"NASA Cancels $2B Satellite Refueling Project Due to Contractor Issues"

NASA has decided to terminate the $2 billion On-orbit Servicing, Assembly and Manufacturing 1 (OSAM-1) project, citing technical, cost, and schedule challenges as well as a shift in the industry away from refueling unprepared spacecraft. The project's lead contractor, Maxar, expressed disappointment but is committed to supporting NASA in exploring new partnerships or alternative hardware uses. The decision comes after an audit found that the project was on track to exceed its budget and miss its launch date, with NASA attributing the delays to Maxar's poor performance. The cancellation raises questions about the impact on the Goddard center workforce, as NASA reviews mitigation strategies.