logo
Will NASA move HQ to Cleveland? Local leaders say it would ‘help all of Northeast Ohio'

Will NASA move HQ to Cleveland? Local leaders say it would ‘help all of Northeast Ohio'

Yahoo19-03-2025
CLEVELAND (WJW) – Could NASA's headquarters be in Northeast Ohio? That question is once again of the forefront of some people's minds after the safe return of NASA's astronauts Tuesday.
'The excitement of those astronauts coming home, NASA Glenn was involved in that. It's natural that it would come here because NASA Glenn is involved in every directive of the space program,' said Matt Dolan, CEO of Team NEO.
Dolan is among a group of more than 20 business leaders who co-signed a letter urging the White House and NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman 'to relocate NASA Headquarters from the D.C. Beltway to the Buckeye State — the heart of the American Midwest and the birthplace of aviation.'
The lease for NASA's headquarters in D.C. is up in 2028.
Cleveland Metropolitan Schools considering major changes to academic calendar
While they haven't announced any plans or a decision, Team NEO is being proactive in creating a larger plan for Northeast Ohio.
'We are compiling a number of sites, whether it be for building a new headquarters, renovating an existing building. We are definitely looking around Glenn, downtown, places that are 30-minute drive from there so we can build a space village and economy. So when the headquarters comes here, so does the space businesses and technologies that go with it,' said Dolan.
If NASA were to relocate, it would bring thousands of employees to work in person here in Northeast Ohio.
Heading to NCAA Tournament games? BBB warns against ticket scams
In the meantime, Dolan said his group will continue to work on incentive programs to help attract NASA headquarters here.
'That is the excitement we can bring and the economic boom that comes with it will help all of Northeast Ohio,' said Dolan.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

When will NASA get a permanent leader and why is it taking so long?
When will NASA get a permanent leader and why is it taking so long?

Yahoo

time2 hours ago

  • Yahoo

When will NASA get a permanent leader and why is it taking so long?

