- Data from SLS Flight Prepares NASA for Future Artemis Missionsby Rachel Kraft on January 27, 2023 at 8:45 pm
NASA continues to evaluate data and learn more about the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket’s debut performance during the agency’s Nov. 16 Artemis I launch. Following an initial data assessment and review that determined the SLS rocket met or exceeded all performance expectations, SLS engineers are now taking a closer look at the Moon rocket’s performance to prepare for …
- Artemis I Orion Spacecraft Returns to Kennedy Space Centerby Madison Tuttle on December 30, 2022 at 9:18 pm
After its 1.4-million-mile mission beyond the Moon and back, the Orion spacecraft for the Artemis I mission arrived back at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Dec. 30. The capsule splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on Dec. 11 and was transported by truck across the country from Naval Base San Diego in California to Kennedy’s Multi …
- Artemis I Orion Spacecraft Departs Naval Base San Diego by Antonia Jaramillo Botero on December 21, 2022 at 8:26 pm
The Artemis I Orion spacecraft is on its way back to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. After completing a 25.5-day, 1.4-million-mile journey beyond the Moon and back Dec. 11, the spacecraft was recovered from the Pacific Ocean and transported to U.S. Naval Base San Diego, where engineers prepared the spacecraft for its trek by …
- Artemis I Update: Orion Offloaded from USS Portland in Preparation for Transport to Kennedy Space Centerby Tiffany Fairley on December 14, 2022 at 10:48 pm
Team members with NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems program successfully removed the Artemis I Orion spacecraft from the USS Portland Dec. 14, after the ship arrived at U.S. Naval Base San Diego a day earlier. The spacecraft successfully splashed down Dec. 11 in the Pacific Ocean west of Baja California after completing a 1.4 million-mile journey …
- Artemis I Update: Orion Secured Inside USS Portland Ahead of Return to Shore by Antonia Jaramillo Botero on December 11, 2022 at 11:53 pm
The Orion spacecraft has been secured in the well deck of the USS Portland. The ship will soon begin its trip back to U.S. Naval Base San Diego, where engineers will remove Orion from the ship in preparation for transport back to Kennedy Space Center in Florida for post-flight analysis. Upon Orion’s successful splashdown in the Pacific Ocean west of Baja California at 9:40 PST/12:40 EST Dec. 11, flight …
- Live Coverage: SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to launch 21 Starlink satellites from Kennedy Space Centerby Spaceflight Now on December 22, 2024 at 7:49 pm
SpaceX will launch a Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center in the midnight hour on Monday to add another 21 satellites to its orbiting Starlink fleet. Liftoff of the Starlink 12-2 mission from pad 39A is scheduled for 12:35 a.m. EST (0535 UTC).
- SpaceX launches Bandwagon-2 rideshare mission on Falcon 9 rocket from Californiaby Will Robinson-Smith on December 21, 2024 at 5:53 am
This is the second batch of customer satellites that SpaceX will launch to a mid-inclination orbit. Liftoff from pad 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base happened at 3:34 a.m. PST (6:34 a.m. EST, 1134 UTC).
- Mid-ignition issue forces a scrub of Falcon 9 launch with Astranis’ MicroGEO satellitesby Will Robinson-Smith on December 20, 2024 at 7:45 pm
The mission, dubbed ‘Astranis: From One to Many,’ includes the company’s new UtilitySat, which is designed to relocate within geostationary Earth orbit over its life to respond to different mission objectives.
- Space Force says first national security Vulcan launch now anticipated in spring 2025by Will Robinson-Smith on December 18, 2024 at 9:07 pm
The first mission for United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket as part of the National Security Space Launch Phase 2 contract will be USSF-106. ULA began stacking the rocket that will support this mission in October 2024.
- SpaceX launches first two SES O3b mPOWER satellites with upgrades to address power issues seen on earlier spacecraftby Will Robinson-Smith on December 17, 2024 at 7:34 pm
This is will be the fourth pair of O3b mPOWER satellites launched to a medium Earth orbit. Liftoff from Launch Complex 39A is set for 5:26 p.m. EST (2226 UTC).
- U.S. Space Force launches expedited GPS mission using Falcon 9 rocketby Will Robinson-Smith on December 17, 2024 at 4:07 am
The U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command (SSC) and the Space Operations Command (SpOC) shifted the GPS 3 Space Vehicle 07 spacecraft to a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from a United Launch Alliance Vulcan rocket due to delays in Vulcan’s certification.
