SpaceX and NASA recently performed full-scale qualification testing of the docking system that will connect SpaceX’s Starship Human Landing System (HLS) with Orion and later Gateway in lunar orbit during future crewed Artemis missions. Based on the flight-proven Dragon 2
[28 Feb 2024] SpaceX Crew-8 astronauts eager for launch to ISS on March 1: ‘Things surprise you, but we’re ready’
A new set of astronauts are ready for an International Space Station launch. SpaceX is set to launch four new astronauts on the Crew Dragon spacecraft for Crew-8, the eighth operational commercial crew mission for NASA, to the International Space
[28 Feb 2024] Maybe, just maybe, Boeing’s Starliner will finally fly astronauts this spring
The first launch of astronauts on Boeing’s Starliner capsule is targeted for April 22. Boeing’s Starliner crew module for the upcoming Crew Flight Test was mated with the spacecraft’s service module last year in Florida. We’ve heard this before, but
[27 Feb 2024] SpaceX discloses cause of Starship anomalies as it clears an FAA hurdle
Starship launches on its second flight on November 18, 2023. A little more than three months after the most recent launch of a Starship vehicle, which ended with both the booster and upper stage being lost in flight, the Federal
[26 Feb 2024] FAA Closes Starship IFT-2 Mishap Investigation
The FAA said today it has closed its mishap investigation of the second orbital flight test of SpaceX’s Starship, OFT-2, that took place last November. SpaceX must implement a set of corrective actions before the FAA will issue a license
[26 Feb 2024] Intuitive Machines’ Odysseus moon lander beams home 1st photos from lunar surface
The first private moon landing just happened, and we now have some more updates on the achievement. It has been four days since the first private moon landing took place, an event shrouded in a variety of emotions. We’ll get
[26 Feb 2024] NASA’s asteroid-impacting DART mission completely changed the shape of its target
“The implication for planetary defense is that small, rubble-pile asteroids, like Dimorphos, are very efficient to deflect, and the kinetic impactor technique would be an appropriate deflection mechanism.” An illustration of NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test, or DART, as it
[26 Feb 2024] It’s alive! JAXA’s SLIM moon lander sends home new photos after surviving frigid lunar night
The SLIM moon lander woke up from hibernation and released new imagery of its landing site on the rim of Shioli crater on Feb. 26, 2024. (Image credit: JAXA) Japan’s SLIM lander is alive after a long sleep on the
[24 Feb 2024] Japans Will Launch Mission to Mars Moons – Phobos and Deimos in 2024 With Samples Returned in 2029
Japan’s space agency (JAXA) is sending a mission to travel to Mars which will survey the Red Planet’s two moons, Phobos and Deimos. The spacecraft will explore both moons and collect a sample of Phobos and bring it to
[23 Feb 2024] Odysseus Moon Lander Is Tipped Over But Still Sending Data
A space “selfie” shows the Odysseus moon lander and Schomberger Crater just before the Feb. 22 landing. (Credit: Intuitive Machines) WASHINGTON — The Intuitive Machines Nova-C lunar lander likely tipped over when touching down on the moon Feb. 22 and