Cat Hofacker

Associate editor @AeroAmMag

[Cat Hofacker @CatHofacker]

https://t.co/cJXEJBd7qa

[Cat Hofacker @CatHofacker]

On the stage at #SpaceSymposium, NASA Admin. Jared Issacman says he's "gaining confidence by the day" that both HLS providers will be able to test hardware during the Artemis III test mission.

[Spaceflight Now @SpaceflightNow]

"For the first time since 1972, during Apollo 17, human beings have left Earth orbit" – Dr. Lori Glaze, NASA's head of exploration systems

[Aerospace America @AeroAmMag]

NASA’s first crewed lunar mission in over 50 years began today when the towering SLS rocket lifted off at 6:35 p.m. Eastern, leaving behind a thick, white plume as it ascended into the blue sky over Cape Canaveral and disappeared over the Atlantic.
https://t.co/9bRJNuhGaV

[NASA @NASA]

Liftoff.

The Artemis II mission launched from @NASAKennedy at 6:35pm ET (2235 UTC), propelling four astronauts on a journey around the Moon.

Artemis II will pave the way for future Moon landings, as well as the next giant leap — astronauts on Mars.

[Aerospace America @AeroAmMag]

ICYMI: NASA's Artemis II is scheduled to liftoff at 6:24 p.m. ET tonight. The 10-day mission will evaluate a range of technologies and techniques critical to the Artemis IV landing and other future lunar expeditions.
https://t.co/LDMcvPeFnj

[Aerospace America @AeroAmMag]

The U.S. is once again trying to beat another nation to landing astronauts on the moon, and the stakes are even higher than in the 1960s. Our April-June cover story examines this 21st century space race.
https://t.co/vqEIQbBgLo

[Aerospace America @AeroAmMag]

The April-June 2026 magazine is live. Dive into these stories and more:
- The status and stakes of the U.S.-Chinese race to land astronauts on the moon
- Rocket Lab’s next rocket and how it could shake up the market
- Inside DARPA’s X-65 demonstrator
https://t.co/Pxmbw0GXPE

[Aerospace America @AeroAmMag]

NASA plans to roll the SLS rocket back to the launchpad next Thursday, in preparation for a April 1 launch of the Artemis II flight that will send humans beyond low-Earth orbit for the first time since 1972.
https://t.co/6lTyBLyUC8

[Cat Hofacker @CatHofacker]

The discussion around the Artemis II wet dress prompted me to revisit this SLS feature I wrote a little over 4 years ago -- and not much has changed.
https://t.co/sIXupNUayz

[Cat Hofacker @CatHofacker]

It's a good day when you're able to write happy news.

Today is a good day.

[Aerospace America @AeroAmMag]

Blue Origin launched its second New Glenn on Thursday, lofting a pair of NASA spacecraft bound for Mars and, for the first time, completing a vertical landing of the rocket’s first stage on a barge in the Atlantic Ocean.
https://t.co/UsKW5VZH5s

[Dave Limp @davill]

NG-1's goal was clear: reach orbit, everything after that was a bonus. NG-2 builds on that with our primary goal to get Escapade safely to orbit and land the booster. What if we don't stick the landing? That's ok. We've got several more New Glenn boosters already in production. In this mission, we will be delivering @NASA's ESCAPADE to orbit and supporting @Viasat's technology demonstration. Onwards to launch!

[Cat Hofacker @CatHofacker]

Attempt #3 for Flight 10. Weather is 55% favorable for a 6:30 Central liftoff

[SpaceX @SpaceX]

Watch Starship's tenth flight test → https://t.co/UIwbeGoo2B https://t.co/BFrpQPQFUw

[Cat Hofacker @CatHofacker]

Axiom Space has enough backlog for its next four private spaceflights to ISS, CEO Tejpaul Bhatvia says during the #ascendspace opening session.

[Jeff Foust @jeff_foust]

Sixty-four House members have signed a letter to NASA's acting administrator, Sean Duffy, asking him to "ensure no actions are taken at NASA to implement the proposed funding cuts" to science in the FY26 proposal until Congress passes a spending bill. https://t.co/M8LQSlPmo5

[Paul Marks @PaulMarks12]

Power transistor precursors for #EVs, #eVTOLs and hybrid electric aircraft are best grown in low Earth orbit, according to @Space_Forge. Find out why in my latest story for @AeroAmMag.

[Cat Hofacker @CatHofacker]

"The science that NASA produces results in a positive view of America at home and around the world. They are a visible example of what makes America great."

[Planetary Society @exploreplanets]

This has never happened before. Every living former NASA Science Chief united to sign a joint letter to Congress, urging them to reject a devastating 47% cut to NASA’s science budget.

Led by our board member and former NASA Associate Administrator of Science John Grunsfeld, we helped bring this letter to life. Read the full letter here ⬇️ https://t.co/r2L1GOYXl2

[Aerospace America @AeroAmMag]

Expanding the role of drones in firefighting; building life support systems for space stations; designing a hydrogen airliner — explore these stories and more in the July-September magazine, available online now!
https://t.co/Pxmbw0GXPE

[Aerospace America @AeroAmMag]

EXCLUSIVE: Since Volocopter's rescue by China-owned Diamond Aircraft Industries earlier this year, questions have abounded about the company's future. We sat down with the acting CEO on the sidelines of the Paris Air Show to discuss the road ahead.
https://t.co/pu13KNZ0Ug

[Cat Hofacker @CatHofacker]

Here's more on Boom's quiet supersonic tech from the April issue of @AeroAmMag
https://t.co/k2S2S9k3Oo

[Aerospace America @AeroAmMag]

ICYMI: Nearly 10 years after its founding, Boom Supersonic broke the sound barrier with its XB-1 subscale demonstrator — without generating a sonic boom. Here’s the company’s plan to automate this technique for its future passenger airliners.
https://t.co/IyZbajHo3c

[Cat Hofacker @CatHofacker]

President Trump issues an executive order directing FAA "to repeal the prohibition on overland supersonic flight, establish an interim noise-based certification standard, and repeal other regulations that hinder supersonic flight." https://t.co/CghaUKKEJn

[Cat Hofacker @CatHofacker]

Boom Supersonic believes the executive order clears the way for it to fly its Mach 1.7 Overtures over land, because of flight control tech that would prevent the aircraft's sonic booms from reaching the ground.
https://t.co/VTdb2ycUhc

[Boom Supersonic @boomsupersonic]

Breaking the sound barrier, again. Today, @realDonaldTrump issued an executive order that effectively lifts the 52-year ban on civil supersonic flight over land in the U.S. It directs the FAA to repeal the supersonic speed limit as long as aircraft don’t produce an audible sonic boom on the ground.

Thank you, President Trump, for unlocking the future of faster and quieter travel.