Rocket Lab launched a sharp-eyed Earth-observing radar satellite to orbit today (Aug. 2). An Electron vehicle lifted off from Rocket Lab‘s New Zealand site today at 12:39 p.m. EDT (1639 GMT; 4:39 a.m. on Aug. 3 New Zealand time). The launch was originally targeted for Tuesday (July 30), but bad weather pushed it back a …

Rocket Lab Launches Private Earth-Observing Radar Satellite To Orbit. Read More »

An exercise device for the moon just had its first taste of microgravity. A flywheel design destined to fly on the Artemis 2 round-the-moon astronaut mission, no earlier than 2025, flew six parabolic flights in Canada during the week of July 15. Researchers flew in a business jet known as the Falcon 20, taking off …

Artemis 2 Exercise Device Soars In Parabolic Flight. Read More »

We now know who will fly on SpaceX‘s Crew-10 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) next year. On Thursday (Aug. 1), NASA revealed the four astronauts of Crew-10, which will launch toward the ISS no earlier than February 2025. NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers will command and pilot the mission, respectively. Japan’s Takuya …

NASA Reveals Astronauts Flying On SpaceX’s Crew-10 Mission To The ISS. Read More »

CubeSpace, a leading satellite component manufacturer, has announced its acquisition of Dawn Dusk, a satellite simulation software company. This strategic move integrates Dawn Dusk’s advanced satellite simulator with CubeSpace’s offerings, enhancing services for CubeSpace’s growing customer base. Furthermore, the integration will enable CubeSpace customers to simulate satellite control systems on the ground before launch, increasing …

CubeSpace Acquires Dawn Dusk to Provide Superior Control Systems Solutions. Read More »

SpaceX launched another batch of its Starlink satellites to orbit early Friday (Aug. 2), continuing the company’s bounceback from a July 11 failure. A Falcon 9 rocket topped with 23 Starlink craft lifted off from NASA‘s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Friday at 1:01 a.m. EDT (0501 GMT). The Falcon 9’s first stage returned …

SpaceX Launches 23 Starlink Satellites To Orbit From Florida. Read More »

NASA and SpaceX are looking to launch the Crew-9 mission around the middle of this month. Crew-9, SpaceX‘s next astronaut launch to the International Space Station (ISS) for NASA, is currently set for Aug. 18. The four astronauts that will be on board are commander Zena Cardman, pilot Nick Hague, mission specialist Stephanie Wilson and …

SpaceX To Resume Astronaut Launches On Aug. 18 With Crew-9 Mission to ISS. Read More »

There are continual, creaky reminders that the International Space Station is showing its age. Hissy-fit pressure leaks in the Russian segment, loss of attitude control on two separate occasions in 2021. To remain safe and sound for human occupants, the massive structure requires continuous maintenance, a flow of replacement parts, and upgrades to many of …

After ISS: The Private Space Station Era Is Dawning. Read More »

Boeing Starliner’s two astronauts knew to expect the unexpected when they took off on the spacecraft’s first crewed mission on June 5. I learned this back in March, when NASA hosted reporters at the agency’s Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston for two days. We used four Starliner simulators, spoke at length with senior agency …

Boeing Starliner’s NASA Astronauts Are Not Stranded In Space. Read More »

Observing a distant and messy collision between galaxy clusters, astronomers have discovered that dark matter, the most mysterious “stuff” in the universe, passed through the wreckage like a cosmic phantom. The dark matter was detected racing away from the conventional “normal” matter that comprises stars, planets, moons and everything we see around us in the …

Dark Matter Ghosts Its Way Through Powerful (and messy) Collision Of Galaxy Clusters. Read More »