News – Page 689 – Spaceflight Now

December 13, 2025

Breaking News

[ December 12, 2025 ] Study: Current, future megaconstellations risk space-based astronomy News
[ December 11, 2025 ] SpaceX breaks launch pad turnaround record with flight of Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Falcon 9
[ December 10, 2025 ] SpaceX launches 160th Falcon 9 rocket of 2025 Falcon 9
[ December 9, 2025 ] SpaceX launches classified payload for the National Reconnaissance Office Falcon 9
[ December 9, 2025 ] Soyuz safely lands in Kazakhstan Mission Reports

Orion is back home

December 19, 2014 Justin Ray

Completing a 2,700-mile journey across the United States, America’s inaugural Orion spaceship arrived back home at the Kennedy Space Center on Thursday, just under two weeks after its trial by fire.

Photos: One more look at Orion’s launch

December 19, 2014 Justin Ray

Take another look back at the Orion spaceship’s launch atop a Delta 4-Heavy rocket on Dec. 5 with this gallery of NASA and United Launch Alliance photos.

Photos: India test flies new launcher, crew capsule

December 18, 2014 Stephen Clark

A powerful new Indian launcher and a precursor to a future piloted space capsule flew to the edge of space on a 20-minute test mission Thursday. See photos of the rocket’s liftoff and the landing craft after splashdown in the Bay of Bengal.

Newest GPS satellite goes active

December 18, 2014 Justin Ray

The fourth modernized Global Positioning System satellite launched this year has completed in-orbit testing and joined the constellation.

Launch of SpaceX supply ship delayed to January

December 18, 2014 Stephen Clark

Blaming a technical glitch encountered during a preflight test, officials said Thursday the launch of SpaceX’s next Dragon cargo capsule to the International Space Station has been delayed to early January.

Live coverage: Soyuz blasts off on third mission for O3b

December 18, 2014 Stephen Clark

Four satellites tucked inside the tip of a Soyuz rocket lifted off Thursday, heading for a 5,000-mile-high orbit to expand the reach of O3b’s broadband communications network. Liftoff from the European-run spaceport in French Guiana occurred at 1:37 p.m. EST (1837 GMT).

India’s new rocket program achieves big success

December 18, 2014 Stephen Clark

India’s aspiration to launch all of its own satellites — and eventually astronauts — into space got a boost Thursday with a successful test flight of a powerful new rocket and a prototype landing capsule designed for the country’s human spaceflight program.

Europe’s Venus Express mission is at its end

December 18, 2014 Stephen Clark

The European Space Agency’s Venus Express spacecraft has run out of fuel and will burn up in the atmosphere of Venus in January after a successful eight-year mission.

Live coverage: All-new Indian rocket takes off on maiden flight

December 18, 2014 Stephen Clark

India’s all-new GSLV Mk. 3 launcher blasted off for the first time at 0400 GMT Thursday (11 p.m. EST Wednesday) on a suborbital test flight to demonstrate a new twin-engine core stage, two powerful solid rocket boosters and a prototype capsule designed for India’s planned human space program.

SpaceX expected to set new Falcon 9 launch date

December 17, 2014 Stephen Clark

Officials will likely set a new launch date Thursday for a SpaceX-owned commercial cargo craft that was expected to take off Friday heading for the International Space Station, according to sources familiar with launch preparations.