Huntsville

Huntsville Members

Membership

A postcard image of the Huntsville skyline

Huntsville Alerts

Alert

blue

Axios Huntsville Partners

Axios Huntsville Thought Bubble

Thought Bubble

Get smarter, faster on what matters in Huntsville with Derek Lacey.

Axios Huntsville

Standard

President's budget brings back NASA science cuts

The President's Budget Request for fiscal year 2027 calls for $18.8 billion in NASA spending, a $5.6 billion cut.

Aerospace

NASA is looking at another potential funding hit.Why it matters: Cuts to NASA science initiatives could have a big impact locally because North Alabama is <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="one of the largest recipients" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/huntsville/2025/06/23/nasa-science-funding-huntsville-alabama-congress-budget" data-vars-content-id="eeafa5de-5ab4-4de5-9c45-eac8ee240ecd" data-vars-headline="President&#x27;s budget brings back NASA science cuts" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/huntsville/2025/06/23/nasa-science-funding-huntsville-alabama-congress-budget" target="_self">one of the largest recipients</a> of annual NASA funding awards.

Wikipedia founder says trust is broken — here's how to rebuild it

Jimmy Wales wants us to trust each other.

Culture

Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales wants us to trust. Why it matters: Trust in institutions, and in each other, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="has reached crisis levels" data-vars-click-url="https://www.edelman.com/newsroom/richard-edelmans-6am-blog/insularity-next-crisis-trust" data-vars-content-id="34975853-8000-4b43-a9fa-a194d9bd7e1b" data-vars-headline="Wikipedia founder says trust is broken — here&#x27;s how to rebuild it" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.edelman.com/newsroom/richard-edelmans-6am-blog/insularity-next-crisis-trust" target="_blank">has reached crisis levels</a>, and the consequences are rippling into every aspect of modern life. <ul><li>&quot;I think we&#x27;ve kind of hit something close to a rock bottom,&quot; Wales, a Huntsville native, told Axios.</li></ul>

What Artemis means as NASA returns to deep space

Artemis II is the first step toward NASA's new lunar focus, and a return to its original ambitions.

It&#x27;s launch day. Why it matters: Artemis II returns to NASA&#x27;s original deep-space ambitions as the agency moves toward <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a sustained presence" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-unveils-initiatives-to-achieve-americas-national-space-policy/" data-vars-content-id="93af2892-59a4-4b0c-8001-97d3496c511c" data-vars-headline="What Artemis means as NASA returns to deep space" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-unveils-initiatives-to-achieve-americas-national-space-policy/" target="_blank">a sustained presence</a> on and around the Moon.

Huntsville already in SPACECOM mix as relocation moves ahead

Lt. Gen. Richard Zellmann, SPACECOM deputy director, said the plan is to have half its personnel at Redstone by 2028.

U.S. Space Command is already up and running on Redstone Arsenal. Why it matters: As its <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="relocation advances" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/huntsville/2026/02/17/britt-huntsville-space-command-dhs-ice" data-vars-content-id="44de49d1-96d0-44ab-9923-fc8f3e071435" data-vars-headline="Huntsville already in SPACECOM mix as relocation moves ahead" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/huntsville/2026/02/17/britt-huntsville-space-command-dhs-ice" target="_self">relocation advances</a>, a top SPACECOM official addressed a crowd in Huntsville to lay out its mission and how it can collaborate locally to achieve it.

ISS Crew-11 astronauts bring the view from orbit to Marshall

NASA's SpaceX Crew-11 astronauts stopped in Huntsville to meet the people they coordinated with in space.

Astronauts from the International Space Station stopped in Huntsville Wednesday to talk with folks they communicated with over five months in space. Why it matters: ISS astronauts work in close concert with folks on the ground at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville as they conduct scientific experiments in orbit.

AeroVironment touts $5-per-shot anti-drone laser in Huntsville

The Locust X3 can down a drone at under $5 per shot, the company says.

AeroVironment&#x27;s Locust X3 laser system can down a drone at less than $5 per shot from a virtually unlimited magazine. Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Inexpensive drones are changing" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/15/iran-drones-ukraine-russia-shahed" data-vars-content-id="00172514-42b5-42b0-ae27-3d7d20e50462" data-vars-headline="AeroVironment touts $5-per-shot anti-drone laser in Huntsville" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/15/iran-drones-ukraine-russia-shahed" target="_self">Inexpensive drones are changing</a> warfare, and shooting them down with <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="$2 million missiles" data-vars-click-url="https://www.war.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/4150954/socom-changing-operational-demands-require-acquisition-changes/" data-vars-content-id="00172514-42b5-42b0-ae27-3d7d20e50462" data-vars-headline="AeroVironment touts $5-per-shot anti-drone laser in Huntsville" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.war.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/4150954/socom-changing-operational-demands-require-acquisition-changes/" target="_blank">$2 million missiles</a> is unsustainable.

