Spaceflight Now – Page 34 – Spaceflight Now

2014’s top stories in spaceflight

December 30, 2014 Spaceflight Now

The year ended with a deluge of big news, reminding us of the risks of spaceflight and the thin margins between success and failure on the final frontier. 2014 was also a year of breakthroughs in the exploration of the solar system and the future of human spaceflight.

Video: Orion splashdown seen from recovery ship

December 5, 2014 Spaceflight Now

The Orion capsule splashdown as seen from the USS Anchorage recovery vessel in the Pacific.

Video: Orion EFT-1 test flight ends with a splashdown in the Pacific

December 5, 2014 Spaceflight Now

The splashdown of Orion in the Pacific Ocean concludes the EFT-1 shakedown cruise for NASA’s new space capsule.

Video: Onboard camera captures Orion capsule return to Earth

December 5, 2014 Spaceflight Now

A camera mounted aboard the Orion capsule for the EFT-1 test flight records the space capsules plunge toward the Pacific Ocean and its splashdown beneath three parachutes.

Orion Exploration Flight Test No. 1 timeline

December 4, 2014 Spaceflight Now

The first orbital test flight of NASA’s Orion crew capsule will lift off on top of a United Launch Alliance Delta 4 rocket from Cape Canaveral’s Complex 37B launch pad.

NASA astronaut Rex Walheim excited about Orion test flight

December 3, 2014 Spaceflight Now

NASA astronaut Rex Walheim says the Orion EFT-1 test flight represents the opening of a new era for the space agency.

NASA Administrator speaks about Orion test flight

December 3, 2014 Spaceflight Now

NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden speaks to Spaceflight Now’s Stephen Clark about the upcoming test flight of the Orion space capsule on the EFT-1 mission.

Live coverage: Orion lands in Pacific

December 2, 2014 Spaceflight Now

NASA’s first space-worthy Orion capsule blasted off atop a Delta 4-Heavy booster rocket for a two-orbit, four-hour shakedown cruise in orbit. Liftoff occurred at 7:05 a.m. EST (1205 GMT), with splashdown in the Pacific Ocean at 11:29 a.m. EST (1629 GMT).

New Mars lander takes shape

November 17, 2014 Spaceflight Now

The next Mars lander — a platform to drill beneath the surface of the red planet — has begun its assembly phase in preparation for launch in March 2016.

Rosetta imagery shows Philae at first landing site

November 16, 2014 Spaceflight Now

Images recorded by Rosetta’s navigation camera appear to show the lander, its shadow and the dust cloud kicked up by its first touchdown.