Six months into President Trump's second term, name almost any federal agency and it has an ambitious leader carrying out significant change. Except NASA. The world's premier space agency does have significant change in its forecast, based on President Trump's spending plan, but it still has no permanent leader. That absence at the top has increased concern among the agency's 18,000 or so employees as the president proposed a $6 billion agency-wide funding cut, as well as a 47% cut to NASA science missions – although Congress has pledged to put some of that back in. This week, 287 NASA employees signed a letter warning of "catastrophic impacts" to America's space ambitions. They addressed it to acting NASA administrator Sean Duffy, who also leads the Department of Transportation. He's the second acting administrator since Trump took office, and according to some experts, there's a good chance he may hold that role through the end of 2025 or even take on the dual role of NASA leader and Transportation head on a permanent basis. "It is unusual to have multiple acting administrators before confirmation," Mary Guenther, head of Space Policy at Progressive Policy Institute, told FLORIDA TODAY. Sean Duffy, who was confirmed as head of Department of Transportation in January, was put in as interim NASA administrator on July 9, taking over from previous acting administrator and former Kennedy Space Center director Janet Petro. "I don't think its common to have someone who has already been Senate confirmed, but for a different position -- a dual hat role -- trying to oversee NASA and something else," said Guenther. Bill Nelson was the last NASA administrator, resigning after Trump took office. What happened to Jared Isaacman's NASA nomination? It didn't start out this way when Trump took office. It looked like not only was NASA in line to get a new administrator fairly quickly but Trump's initial pick generated excitement in the space community. Trump's initial choice was billionaire businessman and and private astronaut, Jared Isaacman, who was close to SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, who was leading Trump's Department of Government Efficiency at the time. But on May 31, Trump dropped Isaacman, citing loyalty issues. Isaacman had moved forward to a final Senate vote with a favorable Senate committee vote of 19-9, and large support in the space industry. Trump said he was concerned that Isaacman had donated to Democratic campaigns. The change came around the same time as Trump and Musk had a very public falling out. "Now they have to find somebody else," said Space Policy analyst and historian, John Logsdon. "And that somebody else has to deal with what Trump wants to do with NASA." He said it's become clear that all Trump appointees are being assessed on loyalty. "These nominations -- just finding the right person, vetting them, all that jazz, usually takes a couple of months," said Guenther. "I would suspect we have a little bit longer to go." Guenther believes how long may depend, in part, on how well Duffy can handle running both NASA and the Department of Transportation. If he is successful, there could be less of a rush to get someone to NASA more quickly. How soon might NASA get a permanent administrator? There are multiple ways the next few months could play out. Guenther expects the whole process of assessing the situation and interviewing candidates to extend over the next few months. Then after a candidate is identified, there comes the Senate nomination process and vote, which can take time as was seen with Isaacman. For him, that lasted from January until his nomination was dropped in late May. "Once you get the nomination, you have to schedule the hearing and confirmation vote," said Logsdon. "It's a time consuming process." Guenther said she'd be surprised to see a confirmed administrator on the job this calendar year. She noted that may be a pessimistic way to look at it. One thing that could speed it up is if there had been another previously vetted candidate waiting in the wings even while Isaacman was proceeding through the nomination process. But it's not clear if such a candidate exists. "I think it's clear from the way Isaacman's nomination was pulled, there is a desire for loyalty − someone who is a strong proponent of the budget proposal that President Trump put forward," said Guenther. A White House budget proposal put NASA's annual budget as $18.8 billion beginning in 2026, down from the $24.8 billion this current year. The proposal includes massive cuts to science missions. Space Science will see a cut of $2.2 billion while Earth Science is set to see a $1.1 billion cut. Recently, U.S. Senate and House members approved appropriations bills which would keep NASA's annual budget at $24.9 billion. The White House proposal had also called for an end to NASA's SLS after the Artemis III moon landing in favor of commercial alternatives − however, the "big, beautiful bill" signed by Trump now allows for the Artemis IV and V missions. While it's not clear exactly what demands the administration wants from the next NASA leader, Guenther believes the candidate must be an advocate for commercial space. This means bringing in more of the private sector for NASA contracts. Logsdon said it's possible that Duffy could just assume both the Transportation and NASA jobs permanently. "He's just not confirmed as NASA Administrator, but he's been confirmed by the Senate as Secretary of Transportation, so I do not think they need to go through another hearing nomination, hearing confirmation. He's already there," said Logsdon. Should Duffy be picked to run both NASA and the Department of Transportation, the process could be expedited -- and, Logsdon said, it made sense that Petro was replaced. "If the Trump White House wanted to put Duffy in as administrator, and dual him with transportation, then Petro had to go," said Logsdon. Looking back in history: Waits for NASA leaders It's not unheard of for the space agency to be without a permanent leader for some time. Sean O'Keefe wasn't sworn in as NASA administrator until December 2001, 11 months after George W. Bush took office during his first term. Fred Gregory served as acting administrator during the wait. Gregory was then sworn in as deputy administrator. Looking back further, Richard Truly was not sworn in as NASA administrator until July 1989, serving under George H.W. Bush. "There's not one clear pattern," said Logsdon. "There have been several past instances where the nomination came in late." The best example of the nomination coming in late is James Beggs, who was nominated by President Reagan in June 1981. Six months after Reagan took office, Beggs was sworn in as NASA Administrator one month later. For now, it remains to be seen how long that wait will be during this second Trump administration. Brooke Edwards is a Space Reporter for Florida Today. Contact her at bedwards@ or on X: @brookeofstars. This article originally appeared on Florida Today: NASA still without a permanent administrator. Here's what could happen.

