Mission Reports – Page 488

May 15, 2025

Breaking News

[ May 14, 2025 ] Axiom Mission 4 delayed due to Dragon capsule readiness Mission Reports
[ May 14, 2025 ] SpaceX launches 475th Falcon 9 rocket to date on afternoon Starlink flight Falcon 9
[ May 14, 2025 ] Intuitive Machines’ CEO points to issues that prevented upright touchdown during IM-2 Moon landing Mission Reports
[ May 12, 2025 ] SpaceX launches 26 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg SFB Falcon 9
[ May 11, 2025 ] SpaceX launches 28 Starlink satellites using Falcon booster making a record 28th flight Falcon 9

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.

John Grunsfeld speaks about Orion’s science goals

December 4, 2014 Stephen Clark

John Grunsfeld, Associate Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters, speaks about the EFT-1 test flight and science opportunities made possible by the Orion capsule and its Space Launch System rocket.

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.

ESA member states commit funding for Orion service module

December 3, 2014 Stephen Clark

As a barebones Orion spacecraft awaits its first launch from Cape Canaveral, representatives of European governments agreed to fund the development of a power and propulsion element to take the crew capsule on voyages around the moon, to an asteroid, and eventually to Mars.

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.

Hayabusa 2 launches on audacious asteroid adventure

December 3, 2014 Stephen Clark

A Japanese H-2A launcher blasted off from an idyllic island spaceport Tuesday, dispatching a daring six-year expedition to bring a piece of an asteroid back to Earth.

Philae’s “little cousin” heading for asteroid touchdown

December 2, 2014 Stephen Clark

Weeks after accomplishing the first touchdown on a comet, the team of European scientists that developed the Philae landing craft is awaiting launch of a related robot riding piggyback with Japan’s Hayabusa 2 spacecraft to achieve the same feat on an asteroid.

Japan set to launch asteroid sample return mission

December 2, 2014 Stephen Clark

Japan is readying an H-2A rocket for liftoff Tuesday to kick off an audacious six-year roundtrip journey to a carbon-rich asteroid, drop a fleet of landers to its surface, collect primordial rock samples, and return the materials to terrestrial laboratories for analysis.

Small satellites have another way to get into space

December 2, 2014 Stephen Clark

A spherical U.S. Navy spacecraft the size of a beach ball spring-ejected from a new satellite deployer outside the International Space Station last week, debuting a fresh way for low-budget space missions to reach orbit.