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
[26 Jun 2024] ULA will launch its second Vulcan rocket without a real payload
United Launch Alliance’s first Vulcan rocket on the launch pad before liftoff in January. The second flight of United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket will take off in September with a dummy payload in place of Sierra Space’s Dream Chaser spaceplane,
[26 Jun 2024] NASA and SpaceX Will Destroy the International Space Station After 2030
Starship docked with ISS NASA has selected SpaceX to develop and deliver the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle that will provide the capability to deorbit the International space station and ensure avoidance of risk to populated areas. The single-award contract has a
[26 Jun 2024] China space probe returns with rare Moon rocks
Moment China’s lunar probe lands back on Earth China’s lunar probe has returned to Earth with the first ever samples from the Moon’s unexplored far side. The Chang’e-6 landed in the Inner Mongolia desert on Tuesday, after a nearly two-month
[25 Jun 2024] Astrobotic Unveils Terrestrial Moonscape for Payload Testing
This one-of-a-kind test field provides a globally unique environment for lunar payload flights aboard Astrobotic’s Xodiac. MOJAVE, CA – June 25, 2024 – Astrobotic announced the unveiling of its Lunar Surface Proving Ground (LSPG) at its facility in Mojave, CA.