Tag: NASA
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SpaceX launches 400th Falcon rocket on 31st cargo resupply mission to the space station for NASA
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket liftoff from Launch Complex 39A to begin the Cargo Resupply Services 31 (CRS-31) to the International Space Station for NASA. Image: Adam Bernstein/Spaceflight Now SpaceX launched its 31st resupply mission to the International Space Station on Monday night. The mission, dubbed Commercial Resupply Services-31 (CRS-31) ferried more than 6,000 pounds…
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Starship booster catch brings NASA, SpaceX closer to Artemis 3 Moon landing
Super Heavy Booster 12 returns to the pad it launched from just seven minutes earlier. Image: Adam Bernstein / Spaceflight Now. NASA’s plan to return humans to the surface of the Moon needs several puzzle pieces to come together in time, one of which is the lunar lander itself. For the first two planned crewed…
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NASA’s oldest active astronaut is also one of the most curious humans
For his most recent trip to the International Space Station, in lieu of bringing coffee or some other beverage in his “personal drink bag” allotment for the stay, NASA astronaut Don Pettit asked instead for a couple of bags of unflavored gelatin. This was not for cooking purposes but rather to perform scientific experiments. How…
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For some reason, NASA is treating Orion’s heat shield problems as a secret
For those who follow NASA’s human spaceflight program, when the Orion spacecraft’s heat shield cracked and chipped away during atmospheric reentry on the unpiloted Artemis I test flight in late 2022, what caused it became a burning question. Multiple NASA officials said Monday they now know the answer, but they’re not telling. Instead, agency officials…
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Launch Roundup: China launch crew to Tiangong Space Station, Russia launches military payload
In another busy week of launches, China launched three taikonauts to the Tiangong Space Station aboard a Chang Zheng rocket this week as part of the Shenzhou 19 mission. Additionally, both Russia and Japan launched military payloads. As usual, SpaceX continues to fly Starlink missions throughout the week. SpaceX’s CRS-31 mission, a Cargo Resupply Services…
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New study reveals potential existence of life in subsurface water pools on Mars
Mars has long been theorized to be a place where ancient microbial life once existed, and NASA and other agencies have sent countless missions to the planet in hopes of uncovering the mystery that is life on Mars. While evidence for this microbial life is yet to have been found, a new NASA study from…
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Astronaut released from hospital after “medical issue” upon return from space
NASA said Saturday that an astronaut who was hospitalized after returning from space the day before has been released and is in “good health.” The agency did not provide any more details on the matter, citing medical privacy protections. The astronaut was one of four crew members who returned from a 235-day mission in low-Earth…
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SLS preparations underway for Artemis II and future missions
NASA’s Space Launch System, the other Saturn V-class heavy lift vehicle launched this decade, is being prepared for its second flight and its first crew-carrying flight, even as issues with the Orion spacecraft threaten to further delay Artemis II. While Artemis II preparations are underway, future upgrades to SLS are also being worked on. Artemis…
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Live coverage: Crew-8 splashdown off the coast of Pensacola, Florida
Three U.S. astronauts and a Russian cosmonaut returned to Earth after spending more than seven months in space. Follow our “Space Station Operations” live blog for updates.
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Boeing is still bleeding money on the Starliner commercial crew program
Sometimes, it’s worth noting when something goes unsaid. On Wednesday, Boeing’s new CEO, Kelly Ortberg, participated in his first quarterly conference call with investment analysts. Under fire from labor groups and regulators, Boeing logged a nearly $6.2 billion loss for the last three months, while the new boss pledged a turnaround for the troubled aerospace…