News – Page 319 – Spaceflight Now

February 5, 2026

Breaking News

[ February 3, 2026 ] NASA waves off February launch for Artemis II moon mission; now targeting early March Mission Reports
[ February 1, 2026 ] SpaceX experiences Falcon 9 upper stage anomaly following Starlink deployment Falcon 9
[ February 1, 2026 ] Countdown underway for critical moon rocket fueling test Monday Mission Reports
[ January 30, 2026 ] Cold weather delays earliest Artemis 2 launch opportunity Falcon 9
[ January 30, 2026 ] SpaceX launches overnight Starlink flight as it unveils new ‘Stargaze’ space situational awareness system Falcon 9

German X-ray telescope achieves ‘first light’

October 23, 2019 Stephen Clark

Astronomers are elated with the first X-ray images from a German telescope on Russia’s Spektr-RG astronomy mission, demonstrating the instrument’s ability to observe galaxies near and far as scientists seek answers to questions about dark energy.

British-built solar probe shipping to Florida launch site before Brexit deadline

October 22, 2019 Stephen Clark

The European Space Agency’s Solar Orbiter spacecraft — assembled in Britain and set for liftoff in February — has completed environmental testing in Germany and is scheduled to ride a cargo plane to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida to begin launch preparations Oct. 31, several weeks earlier than planned to avoid complications stemming from Brexit.

Bezos says space industry stalwarts will help Blue Origin build moon lander

October 22, 2019 Stephen Clark

Blue Origin has partnered with Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman to build elements of the company’s human-rated lunar lander, and Draper will lead development of the lander’s avionics and guidance systems, with an aim to be ready to land a crew on the moon by 2024, company founder Jeff Bezos announced Tuesday.

NASA’s moon program winning international support

October 21, 2019 Stephen Clark

While Congress considers whether to provide funding NASA says it needs for a moon landing with astronauts before the end of 2024, several international partners voiced their intentions Monday to participate in the U.S.-led lunar exploration program.

Solid rocket motor test-fired for Atlas 5 debut next year

October 20, 2019 Stephen Clark

A new solid rocket motor built by Northrop Grumman has aced its final test-firing before a scheduled debut on a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket flight next year.

NASA’s resilient Van Allen Probes shut down

October 20, 2019 Stephen Clark

Ground controllers transmitted commands to shut down the second of NASA’s Van Allen Probes on Friday, three months after turning off an identical satellite to conclude a seven-year mission that explored the donut-shaped radiation belts surrounding Earth.

China launches mysterious geostationary satellite

October 18, 2019 Stephen Clark

China successfully launched a satellite toward geostationary orbit Thursday aboard a Long March 3B rocket, but the spacecraft’s purpose remained a mystery.

Lawmakers question NASA’s plan for a 2024 moon landing

October 18, 2019 Stephen Clark

Amid questions from lawmakers about the cost of the Trump administration’s proposal to accelerate a human return to the moon’s surface to 2024, the chairman of the House subcommittee responsible for helping write NASA’s budget said this week he favors keeping to the space agency’s earlier schedule for a crewed lunar landing by 2028.

Koch, Meir conclude first all-female spacewalk

October 18, 2019 William Harwood

Astronauts Christina Koch and Jessica Meir carried out history’s first all-female spacewalk Friday, floating outside the International Space Station and successfully installing a 230-pound replacement battery charger in the lab’s solar power system. The historic excursion was carried out in a blaze of public interest that rose all the way to the White House.

Dream Chaser structure arrives at factory for outfitting

October 17, 2019 Stephen Clark

The composite structure of Sierra Nevada Corp.’s first space-rated Dream Chaser space plane has arrived at the company’s Colorado factory for integration with computers, a heat shield and mechanical systems before launch to the International Space Station in late 2021.