SpaceX Targets 4/20 for Second Starship Launch Attempt
On Monday, a pesky valve is all that came between SpaceX and the maiden flight of its Starship megarocket. The company is now targeting Thursday morning for a mission that…
An old NASA spacecraft will crash to Earth on Wednesday
A retired NASA spacecraft will reenter Earth’s atmosphere on Wednesday, with some parts of the vehicle expected to crash to the planet’s surface. While most of the Reuven Ramaty High…
Chinese Satellite Goes on Inexplicable Sightseeing Tour After Researchers Put AI in Control
There’s been plenty of conversation around using AI in writing and art, but researchers in China have evidently brought machine intelligence to spaceflight. An AI was allowed to control a…
This Week in Spaceflight: An ISS Spacewalk and SpaceX’s Second Starship Launch Attempt
Elon’s gigantic Starship rocket is expected to dominate the news this week, but there will be other spaceflight happenings vying for our attention. Astronomers Could Soon Get Warnings When SpaceX…
Watch Live as SpaceX Attempts First Launch of Starship Megarocket
The stage is finally set for SpaceX to launch its much-anticipated Starship. The two-stage rocket may or may not reach orbit during its maiden voyage, but SpaceX says “excitement guaranteed.”…
NASA Wants an International Fleet of Spacecraft to Monitor Asteroid Flyby
Asteroid Apophis is scheduled for a brief rendezvous with Earth and NASA is hoping to get a good view of the close encounter in order to prepare for potentially hazardous…
Watch Live as SpaceX Launches 51 Small Satellites After Delay
SpaceX has packed more than 50 payloads into a Falcon 9 rocket as the company prepares for its latest rideshare mission. Astronomers Could Soon Get Warnings When SpaceX Satellites Threaten…
NASA Apparently Needs a Second Babysitter for the Ambitious Mars Sample Return
NASA is setting up an independent review board to oversee the Mars Sample Return mission plans, in an effort to make sure the mission will be completed on time and—crucially—under…
Debut Launch of ULA’s Vulcan Rocket Likely in Jeopardy After Dramatic Explosion at Test Stand
A highly-anticipated heavy-lift rocket was getting prepped for its inaugural flight when a spark triggered a fiery explosion at NASA’s Alabama launch facility, potentially threatening next month’s rocket debut. Astronomers…
Software Tweak Gives Curiosity Rover a Boost on Mars
A major software update to the Curiosity rover will allow the robot to drive faster on the Martian surface and reduce wear on its wheels, potentially boosting the mission’s lifespan.…