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Mark R. Whittington, Opinion Contributor

Mark R. Whittington, Opinion Contributor

The Hill

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Blue Origin’s New Glenn launch ups the ante on the commercial space race 

The successful launch represents a triumph for the rival rocket company to Elon Musk’s SpaceX.

26.01.2025 10

The Hill

Mark R. Whittington, Opinion Contributor

SpaceX's moon launch marks another win for private space companies

While SpaceX is not the sole new launch company, it has set the pace for reducing the cost and increasing the reliability of space launches. 

19.01.2025 20

The Hill

Mark R. Whittington, Opinion Contributor

Trump can use Russia’s space program to end the war in Ukraine

Trump could sweeten the deal by making Putin an offer he can’t refuse. 

12.01.2025 7

The Hill

Mark R. Whittington, Opinion Contributor

Trump is pondering a shake-up of NASA and its programs

A five-person committee within the Trump transition team is mulling over policy suggestions that represent major changes to the way the space...

05.01.2025 30

The Hill

Mark R. Whittington, Opinion Contributor

The most significant space events for 2024

2024 saw a number of successful moon landings by Japan, Intuitive Machines, and SpaceX, while the Boeing Starliner stranded two American astronauts...

29.12.2024 7

The Hill

Mark R. Whittington, Opinion Contributor

Is iSpace getting into the rare helium mining business?

The iSpace-Magna Petra agreement to start returning that isotope to Earth could be a small, first step that could spark a giant leap for a fusion...

22.12.2024 50

The Hill

Mark R. Whittington, Opinion Contributor

Jared Isaacman is a brilliant choice for NASA administrator

Reaction to Isaacman’s nomination has been all but universally positive. 

15.12.2024 9

The Hill

Mark R. Whittington, Opinion Contributor

The NASA-SpaceX launch to Titan sparks dreams of colonization

It turns out that the moon of Saturn has certain advantages for future space colonists not present on the moon or Mars.

08.12.2024 2

The Hill

Mark R. Whittington, Opinion Contributor

The next NASA administrator needs to clean house for commercial space

Commercial programs financed by NASA have run into some problems, many inflicted by space agency managers.

01.12.2024 2

The Hill

Mark R. Whittington, Opinion Contributor

Can Blue Origin and Rocket Lab ever compete against SpaceX?

While SpaceX has revolutionized space launches, vastly decreasing their cost and increasing their reliability, the company founded by Elon Musk has...

24.11.2024 4

The Hill

Mark R. Whittington, Opinion Contributor

An Elon Musk-inspired pivot to Mars would be a mistake

Firming up plans to go to Mars would be fine, so long as it is not done at the expense of returning to the moon.

17.11.2024 3

The Hill

Mark R. Whittington, Opinion Contributor

A few helpful suggestions for President Trump on NASA space policy

We have a chance for a reset that will enable a space future for the United States and the world.

10.11.2024 30

The Hill

Mark R. Whittington, Opinion Contributor

Vast’s commercial space station could create opportunities that ISS couldn't

The resulting Haven-2 facility will be immense and filled with capabilities that could meet the needs of a wide variety of customers, both...

03.11.2024 10

The Hill

Mark R. Whittington, Opinion Contributor

Can Jim Bridenstine rescue NASA’s Mars Sample Return mission?

If Bridenstine becomes administrator of NASA again, his first task would be to get the Artemis program on track.

27.10.2024 2

The Hill

Mark R. Whittington, Opinion Contributor

How SpaceX caught a rocket in midair and launched the Europa Clipper

The test flight and its spectacular conclusion was a tiny step in the Starship’s development and a giant leap on the journey back to the moon and...

20.10.2024 2

The Hill

Mark R. Whittington, Opinion Contributor

Which commercial explorer will be the next to land on the moon?

The moon landing missions planned to take place in the next few months are the Firefly Aerospace Blue Ghost, the Intuitive Machines IM-2 Nova C and...

13.10.2024 10

The Hill

Mark R. Whittington, Opinion Contributor

Could SpaceX and Elon Musk get people on Mars by 2028?

Two problems must be solved before SpaceX lands anything on Mars, one technical, one bureaucratic.

06.10.2024 30

The Hill

Mark R. Whittington, Opinion Contributor

America should welcome India’s rise as a space power

The situation sets up an interesting dynamic that the United States and India both can use to their mutual advantage.

29.09.2024 20

The Hill

Mark R. Whittington, Opinion Contributor

Polaris Dawn is as much about art as it is about science

The history of space exploration can be said to be written in images as much as in words.

22.09.2024 40

The Hill

Mark R. Whittington, Opinion Contributor

How a Trump-Musk government efficiency commission might affect NASA

Such a commission would be the perfect vehicle for looking at NASA, an agency with a storied history beset with a slew of problems.

15.09.2024 10

The Hill

Mark R. Whittington, Opinion Contributor

Robert Reich wants the US to cut ties with SpaceX 

His suggestion that the United States government cut all ties to SpaceX would be an unmitigated disaster for NASA and the United States military.

08.09.2024 40

The Hill

Mark R. Whittington, Opinion Contributor

Space policy could become partisan in the 2024 election

The sticking point seems to be developing not so much around what space policy should be, but how it is being executed.

01.09.2024 2

The Hill

Mark R. Whittington, Opinion Contributor

NASA can save its VIPER rover with private-sector help

The prospect of VIPER becoming more of a public/private partnership illustrates the great advantage of a thriving commercial space sector to pick...

25.08.2024 10

The Hill

Mark R. Whittington, Opinion Contributor

Everybody's talking about space debris, but who will take action?

Left alone, the clouds of flying space junk will make low Earth orbit space increasingly hazardous to navigate.

18.08.2024 3

The Hill

Mark R. Whittington, Opinion Contributor

What space policy could look like after the 2024 election

Whoever gets sworn in on Jan. 20 is going to face some monumental challenges going forward.

11.08.2024 20

The Hill

Mark R. Whittington, Opinion Contributor

Why SpaceX is running away with the commercial space race

SpaceX, the company founded by Elon Musk, is beating the competition hands down for NASA contracts.

04.08.2024 10

The Hill

Mark R. Whittington, Opinion Contributor

NASA’s VIPER cancellation is more than a disappointment, it’s a scandal

The space agency has run out of money and, absent a last-minute salvation by Congress or either a commercial or international entity, the mission...

28.07.2024 20

The Hill

Mark R. Whittington, Opinion Contributor

Can the Boeing Starliner bring back its astronauts and its reputation?

The first crewed flight of the Boeing Starliner to the International Space Station was supposed to last just eight days. 

21.07.2024 1

The Hill

Mark R. Whittington, Opinion Contributor

Apollo 11's memories are fueling excitement for the Artemis generation 

Just as Apollo 11 did, Artemis 3, whenever it happens, will provide a realization that there is still the capacity for greatness in the world.

16.07.2024 20

The Hill

Mark R. Whittington, Opinion Contributor