Dan Leone

Dan Leone is an editor and reporter for the ExchangeMonitor Publications covering the Department of Energy and Department of Defense nuclear weapons programs. From 2011 to 2016, Dan was the NASA reporter for the space industry publication SpaceNews, where he covered U.S. space agency policy, news and missions. He also produced the SpaceGeeks podcast showcasing interviews with space industry professionals. Dan earned a bachelor's degree in public communications from American University. You can find his latest project on Twitter at @leone_exm (opens in new tab).

Articles by: Dan Leone

JWST's Top Astronomer to Planetary Scientists: Start Your Engines

By Dan Leone published 13 November 15

NASA Eyes Sample-Return Capability for Post-2020 Mars Orbiter

By Dan Leone published 9 October 15

NASA says the orbiter it aims to launch in the 2020s could carry the mechanisms needed to collect and store surface samples for a return trip to Earth.

NASA's Osiris-Rex Asteroid Mission Kickstarts Outreach Budget With Card Game

By Dan Leone published 13 September 15

The head of NASA’s Osiris-Rex asteroid sample-return probe plans to crowdfund an outreach budget for the mission on Kickstarter by selling a card game."

NASA to Study Uranus, Neptune Orbiters

By Dan Leone published 31 August 15

NASA began an early feasibility study for missions to the distant, mostly-ignored ice-giants Uranus and Neptune, a senior agency official said here Aug. 24.

NASA Orders 2 More Space Station Cargo Missions from Orbital ATK

By Dan Leone published 20 August 15

NASA ordered two more cargo deliveries to the International Space Station from Orbital ATK under a 2008 Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract, a company spokeswoman said Aug. 12.

NASA Picks Finalists For Small Astrophysics Missions

By Dan Leone published 3 August 15

NASA has selected three finalists for its next Small Explorer astrophysics mission and two finalists for the even smaller Explorer Missions of Opportunity Line, the U.S. space agency said July 30,

In NASA First, Cubesats Headed to Mars with InSight Lander

By Dan Leone published 15 June 15

Two tiny cubesats, the first NASA plans to send to another planet, will keep watch on the agency’s InSight mission as it descends to the Martian surface.

Eichelberger with SpaceX Falcon 9 Wreckage

Beachcomber Finds SpaceX Rocket Wreckage in Bahamas

By Dan Leone published 9 June 15

Twitter user Kevin Eicrhelberger scored what will probably go down as the find of his beach-combing career: the briny wreckage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

Venus Plane Pushed for Next NASA Next Frontiers Mission

By Dan Leone published 12 May 15

An inflatable drone could cruise the sulfurous skies of Venus next decade if Northrop Gruman can sell NASA on the mission.

NASA Authorization Bill Advances on Party Lines

By Dan Leone published 4 May 15

Sparks flew on Capitol Hill where a NASA authorization bill that recommends deep cuts for Earth science made it out of a sharply divided committee on a party line vote.

Scientists Finish Last-Ditch Plan to Save Infrared Spitzer Space Telescope

By Dan Leone published 5 June 14

Researchers are ready to send NASA a last-ditch proposal to save the 11-year-old spacecraft.

A SpaceX SuperDraco rocket thruster undergoes a test fire at the company's McGregor, Texas proving ground.

SpaceX's SuperDraco Thruster for Manned Dragon Spacecraft Passes Big Test (Video)

By Dan Leone published 29 May 14

SpaceX's Dragon capsule splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on May 18, 2014 after about one month in space.

Water Leaked Inside SpaceX Dragon Capsule After Splashdown, No Damage Found: NASA Official

By Dan Leone published 23 May 14

An Orbital Sciences Corporation Antares rocket is seen on launch Pad-0A during sunrise at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island, Va., on Jan. 8, 2014 after its planned launch was delayed a day due to solar radiation concerns from a huge solar f

Antares' AJ-26 Rocket Engine Suffers Test Stand Failure

By Dan Leone published 23 May 14

A close-up look at the landing legs on a private SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launching from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., on April 14, 2014. The Falcon 9 rocket will launch a Dragon cargo ship to the International Space Station, then attempt to retur

SpaceX Formally Protests US Air Force's Rocket Launch Block Buy Contracts

By Mike Gruss, Dan Leone published 25 April 14

Congress Presses NASA Chief on Domestic and Foreign Space Threats

By Dan Leone published 9 April 14

The cover of NASA's 2015 fiscal year budget proposal released on March 4, 2014. NASA is seeking an essentially flat $17.5 billion in funding for 2015, a budget that would invest in astrophysics and planetary science programs, while maintaining its biggest

NASA's $17.5 Billion Budget Request for 2015 Would Fund New Science Missions, Ground Flying Telescope

By Dan Leone published 4 March 14

Christopher Scolese at Town Hall Meeting at Goddard Space Flight Center

NASA Chief Treads Carefully on James Webb Space Telescope Budget

By Dan Leone published 5 February 14

NASA Astronaut-Taxi Program Would Get Boost in 2014 Spending Bill

By Dan Leone published 16 January 14

Aerial view of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory

NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab Still Open for Business During Government Shutdown

By Dan Leone published 3 October 13

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory — which is run by California Institute of Technology employees, not federal civil servants — has temporarily dodged the government-shutdown bullet.

Falcon 9 Lifts Off from SpaceX’s Pad at Vandenberg, September 2013

Upper Stage of New Falcon 9 Rocket Did Not Explode After Launch, SpaceX Says

By Dan Leone published 1 October 13

SpaceX's first upgraded Falcon 9 rocket, a Falcon 9 v1.1, rolls out to its launch pad at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California for a September 2013 launch debut.

Upgraded SpaceX Rocket's Launch Test Slips to End of September

By Dan Leone published 17 September 13

NASA's NEOWISE asteroid survey indicates that there are at least 40 percent fewer near-Earth asteroids in total that are larger than 330 feet, or 100 meters.

NASA Mulls Waking Space Telescope for Asteroid Hunt

By Dan Leone published 2 August 13

An artistic rendition of the Dream Chaser vehicle launching into space.

Private Astronaut Taxi Development Entering Final Phase

By Dan Leone published 25 July 13

Planetary Resources Raises $1.5M for Crowdfunded Space Telescope

By Dan Leone published 14 July 13

Asteroid-mining hopeful Planetary Resources raised more than $1.5 million in 33 days to launch a small space telescope into low Earth orbit in 2015.