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NASA has let Axiom Space make four visits to the International Space Station and a fifth next year, but on Thursday the agency announced a new private company would be allowed a mission as well.

Vast, based in Long Beach, Calif. and on track to build its own space station, has signed an order with NASA for what would be the sixth private mission to the ISS with a launch no earlier than summer 2027 from Florida.

“Private astronaut missions represent more than access to the International Space Station — they create opportunities for new ideas, companies, and capabilities that further enhance American leadership in low Earth orbit and open doors for what’s next,” said NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman in a press release. “We’re proud to welcome Vast to this growing community of commercial partners.”

Vast’s goal with the mission is to gain insight into the infrastructure and processes that will be needed to support its own human spaceflight missions. Vast was not chosen by NASA in its original pursuit of commercial companies developing space stations, but it hopes to play a game of catchup with its eventual planned station, called Haven-2. read more

The Space Coast’s first human spaceflight of the year is on tap for early Friday morning as NASA and SpaceX aim to send up a mission to the International Space Station, and also bring back the rocket’s booster that could bring with it a sonic boom across Central Florida.

The launch of Crew-12 atop a Falcon 9 rocket is targeting liftoff at 5:15 a.m. from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40.

Space Launch Delta 45’s weather squadron forecasts a 90% chance for good conditions at the launch site, but there remains a moderate risk of poor conditions along the launch corridor. Poor weather along that path would force a delay as it would violate NASA’s needs in the event of an emergency abort before it gets to orbit.

“After detailed weather briefings Thursday morning, forecasters and mission managers opted to continue into the Crew-12 launch countdown,” reads an update from NASA. “They will again review the forecast around 10 p.m. Thursday, a few hours before the crew suits up.” read more

By ALEX VEIGA, AP Business Writer

The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate is holding at just above 6% after reversing a modest uptick in recent weeks just as the housing market closes in on the spring homebuying season.

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The benchmark 30-year fixed rate mortgage rate slipped to 6.09% from 6.11% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. One year ago, the rate averaged 6.87%.

The modest pullback brings the average rate back to where it was three weeks ago.

Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners refinancing their home loans, also edged lower this week. That average rate fell to 5.44% from 5.5% last week. A year ago, it was at 6.09%, Freddie Mac said. read more

By ALEX VEIGA, AP Business Writer

Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes fell sharply in January as higher home prices and possibly harsh winter weather kept many prospective homebuyers on the sidelines despite easing mortgage rates.

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Existing home sales sank 8.4% last month from December to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.91 million units, the National Association of Realtors said Thursday. That’s the biggest monthly decline in nearly four years and the slowest annualized sales pace in more than two years.

Sales fell 4.4% compared with January last year. The latest sales figure fell short of the 4.105 million pace economists were expecting, according to FactSet. read more

By STAN CHOE, AP Business Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks fell sharply Thursday as the market punished companies seen as potential losers from artificial-intelligence technology.

The S&P 500 sank 1.6% for its second-worst day since Thanksgiving, though it’s still near its all-time high set late last month. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 669 points, or 1.3%, and the Nasdaq composite fell 2%.

AppLovin lost nearly a fifth of its value and tumbled 19.7%, even though it reported a stronger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected. Like other software companies, it’s come under pressure from worries that AI may undercut its business while fundamentally changing how people use the internet.

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Average US long-term mortgage rate dips to where it was 3 week ago, just above 6%

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How to face down estate planning paralysis read more