Leonard David's INSIDE OUTER SPACE

David Leonard has established a personal website focused on a wide range of space-related subjects, which can be accessed at: https://www.leonarddavid.com/ With over fifty years of experience in space exploration journalism, Leonard David has contributed his insights to various platforms, including websites, newspapers, magazines, and books. His work has been featured in esteemed publications such as the Financial Times, Foreign Policy, Private Air, Sky and Telescope, Astronomy, SPACE.com, and SpaceNews, as well as Aerospace America and additional articles for Aviation Week & Space Technology magazine. David has also served as a consultant for NASA, various government entities, and the aerospace sector.

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Russia’s Robotic Moon Explorers: What’s Ahead?

2 weeks ago | leonarddavid.com | Leonard David

Work on future robotic moon projects is pressing forward, recently highlighted by NPO Lavochkin in spotlighting work on Luna-27. Lavochkin has completed development tests of a dynamically similar model of the landing vehicle for the Luna-27 mission, a south pole lander slated for launch after 2030.
Beating China to Mars and the Moon - Budget Reconciliation Text Release by Senator Ted Cruz

3 weeks ago | leonarddavid.com | Leonard David

U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, unveiled yesterday his legislative directives for Senate Republicans’ budget reconciliation bill. “Talking Points & Messaging” includes beating China to Mars and the Moon. It dedicates almost $10 billion to win the new space race with China and ensure America dominates space.
Japan’s ispace Lunar Lander: Mission Concluded - Details

3 weeks ago | leonarddavid.com | Leonard David

Japan’s ispace Resilience lunar lander mission has been concluded. Following the landing sequence, the Mission Control Center was unable to establish communications with the lander, determining that it is unlikely that communication with the Moon probe will be restored. “After communication with the lander was lost, a command was sent to reboot the lander, but communication was unable to be re-established.” For press conference, go to:https://www.youtube.com/live/0yr1a-hf7SQ?si=4nrphBwP4p3YFUAX
New NASA Administrator Nominee: Steven Kwast?

3 weeks ago | leonarddavid.com | Leonard David

Steven L. Kwast appears to be the candidate of rumor to be a President Trump-nominee as NASA Administrator. Kwast is a retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant General and the Co-founder and CEO of SpaceBilt. He has been a key advocate for the U.S. Space Force, and an innovative thinker about space technology, speaking on national security, space policy, and economic development beyond Earth.
Blue Origin’s Blueprint for the Moon

3 weeks ago | leonarddavid.com | Leonard David

Blue Origin has begun rolling out company plans to establish itself as a provider of hardware to enable long-term human stays on the moon. One newly revealed key element is tagged the “Transporter,” a vehicle that can be launched on a single Blue Origin New Glenn launcher into low Earth orbit. It would harvest leftover propellant from the booster’s 2nd stage and then haul the hydrogen and oxygen to lunar orbit.
New NASA Budget Basics: “Embrace the Challenge”

4 weeks ago | leonarddavid.com | Leonard David

Just out is the President’s Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Request for NASA – one that reflects the Trump-Vance Administration’s “commitment to strengthening America’s leadership in space exploration while exercising fiscal responsibility. ““With this budget, we aim to shape a Golden Age of innovation and exploration,” explains acting NASA Administrator, Janet Petro, in a Technical Supplement of the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget.
New FAA Statement on SpaceX Starship Flight 9

4 weeks ago | leonarddavid.com | Leonard David

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is requiring SpaceX to conduct a mishap investigation for the Starship Flight 9 mission that launched on May 27 from Starbase, Texas. “All Starship vehicle and Super Heavy booster debris landed within the designated hazard areas. There are no reports of public injury or damage to public property,” the FAA reported today. The mishap investigation is centered only on the loss of the Starship vehicle which did not complete its launch or reentry as planned.
At Risk: Historical Sites on the Moon - So What, What Now?

1 month ago | leonarddavid.com | Leonard David

The World Monuments Fund released its 2025 “Watch list” that sees the moon as a celestial sore point, tagging it as an “at risk” historic site. The hope is to thwart the threat of select lunar areas from damage, even looting and exploitative visitation by future lunar tourists. In fact, numbers of groups and individuals are saying there’s need to protect lunar heritage – before it’s too late.
China’s Asteroid Sample Return Mission: Outbound

1 month ago | leonarddavid.com | Leonard David

China’s Tianwen-2 asteroid sample return mission is now underway, launched early Thursday. A Long March-3B booster sent the probe skyward from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China’s Sichuan Province at 1:31 a.m. (Beijing Time). The Tianwen-2 probe was sent into a transfer orbit from Earth to the asteroid 2016HO3. It will journey for about one year to reach its first target, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA).
Starship Flight 9: What Went Wrong…and Right?

1 month ago | leonarddavid.com | Leonard David

SpaceX has posted a Starship ninth flight test report. The Super Heavy/Starship lifted off at 6:36 p.m. Central Time on Tuesday, May 27 from Starbase, Texas. Roaring out of Starbase, the booster performed a full-duration ascent burn with all 33 of its Raptor engines and separated from Starship’s upper stage in a hot-staging maneuver. During separation, Super Heavy performed the first “deterministic flip” followed by its boostback burn.