New Zealand-based Dawn Aerospace announced Thursday it has received certification from the Civil Aviation Authority in that country to fly its Mk-II Aurora space plane at unlimited speeds, including supersonic, up to an altitude of 80,000 feet. The Mk-II Aurora
[10 Jul 2024] Europe’s first Ariane 6 flight achieved most of its goals, but ended prematurely
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