Europe’s first Ariane 6 rocket lifts off from a new launch pad in Kourou, French Guiana. The first European Ariane 6 rocket fired off its launch pad at the edge of the Amazon rainforest and climbed into orbit Tuesday, an
[09 Jul 2024] Space station startup Gravitics lands $125 million order from Axiom
A pathfinder for Gravitics’ 4-meter space station module design in use for developing manufacturing and assembly methods. Washington-based startup Gravitics has signed a $125 million contract to expand Axiom Space’s planned space station, the latest deal in the burgeoning private
[07 Jul 2024] Low-intensity explosion caused Russian satellite to spew debris
A model of the Resurs-P spacecraft like the one that suffered a breakup event in low Earth orbit June 26. Credit: Vitaly V. Kuzmin CC BY-SA 4.0 TOKYO — A Russian satellite likely suffered a “low-intensity explosion” that created hundreds
[07 Jul 2024] SpaceX’s Starship to fly again ‘in 4 weeks,’ Elon Musk says
SpaceX’s Starship rocket launches on its fourth fully integrated test flight, on June 6, 2024. (Image credit: SpaceX) We won’t have to wait much longer to see the most powerful rocket ever built take to the skies again, if all
[30 Jun 2024] Chinese rocket static-fire test results in unintended launch and huge explosion
An assembled Tianlong-3 first stage. Credit: Space Pioneer Hausjärvi, FINLAND — A rocket stage test firing by Chinese commercial company Space Pioneer ended in catastrophic failure and a dramatic explosion Sunday. Space Pioneer conducted what was intended to be a
[29 Jun 2024] NASA delays next ISS spacewalk until end of July due to spacesuit leak issue
NASA astronaut Mike Barratt comes into the International Space Station following a spacewalk halted after 31 minutes on June 24, 2024. (Image credit: NASA TV) We’ll have to wait a while to see NASA astronauts step outside the International Space
[27 Jun 2024] SpaceX launches 350th Falcon 9 rocket on a Starlink flight from Cape Canaveral
The 350th Falcon 9 rocket launches on June 27, 2024, on the Starlink 10-3 mission. Image: Adam Bernstein/Spaceflight Now SpaceX is marking two key records with the launch of its latest batch of Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force
[27 Jun 2024] China’s state-owned SAST performs reusable rocket test
A SAST test article during a VTVL reusable rocket test, June 23, 2024. Credit: CASC HELSINKI — SAST has conducted China’s highest altitude launch and landing test so far as the country chases reusable rocket capabilities. A 3.8-meter-diameter test article
[27 Jun 2024] Firefly Joins Northrop, Rocket Lab At Wallops Island Launch Site
Firefly’s fifth Alpha rocket is being prepared to launch as early as June 26 from Vandenberg SFB in California on a NASA-backed mission to deploy eight cubesats. Firefly reveals plans for new launch sites. Firefly Aerospace plans to use the
[27 Jun 2024] Sir Peter Beck unplugged: “Transporter can do it for free for all we care”
Rocket Lab CEO Peter Beck speaks during the opening of the new Rocket Lab factory on October 12, 2018, in Auckland, New Zealand. Peter Beck has been having a pretty great June. Earlier this month, he was made a Knight