Launch recap: SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch in Florida lights up predawn Saturday sky
Launch recap: SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch in Florida lights up predawn Saturday sky

Yahoo

time2 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Launch recap: SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch in Florida lights up predawn Saturday sky

Launch recap: Scroll down to read live updates from the Starlink 10-26 mission which launched 5:01 a.m. from Launch Complex 40 in Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Original story: Anyone waking up early Saturday morning will want to take a look outside, as SpaceX plans to launch a Falcon 9 rocket during the predawn hours. SpaceX has confirmed it is now targeting a 5:01 a.m. launch. The rocket will take off from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, and travel on a northeast trajectory. The mission is known as Starlink 10-26, and is the latest batch of SpaceX's Starlink satellites. Starlink is a satellite internet service by SpaceX, which delivers internet to customers in some of the most remote places on Earth. No Space Coast sonic booms will be heard, as eight-and-a-half minutes past the liftoff, the rocket's booster will land on a SpaceX drone ship stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. When is the next Florida rocket launch? Is there a launch today? Upcoming SpaceX, NASA, ULA rocket launch schedule at Cape Canaveral The launch takes place on a milestone date, marking 20 years since the STS-114 space shuttle mission took off from Kennedy Space Center Pad 39B. The launch of Discovery on the STS-114 mission on July 26, 2005, marked the return to flight for the space shuttle after the Columbia tragedy investigation. Columbia broke apart during reentry on February 1, 2003, killing all seven astronauts onboard. A more than two-year investigation led to the finding that the shuttle's thermal protection on the left wing had been damaged by a chunk of foam insulation that broke off during liftoff. Countdown Timer SpaceX Falcon 9 booster lands Update 5:10 a.m.: The Falcon 9 first-stage booster just landed aboard SpaceX's drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas out on the Atlantic Ocean, completing its 22nd mission. SpaceX liftoff! Update 5:01 a.m.: SpaceX has just launched the Falcon 9 rocket carrying 28 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral SLC-40! SpaceX launch webcast begins Update 4:56 a.m.: SpaceX's launch webcast hosted on X (formerly Twitter) is now posted above, right below the countdown clock. Liftoff is scheduled in five minutes from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. This morning's SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch in Florida Update 4:51 a.m.: T-10 minutes! Head outside if you plan on catching this launch! If you have clear skies, it will be hard to miss the bright rocket rising into the predawn sky. Simply look towards the direction South of Kennedy Space Center from your direction. SpaceX launch countdown timeline Update 4:45 a.m.: Second-stage liquid oxygen loading should have now begun. Here's a behind-the-scenes rundown of SpaceX's countdown timeline. T-minus: 38 minutes: SpaceX launch director verifies 'go' for propellant load. 35 minutes: Rocket-grade kerosene and first-stage liquid oxygen loading begins. 16 minutes: Second-stage liquid oxygen loading begins. 7 minutes: Falcon 9 begins engine chill prior to launch. 1 minute: Command flight computer begins final prelaunch checks; propellant tank pressurization to flight pressure begins. 45 seconds: SpaceX launch director verifies 'go' for launch. 3 seconds: Engine controller commands engine ignition sequence to start. 0 seconds: Liftoff. SpaceX Falcon 9 fueling now underway Update 4:32 a.m.: Visual cues indicate Falcon 9 fueling procedures are now underway at Launch Complex 40, though SpaceX has yet to make an official announcement. That means tonight's Starlink mission is now locked in to lift off at 5:01 a.m. without any countdown delays, or else the launch must be postponed. SpaceX Falcon 9 launch from Cape Canaveral Update 4:25 a.m.: The Falcon 9 launching this morning will see its 22nd flight. It previously supported 17 other Starlink missions. Other missions it saw include NASA's Crew-6, SES O3b mPOWER-B, USSF-124, and Bluebird 1-5. SpaceX drone ship Update 4:10 a.m.: This morning's liftoff is still set for 5:01 a.m. There will be no Space Coast sonic booms, at the rocket's booster will land on the A Shortfall of Gravitas drone ship, which is stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. SpaceX launch prep underway in Brevard Update 3:55 a.m.: Brevard County Emergency Management officials have activated the agency's launch operations support team ahead of SpaceX's upcoming Falcon 9 launch. SpaceX Dragon prepared ahead of NASA Crew-11 launch Update 3:42 a.m.: NASA's Crew-11 astronauts will launch in a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft atop a Falcon 9 rocket no earlier than July 31 from Kennedy Space Center. SpaceX posted this update on the Dragon reaching the hangar at the launch pad. The crew is slated to fly into Kennedy Space Center this afternoon ahead of the launch. SpaceX launch in Florida weather Update 3:30 a.m.: Weather is currently clear in Brevard. The 45th Weather Squadron has predicted a 95% chance of favorable conditions for this launch window. Brooke Edwards is a Space Reporter for Florida Today. Contact her at bedwards@ or on X: @brookeofstars. This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Launch recap: SpaceX rocket launch in Cape Canaveral early Saturday Solve the daily Crossword

