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September 20, 2026

Breaking News

[ September 19, 2026 ] Russian Progress cargo ship arrives at International Space Station News
[ September 19, 2026 ] Live coverage: SpaceX to launch 27 Starlink V2 Mini satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Falcon 9
[ September 15, 2026 ] SpaceX launches national security payload for U.S. Space Force from Vandenberg Falcon 9
[ September 15, 2026 ] Avio launches pair of climate monitoring European spacecraft to study plants, oceans and atmospheric changes News
[ September 13, 2026 ] SpaceX launches 700th Falcon rocket, carries final 3 O3b mPOWER satellites to orbit for SES Falcon 9

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.

Live coverage: Orion lands in Pacific

December 2, 2014 Spaceflight Now

NASA’s first space-worthy Orion capsule blasted off atop a Delta 4-Heavy booster rocket for a two-orbit, four-hour shakedown cruise in orbit. Liftoff occurred at 7:05 a.m. EST (1205 GMT), with splashdown in the Pacific Ocean at 11:29 a.m. EST (1629 GMT).

Live coverage: Japanese asteroid mission blasts off

December 2, 2014 Stephen Clark

An ambitious mission of exploration launched from Japan at 0422 GMT Wednesday (11:22 p.m. EST Tuesday). An H-2A rocket lifted off from the Tanegashima Space Center with Hayabusa 2, starting a six-year journey to collect rocks from an asteroid and return them to Earth.

Isolated showers, gusty winds expected for Thursday’s Delta 4 launch

December 1, 2014 Stephen Clark

Weather forecasters will watch for isolated rain showers and gusty winds that could delay Thursday’s launch of a Delta 4-Heavy rocket carrying NASA’s Orion space capsule on its first flight into orbit.

Soyuz rocket deploys upgraded Russian navigation craft

December 1, 2014 Stephen Clark

A new navigation satellite lifted off aboard a Soyuz rocket Sunday and reached an orbital perch 12,000 miles above Earth to test upgraded capabilities aimed at improving positioning services for Russian military and civilian users.

Ground team ready to rouse Pluto probe for historic flyby

November 30, 2014 Stephen Clark

On the final stretch of a speedy nine-year trek through the solar system, NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft will be awakened from hibernation Dec. 6 for an encounter with Pluto, a mysterious world that has captured imaginations and will soon be revealed in reality.

Japan set to launch asteroid sample return mission

Small satellites have another way to get into space

Live coverage: Orion lands in Pacific

Live coverage: Japanese asteroid mission blasts off

Isolated showers, gusty winds expected for Thursday’s Delta 4 launch

Soyuz rocket deploys upgraded Russian navigation craft

Ground team ready to rouse Pluto probe for historic flyby

Launch of Japanese asteroid probe delayed

Thanksgiving in space

Proton liftoff delayed by upper stage problem