ... and if you look really close, you could see the northern lights. It was the most spectacular moment, and it paused all four of us in our tracks." This is what they saw 🤩 Photo by Reid Wiseman
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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · 03/04/2026
As four astronauts are flying to the moon, the White House released a budget proposal that would slash NASA funding by 23%. The budget supports the agency's moon missions, but it seeks to cut science and space station funding. www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
houstonchronicle.com
White House proposes 23% cut to NASA budget, prioritizes moon missions
The White House is proposing $18.8 billion for NASA's fiscal year 2027 budget, reducing science funding while prioritizing moon missions.
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