Bonkers NASA Mission Aims to Drop Six Helicopters Onto Mars From Space
Bonkers NASA Mission Aims to Drop Six Helicopters Onto Mars From Space

Yahoo

time6 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Bonkers NASA Mission Aims to Drop Six Helicopters Onto Mars From Space

Defense tech company AeroVironment and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory have shown off a wild concept for deploying six helicopters above the surface of Mars to scout for water and possible human landing sites. The concept, dubbed "Skyfall," builds on NASA's extremely successful and revolutionary Ingenuity Mars helicopter, which became the first manmade object to achieve powered flight on another planet in 2021. It flew a whopping 72 times over three years, vastly exceeding expectations. AeroVironment's plan is to "deploy six scout helicopters on Mars, where they would explore many of the sites selected by NASA and industry as top candidate landing sites for America's first Martian astronauts," according to a press release. As seen in a flashy animation, the "Skyfall Maneuver" will attempt to deploy the six rotorcraft from a much larger spacecraft during its descent through the Martian atmosphere, making it a highly ambitious endeavor. However, the plan would also "eliminate the necessity for a landing platform — traditionally one of the most expensive, complex and risky elements of any Mars mission," per the company. Whether such a venture will receive enough funding to be realized remains unclear at best. While AeroVironment has kicked off internal investments ahead of a planned 2028 launch, budgetary restraints at NASA could pose a major challenge. The Trump administration is planning to massively slash the space agency's budget in what critics are calling an "existential threat" to science, making anything at NASA currently an uncertain bet. Just last week, NASA's JPL reportedly held a "going out of business sale" for existing satellites, signaling tough times ahead. It's not the only concept vying to follow up on the tremendous success of Ingenuity. In December, NASA showed off a SUV-sized "Mars Chopper" with six rotor blades that could allow it to carry science payloads up to 11 pounds across distances of up to 1.9 miles per Mars day. AeroVironment's leadership claims its Skyfall concept could explore far more of the Red Planet for a fraction of the price, compared to conventional landers and rovers. "Skyfall offers a revolutionary new approach to Mars exploration that is faster and more affordable than anything that's come before it," said AeroVironment's head of space ventures, William Pomerantz, in the statement. "With six helicopters, Skyfall offers a low-cost solution that multiplies the range we would cover, the data we would collect, and the scientific research we would conduct — making humanity's first footprints on Mars meaningfully closer." Skyfall is planning to borrow heavily from its predecessor Ingenuity, including "its lightweight aircraft structure suitable for the thin atmosphere of Mars." "Ingenuity established the United States as the first and only country to achieve powered flight on another planet," said AeroVironment's president of autonomous systems, Trace Stevenson. "Skyfall builds on that promise, providing detailed, actionable data from an aerial perspective that will not only be of use planning for future crewed missions, but can also benefit the planetary science community in their search for evidence that life once existed on Mars." AeroVironment has worked on space-based laser communication terminals, as well as ground-based phased array antennas, to improve satellite command and control capabilities. How that expertise will translate to launching and landing six rotorcraft on Mars remains to be seen — but we'll be rooting for the project. More on Mars helicopters: NASA Shows Off SUV-Sized "Mars Chopper" With Six Rotor Blades

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store