ContractsGovernmentSpace

NASA Expands Moon Lander Competition Amid SpaceX Starship Delays

NASA is inviting other space companies to compete for the Artemis III Moon landing mission amid concerns about SpaceX’s Starship development timeline. The agency aims to ensure American astronauts reach the lunar surface before China’s planned landing. Multiple companies including Blue Origin and Lockheed Martin are reportedly preparing alternative lander concepts.

NASA Broadens Lunar Lander Competition

NASA has opened its Artemis III lunar lander contract to additional providers following reported delays in SpaceX’s Starship Human Landing System (HLS) development, according to industry reports. The agency’s decision marks a significant shift in strategy for the planned 2027 Moon landing mission as competition intensifies in the global space race.

EnvironmentGovernmentPolicy

Proposed EPA Rule Could Evaluate Toxic Chemical Risks with Less Rigor, Limit State Powers

The Trump administration’s EPA has proposed a rule that could weaken safety reviews for toxic chemicals and prevent states from enacting their own restrictions, according to reports. Critics warn this may increase health risks for consumers and workers exposed to hazardous substances.

Proposed Changes to Chemical Safety Reviews

The Environmental Protection Agency under the Trump administration has proposed a new rule that would significantly alter how some of the nation’s most toxic chemicals are evaluated for safety, according to reports from public health advocates and an EPA employee. The rule would affect substances including PFAS, formaldehyde, asbestos, and dioxins, which are known to pose serious health risks in consumer goods and workplaces.

EconomyGovernmentPolicy

Voters in Colorado and Texas to Decide Divergent Tax Policy Measures This November

Colorado voters face two tax hike measures to fund universal school lunches, while Texas considers multiple constitutional amendments prohibiting new taxes. The divergent approaches reflect broader fiscal policy trends between states.

State Tax Policy Divergence on November Ballots

While national attention has focused on redistricting efforts, sources indicate voters in Colorado and Texas will decide significantly different tax policy measures this November that reflect broader fiscal trends. According to reports, Colorado’s Democrat-led legislature has referred two tax increase measures to voters, while Texas’s Republican-controlled government is proposing multiple new taxpayer protections.