There’s now a spacecraft on the moon that’s upside down
Japan’s SLIM lander upside down on the moon. The image contains missing data in the center. JAXA Japan achieved a space milestone last Saturday when it achieved a soft landing…
Sunlight May Reignite Japan’s Struggling ‘Lunar Sniper’ on the Moon
Japan’s space agency, JAXA, achieved a historic soft landing with SLIM on Friday morning, but the lander ran into instant trouble by not being able to collect solar energy and…
Fate of Japan’s History-Making ‘Lunar Sniper’ in Doubt After Power Malfunction
Japan’s SLIM is on the Moon and sending data to Earth, in what is a monumental achievement for Japan—it’s now the fifth country to accomplish the feat. The successful soft…
Fate of Japan’s ‘Lunar Sniper’ in Doubt After Precision Landing Attempt
Japan’s SLIM is on the Moon and sending data to Earth, in what is a monumental achievement for Japan—it’s now the fifth country to accomplish the feat. The successful soft…
See the First Images From Japan’s X-Ray Space Telescope
The Japanese space agency JAXA has released the first test images from its X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM). The images show a galaxy cluster and a supernova remnant, and…
Why 2024 Will Be an Epic Year in Spaceflight
A Martian moons mission, a plethora of private lunar landers, probes to Venus and Jupiter, and reusable heavy-lift rocket tests are among the many highlights we’ll be watching in the…
Spectacular Blast During Rocket Engine Test Marks Frustrating Setback for Japan
A second stage engine destined for Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s Epsilon S rocket exploded during a test on Friday, spewing fire and smoke, and severely damaging the test facility, located…
How to watch first privately funded moon landing on Tuesday
An attempt at the first privately funded lunar landing is about to take place, and you can watch a livestream of the effort on Tuesday. Japan’s iSpace launched its Hakuto-R…
The Past Four Months Have Been Rough on Rockets—Especially New Ones
RS-1 engines engaged.Photo: ABL Space Systems Approximately 5,200 gallons of Jet Fuel A—a kerosene-based fuel—spilled onto the surrounding environment, in addition to hydraulic, mineral, and lubricating oils, ash, burned batteries,…
Watch Live as Japan Re-Attempts First Launch of H3 Rocket [Updated]
The H3 Launch Vehicle was returned to a building for assembling at the Tanegashima Space Center in Minamitane Town, Kagoshima Prefecture on February 18.Photo: Yomiuri Shimbun (AP) Update: 9:35 p.m.…