News – Page 451 – Spaceflight Now

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

Europe’s lightweight Vega launcher nears 10th flight

July 18, 2017 Stephen Clark

A solid-fueled Vega rocket has been stacked on a launch pad in French Guiana for liftoff Aug. 1 with two Israeli-built satellites — one developed in partnership with the French space agency for environmental research, and another to gather intelligence for the Italian military.

Sierra Nevada’s Dream Chaser on the move in California

July 17, 2017 Stephen Clark

An atmospheric test model of Sierra Nevada’s Dream Chaser spacecraft, a cargo carrier for the International Space Station that will take off on top of an Atlas 5 rocket and land on a runway, is undergoing braking and steering checks in California ahead of a flight test later this year, the company said Monday.

Jupiter images thrill, inspire public participation

July 15, 2017 William Harwood

Processing images from the camera aboard NASA’s Juno spacecraft orbiting Jupiter has turned into a cottage industry of sorts, as rank amateurs, accomplished artists and experienced researchers turn relatively drab “raw” images into shots ranging from whimsical to spectacular and everything in between.

Soyuz rocket lifts off with 73 satellites

July 14, 2017 Stephen Clark

A Russian Soyuz booster lifted off Friday from Kazakhstan on a complex mission to deploy 73 satellites into three different orbits, including a Russian spacecraft to locate forest fires, 48 CubeSats for Planet’s global Earth observation fleet, and eight nanosatellites for Spire Global’s commercial weather network.

Chinese TV broadcasting satellite reaches operational orbit after off-target launch

July 13, 2017 Stephen Clark

The Chinasat 9A communications satellite has arrived at its operational perch more than 22,000 miles over the equator after a Long March rocket deployed the craft in a lower-than-planned orbit last month due to a roll control error in the launcher’s third stage, according to China’s top state-owned aerospace contractor.

Photos: NASA’s TDRS-M satellite being readied for upcoming launch

July 13, 2017 Justin Ray

With the Atlas 5 rocket that will boost it into space now assembled and waiting, a $408 million NASA communications satellite is in final preparations for its science data relay mission.

First images of Jupiter’s Great Red Spot reach Earth

July 12, 2017 William Harwood

Two days after NASA’s Juno spacecraft streaked over Jupiter’s Great Red Spot, pictures of the solar system’s largest, most powerful storm, have been transmitted to Earth, giving eager scientist close-up views of the 10,000-mile-wide anticyclone where 400-mph winds have been howling for at least 187 years and possibly much longer.

Soyuz rolled out for launch of multinational satellite cluster

July 12, 2017 Stephen Clark

A Soyuz rocket arrived at a launch pad Tuesday in Kazakhstan for liftoff later this week with a satellite to monitor natural disasters and track forest fires from orbit and 72 secondary payloads from Russia, the United States, Germany, Norway and Japan.

BepiColombo Mercury mission tested for journey into ‘pizza oven’

July 10, 2017 Stephen Clark

Three spacecraft built in Europe and Japan have completed their final joint tests to ensure they are ready for departure to Mercury on an Ariane 5 rocket late next year on the nearly $1.9 billion BepiColombo mission to survey the solar system’s innermost planet.

Photos: Falcon 9 rocket makes evening ascent from pad 39A

July 10, 2017 Stephen Clark

Look back on last week’s liftoff of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, capping a busy two weeks for the launch company with a successful satellite deployment flight for Intelsat.