Army pushes "factory to front line" focus at AUSA Global Force

One of the defense industry's biggest events of the year is taking over the Von Braun Center this week.

For the U.S. Army to solve critical global problems at scale, &quot;an unbreakable connection must exist from the factory to the front line,&quot; Army Under Secretary Michael Obadal told a packed house Tuesday. Why it matters: To help accomplish that, AUSA&#x27;s Global Force Symposium, one of the defense industry&#x27;s biggest events of the year, is taking over the Von Braun Center this week.

Northrop's ready to hit the gas on IBCS

IBCS is being further refined to focus on modularity and scalability.

Northrop Grumman is ready to ramp up production of its Huntsville-built Integrated Battle Command System. Why it matters: As IBCS gains traction and demand grows, Northrop is focused on scaling production and adapting the system for modular use on smaller platforms.

NASA shuffles Artemis missions

NASA pushed its moon landing mission to 2028.

NASA has made some big changes to the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Artemis program" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/esdmd/nasa-strengthens-artemis-adds-mission-refines-overall-architecture/" data-vars-content-id="571fe4f5-8852-4370-b042-06e120e3ef7a" data-vars-headline="NASA shuffles Artemis missions" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/esdmd/nasa-strengthens-artemis-adds-mission-refines-overall-architecture/" target="_blank">Artemis program</a> mission lineup, including eyeing April 1 as the earliest launch opportunity for Artemis II. Why it matters: NASA is pushing the moon landing back and rethinking Space Launch System rocket hardware for future missions.

Tuberville backs Trump on Iran strikes

The senator told a Huntsville crowd that he's "100% behind President Trump."

As President Trump <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="threatens to escalate" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/07/trump-iran-gas-fuel-strikes" data-vars-content-id="2ec1c9cd-6c15-47de-ab22-c674d60121c0" data-vars-headline="Tuberville backs Trump on Iran strikes" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/07/trump-iran-gas-fuel-strikes" target="_self">threatens to escalate</a> bombings in Iran, U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville says further action there or elsewhere doesn&#x27;t need to come before Congress, pointing to provisions of the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="War Powers Resolution" data-vars-click-url="https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/IF13134" data-vars-content-id="2ec1c9cd-6c15-47de-ab22-c674d60121c0" data-vars-headline="Tuberville backs Trump on Iran strikes" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/IF13134" target="_blank">War Powers Resolution</a> and Congress&#x27;s power of the purse.Why it matters: Foreign policy is local for Huntsville, an epicenter of missile defense and other capabilities on the forefront of the conflict in Iran. <ul><li>As Tuberville said Monday at the Von Braun Center, &quot;Many in this room ... are going to continue to play supporting roles in the defensive efforts.&quot;</li></ul>

Fuel leak pushes NASA's Artemis II launch

Artemis II is now set for launch no earlier than March.

The Artemis II launch window now opens <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="March 6" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/artemis-ii-mission-availability.pdf?emrc=698228bb21474" data-vars-content-id="3863b13c-a0eb-4ccd-863c-84be3e4652b5" data-vars-headline="Fuel leak pushes NASA&#x27;s Artemis II launch" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/artemis-ii-mission-availability.pdf?emrc=698228bb21474" target="_blank">March 6</a>, following familiar fueling issues during a test Monday. Why it matters: A hydrogen fuel leak during the Artemis II wet dress rehearsal process has pushed back the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="launch" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/huntsville/aerospace" data-vars-content-id="3863b13c-a0eb-4ccd-863c-84be3e4652b5" data-vars-headline="Fuel leak pushes NASA&#x27;s Artemis II launch" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/huntsville/aerospace" target="_self">launch</a> of NASA&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="first moon mission" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nasa.gov/mission/artemis-ii/" data-vars-content-id="3863b13c-a0eb-4ccd-863c-84be3e4652b5" data-vars-headline="Fuel leak pushes NASA&#x27;s Artemis II launch" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nasa.gov/mission/artemis-ii/" target="_blank">first moon mission</a> in more than 50 years.