Q&A with Keith Gendreau, principal investigator of the first X-ray space communications experiment (members only)

Arianespace’s launch team in French Guiana rolled an Ariane 5 booster to its launch pad Tuesday and readied the rocket for liftoff Wednesday with an Inmarsat satellite to connect airline passengers over Europe and an Indian communications craft.

NASA announced Friday a mix of spaceflight veterans and rookie astronauts who will launch on the first flights of new Boeing and SpaceX commercial spaceships starting as soon as next spring, several months later than previously scheduled.

The commercial Cygnus freighter carrying over 7,000 pounds of food, supplies and science experiments completed a flawless rendezvous with the International Space Station on Saturday morning. It was captured by the robotic arm at 6:51 a.m. EDT (1051 GMT).