News – Page 186 – Spaceflight Now

July 6, 2026

Breaking News

[ July 4, 2026 ] Semiconductor manufacturing test bed flies alongside Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 launch Falcon 9
[ July 1, 2026 ] SpaceX launches 24 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg SFB Falcon 9
[ June 30, 2026 ] Astronauts ‘operate’ on space station’s broken robot arm Mission Reports
[ June 30, 2026 ] Blue Origin outlines return to flight logistics for its New Glenn rockets Moon Base
[ June 28, 2026 ] SpaceX launches 7.5-ton SiriusXM satellite as part of constellation refresh Falcon 9

SpaceX crew capsule brings astronauts home after nearly 200 days in orbit

November 9, 2021 Stephen Clark

Two NASA astronauts and mission specialists from Japan and France closed out a 199-day flight Monday on a SpaceX crew capsule, departing the International Space Station and riding their Dragon spacecraft through a scorching re-entry and splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico.

Dragon to perform first 360-degree flyaround of space station since shuttle

November 8, 2021 Stephen Clark

Four astronauts closing out an expedition of nearly 200 days in orbit floated into their SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule at the International Space Station Monday, a couple of hours before the ship was scheduled to undock and fly a 360-degree loop around the complex on the way back to Earth.

Live coverage: Dragon crew capsule splashes down in Gulf of Mexico

November 8, 2021 Stephen Clark

Four astronauts departed the International Space Station Monday after nearly 200 days in orbit, heading for a splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico in SpaceX’s Crew Dragon Endeavour spacecraft. The capsule undocked from the station at 2:05 p.m. EST (1905 GMT), and splashed down off the coast of Pensacola, Florida, at 10:33 p.m. EST (0333 GMT).

Ariane 5 fairing cleared for Webb launch after “perfect” performance on last flight

November 7, 2021 Stephen Clark

The payload fairing on the most recent Ariane 5 launch last month worked perfectly, according to the European Space Agency, helping clear concerns about the shroud before liftoff of the James Webb Space Telescope on the next Ariane 5 flight in December.

High winds delay Crew 2 return to Earth until later Monday

November 7, 2021 William Harwood

Faced with high winds in the Gulf of Mexico, NASA managers decided to pass up a Sunday undocking and Monday morning splashdown for four returning space station astronauts, opting instead to aim for a landing Monday night when better weather is expected.

NASA aims to bring station crew home Monday, before replacements launch

November 6, 2021 William Harwood

NASA and SpaceX decided Friday to bring four space station astronauts back to Earth Monday to close out a 199-day mission, pressing ahead with re-entry and splashdown two days before the planned launch of their replacements Wednesday aboard another Crew Dragon spacecraft.

NASA shows off finished SLS moon rocket, Webb telescope

November 5, 2021 Stephen Clark

Two of NASA’s flagship missions finally nearing launch, representing more than $50 billion in U.S. government investment over multiple decades, were displayed to news media Friday at spaceports in Florida and French Guiana.

China launches Earth observation satellite to support sustainable development

November 5, 2021 Stephen Clark

An Earth observation spacecraft developed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences launched Thursday on top of a Long March 6 rocket, beginning a mission Chinese officials said is dedicated to supporting the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Blue Origin loses lawsuit, allowing NASA to move ahead with SpaceX moon lander

November 4, 2021 Stephen Clark

A federal judge on Thursday dismissed a lawsuit filed by Blue Origin over NASA’s award of a $2.9 billion lunar lander contract to SpaceX, clearing the way for the agency to move forward in a partnership with Elon Musk’s space company on a craft to transport astronauts to the surface of the moon.

NASA rules out weekend Crew Dragon launch, may bring station crew home first

November 4, 2021 William Harwood

NASA has ruled out a weekend launch for a SpaceX Crew Dragon carrying four astronauts to the International Space Station, delaying the Crew-3 flight to Monday at the earliest due to expected bad weather, agency officials said Thursday.