- SpaceX launches Starshield satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from California for the NROby Will Robinson-Smith on December 17, 2024 at 2:49 am
The NROL-149 mission is scheduled to be the sixth and final mission of the year supporting the agency’s proliferated architecture. Liftoff from pad 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base is set for 5:19 a.m. PST (8:19 a.m. EST, 1319 UTC).
- SpaceX launches RRT-1 mission from Cape Canaveralby Will Robinson-Smith on December 13, 2024 at 11:50 pm
The payload onboard hasn’t been officially confirmed by a customer or the spacecraft manufacturer. Liftoff from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station is set for Monday, Dec. 16, at 7:51 p.m. EST (0051 UTC).
- SpaceX launches 22 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Californiaby Will Robinson-Smith on December 12, 2024 at 11:03 pm
The launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base came on the heels of leaders from the U.S. Space Force gathering to discuss how to adjust to a rapidly increasing launch cadence for both the Eastern Range and Western Range. Liftoff happened at 1:55 p.m. PST (4:55 p.m. EST, 2155 UTC).
- Jared Isaacman makes first public remarks since nomination for NASA Administratorby Will Robinson-Smith on December 12, 2024 at 10:52 am
Isaacman spoke before the Space Force Association’s Spacepower Conference on Wednesday. While not directly addressing the nomination, his comments will become part of the record scrutinized by senators during the confirmation process.
- SpaceX launches Bandwagon-2 rideshare from Vandenbergby Danny Lentz on December 20, 2024 at 10:44 pm
On Saturday, Dec. 21st, SpaceX launched the Bandwagon-2 rideshare mission from Space Launch Complex 4E… The post SpaceX launches Bandwagon-2 rideshare from Vandenberg appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.
- FAA gives Flight 7 the Go Ahead, SpaceX to complete final steps ahead of launchby Ryan Weber on December 19, 2024 at 12:15 am
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has approved SpaceX’s Flight 7 of Starship. The news came… The post FAA gives Flight 7 the Go Ahead, SpaceX to complete final steps ahead of launch appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.
- Chang Zheng 12, ZhuQue-2E fly maiden missions; Hainan spaceport and mega constellations expandby Martin Smith on December 18, 2024 at 10:21 pm
In late November, two new Chinese rockets took their maiden flights within four days of… The post Chang Zheng 12, ZhuQue-2E fly maiden missions; Hainan spaceport and mega constellations expand appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.
- Launch Roundup: SpaceX plans for five customer missions; Rocket Lab launch mission for Synspectiveby Haygen Warren on December 16, 2024 at 8:20 pm
The orbital launch manifest for the week of Dec. 16 through Dec. 22 is set… The post Launch Roundup: SpaceX plans for five customer missions; Rocket Lab launch mission for Synspective appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.
- BepiColombo’s fifth flyby of Mercury reveals planet’s surface in mid-infrared lightby Haygen Warren on December 15, 2024 at 10:26 pm
The European Space Agency’s BepiColombo spacecraft recently performed its fifth flyby of Mercury on Dec.… The post BepiColombo’s fifth flyby of Mercury reveals planet’s surface in mid-infrared light appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.
- Starship and other launch site preparations in Florida moving into a higher gearby Justin Davenport on December 12, 2024 at 7:35 pm
The long-awaited Starship ramp-up in Florida has begun, with work increasing at Pad 39A on… The post Starship and other launch site preparations in Florida moving into a higher gear appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.
- New Glenn approaches hot fire ahead of debut launchby Harry Stranger on December 11, 2024 at 7:44 pm
Blue Origin’s heavy-lift New Glenn rocket is just a few milestones from its maiden launch.… The post New Glenn approaches hot fire ahead of debut launch appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.
- Ship 33 prepares for engine testing, Booster 14 Completes Static Fireby Ryan Weber on December 10, 2024 at 11:12 pm
Three weeks after Flight 6, SpaceX has static fired Booster 14 and rolled Ship 33… The post Ship 33 prepares for engine testing, Booster 14 Completes Static Fire appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.
- Launch Roundup: Kairos stands down second launch attempt, Falcon 9 to launch 03, GPS and NRO missionsby Martin Smith on December 9, 2024 at 9:50 pm
This week, Japanese commercial company Space One stood down two attempts to launch its Kairos… The post Launch Roundup: Kairos stands down second launch attempt, Falcon 9 to launch 03, GPS and NRO missions appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.
- ISS and Expedition 72 crew stay busy with experiments, cargo arrivals, and spacecraft movementsby Justin Davenport on December 6, 2024 at 8:14 pm
The International Space Station and the Expedition 72 crew have transitioned from an eventful summer… The post ISS and Expedition 72 crew stay busy with experiments, cargo arrivals, and spacecraft movements appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.