Liftoff of IFT-3, 14 Mar 2024 Starship returned to integrated flight testing with its third launch from Starbase in Texas. While it didn’t happen in a lab or on a test stand, it was absolutely a test. What we achieved
[13 Mar 2024] First Kairos rocket explodes seconds after liftoff
The plume from exploding Kairos rocket appears above a treeline in a webcast of the launch. Credit: WTV webcast THE WOODLANDS, Texas — The first flight of privately developed Japanese rocket ended in a catastrophic failure seconds after liftoff March
[13 Mar 2024] Zero-boil-off tank experiments to enable long-duration space exploration
The Gateway space station—humanity’s first space station around the Moon—will be capable of being refueled in space. Credit: NASA Do we have enough fuel to get to our destination? This is probably one of the first questions that comes to
[11 Mar 2024] After coming back from the dead, the world’s largest aircraft just flew a real payload
The world’s largest aircraft takes off with the Talon A vehicle on Saturday Built and flown by Stratolaunch, the massive Roc aircraft took off from Mojave Air and Space Port in California on Saturday. The airplane flew out over the
[09 Mar 2024] NASA, Boeing delay Starliner capsule’s 1st astronaut launch to early May
The Boeing Starliner capsule that will fly the company’s Crew Flight Test mission to the International Space Station is shown at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida in April 2023. (Image credit: Boeing/John Grant) The long-delayed first crewed mission of
[06 Mar 2024] SpaceX adds tests to next Starship flight
SpaceX’s Starship/Super Heavy vehicle during a recent countdown rehearsal. SpaceX is targeting a launch no earlier than March 14. Credit: SpaceX WASHINGTON — SpaceX is planning a more ambitious set of in-flight tests of its Starship vehicle on its next
[06 Mar 2024] China to debut large reusable rockets in 2025 and 2026
Landspace’s Zhuque-3 VTVL-1 test article during a first hop test, Jan. 19, 2024. Credit: Landspace HELSINKI — China’s main state-owned contractor plans test flights for two new large diameter reusable rockets in the next couple of years, despite existing commercial
[05 Mar 2024] Blue Origin targets 2025 for cargo lander’s inaugural moon trip, with humans to follow
An artist’s conception shows Blue Origin’s Blue Moon Mark 1 lander on the moon. (Blue Origin Illustration) Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin space venture is aiming to send an uncrewed lander to the surface of the moon in the next 12
[02 Mar 2024] Russia acknowledges continuing air leak from its segment of space station
Roscosmos says specialists are monitoring leak, which poses no danger to crew or station. The International Space Station is one of the last remaining areas of collaboration between Russia and the west. Photograph: AP Russian space officials have acknowledged a
[01 Mar 2024] Rocket Lab pushing for first Neutron launch in 2024
An illustration of Rocket Lab’s Neutron rocket. Credit: Rocket Lab WASHINGTON — Rocket Lab says it could launch its first Neutron rocket before the end of the year as it outlines a long-term vision for the company that involves its