Welcome back, listeners, to your weekly dive into NASA's cosmic frontier. This week's blockbuster: NASA's SpaceX Crew-11 mission splashed down safely off California early Thursday morning after an early return sparked by a crew member's medical issue. NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, along with JAXA's Kimiya Yui and Roscosmos' Oleg Platonov, are in good shape, as NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said in the post-splashdown briefing, "This is NASA at its finest—handling the unexpected with precision." The crew undocked from the ISS Tuesday, splashing down at 3:41 a.m. on January 15, ahead of schedule after NASA flagged the concern on January 8. This international partnership highlights seamless teamwork amid real-world challenges, ensuring crew safety first. In policy news, Congress delivered a huge win with the January 5 minibus bill, allocating $24.4 billion for NASA in FY2026—rejecting the White House's $18.8 billion request and slashing deep cuts to science programs. The Planetary Society reports this, plus $10 billion from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, pushes NASA's total to over $27.5 billion, the largest since 1998 adjusted for inflation. Key saves: $7.25 billion for Science Mission Directorate, full funding for Dragonfly to Titan at $500 million, NEO Surveyor at $300 million, and restored missions like DAVINCI and VERITAS. No cuts to STEM Engagement or international commitments like the Rosalind Franklin Rover. For Americans, this means bolstered Earth observation for climate insights, planetary defense against asteroids, and STEM jobs fueling innovation. Businesses like SpaceX thrive on steady contracts, while states like Florida gear up for Artemis 2's potential February 6 launch from the Space Coast and Crew-12 on February 15. Globally, it strengthens ties with JAXA, Roscosmos, and new Artemis Accords signatory Portugal, our 60th partner. Experts note this budget stability counters months of uncertainty that shook NASA's workforce. Watch for Artemis 2's rollout starting January 17 and that postponed ISS spacewalk now set for January 15. Dive deeper at nasa.gov, and if you're innovating, check NASA's 2026 Civil Space Shortfall Ranking for crowdsourcing input. Thanks for tuning in, listeners—subscribe for more stellar updates. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai. For more http://www.quietplease.ai Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
