Short Takes – 6-11-25

5 things in Trump’s budget that won’t make NASA great again. ArsTechnica.com article. Intersesting analysis with pros and cons. Pull quote: “This Commercial Mars Payload Services program would be modeled on NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services program. So far, the commercial lunar program has a mixed record in terms of successful landings, but it has sparked the development of multiple commercial Moon landers from companies across the United States that cost less than what NASA would have paid for a traditional lunar lander program. Supporters argue a similar program for Mars could yield the same kinds of economic benefits.”

Booster leak delays Ax-4 private astronaut mission to ISS. SpaceNews.com article. Pull quote: “The is no immediate schedule pressure to launch Ax-4. Dana Weigel, NASA ISS program manager, said at the briefing that the station can support launch opportunities through the end of June. After a break to accommodate the departure and arrival of Russian Progress cargo spacecraft as well as lighting conditions, more Ax-4 launch opportunities begin in the second week of July. “There’s plenty of opportunities to fly the vehicle,” she said.”

EO 14304 - Leading the World in Supersonic Flight. Federal Register.

EO 14305 - Restoring American Airspace Sovereignty. Federal Register.

EO 14306 - Sustaining Select Efforts To Strengthen the Nation's Cybersecurity and Amending Executive Order 13694 and Executive Order 14144. Federal Register.

EO 14307 - Unleashing American Drone Dominance. Federal Register.