William Harwood – Page 5 – Spaceflight Now

SpaceX launches billion-dollar environmental research satellite for NASA

February 8, 2024 William Harwood

SpaceX launched an environmental research satellite for NASA early Thursday, a nearly $1 billion spacecraft that survived multiple cancellation threats and is now poised to shed new light on climate change and the complex interplay of heat-trapping carbon, aerosols and sea life on global scales.

Despite engine malfunction, powered-down Japanese moon lander achieves major goals

January 25, 2024 William Harwood

One of two engines powering a Japanese moon lander during its descent to the surface Jan. 19 suffered a malfunction of some sort just 160 feet above the lunar surface that sharply reduced its power, the Japanese space agency said Thursday.

Japanese moon lander touches down, but crippled by mission-ending power glitch

January 19, 2024 William Harwood

A robotic Japanese moon lander touched down on the lunar surface Friday, but it immediately suffered a power glitch of some sort that prevented its solar cells from generating the electricity needed to keep it alive in the harsh lunar environment.

Falcon 9 boosts Axiom crew into space for commercial visit to ISS

January 18, 2024 William Harwood

After months of training and detailed planning, the most international crew yet to visit the International Space Station blasted off atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket Thursday to kick off a two-week research mission, the third fully commercial flight to the orbital outpost.

SpaceX readies Falcon 9 for commercial flight to space station

January 17, 2024 William Harwood

An international four-man crew strapped into a SpaceX capsule atop a Falcon 9 rocket at the Kennedy Space Center Tuesday for a dress-rehearsal countdown. The launch of the privately-funded research mission to the International Space Station has been delayed until Thursday.

Russia launches space station cargo ship

December 1, 2023 William Harwood

A Russian Progress cargo ship loaded with more than 5,500 pounds of supplies and equipment bound for the International Space Station blasted off from Kazakhstan early Friday, kicking off a two-day orbital chase.

Super Heavy-Starship climbs high but falls short on second test flight

November 18, 2023 William Harwood

SpaceX’s gargantuan Super Heavy-Starship, the most powerful rocket ever built, blasted off on its second test flight Saturday and while the initial stages of the mission went smoothly, the first stage broke apart moments after separation from the Starship upper stage, which then blew itself up as it neared space.

FAA clears SpaceX for second Super Heavy-Starship test flight

November 16, 2023 William Harwood

SpaceX’s huge Super Heavy-Starship rocket has been cleared for a second test flight in an attempt to boost the unpiloted Starship upper stage into space for the first time, the company announced Wednesday. On Thursday Elon Musk announced the launch has slipped to Saturday to replace a grid fin actuator.

SpaceX launches Dragon cargo ship to space station

November 10, 2023 William Harwood

Lighting up the night sky, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket streaked into orbit in spectacular fashion Thursday, kicking off a 32-hour rendezvous with the International Space Station to deliver 6,500 pounds of research gear, crew supplies and needed equipment.

Mixed results for spacewalkers after time lost dealing with difficult-to-loosen bolts

November 1, 2023 William Harwood

Astronauts Jasmin Moghbeli and Loral O’Hara worked outside the International Space Station Wednesday to replace a bearing assembly in one of the lab’s solar array rotation mechanisms. But the task took longer than expected and they were unable to retrieve a failed electronics box as planned.