News – Page 718 – Spaceflight Now

August 28, 2026

Breaking News

[ August 25, 2026 ] SpaceX launches 27 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Falcon 9
[ August 24, 2026 ] SpaceX launches Starlink mission on a Falcon booster’s record-breaking 37th flight Falcon 9
[ August 21, 2026 ] SpaceX launches 100th orbital mission of 2026 Falcon 9
[ August 20, 2026 ] SpaceX launches 29 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral following last-minute scrub Falcon 9
[ August 19, 2026 ] LandSpace becomes first commercial Chinese company to land an orbital-class booster Mission Reports

European space probe makes first landing on a comet

November 12, 2014 Stephen Clark

After making history as the first spacecraft to touch down on a comet, Europe’s Philae lander collected data on the rugged alien world’s environment and may have rebounded into space before settling back on the surface, scientists said Wednesday.

Magnetic explosion probes make it to the Cape

November 12, 2014 Justin Ray

Two probes joined an identical pair near their Florida launch site today for liftoff aboard an Atlas 5 rocket in March to study magnetic field explosions in space.

Video: Lander manager provides update on Philae status

November 12, 2014 Stephen Clark

Stephan Ulamec, head of the Philae lander team at DLR, provides an update after touchdown on the comet.

Comet lander leaves mothership, returns farewell images

November 12, 2014 Stephen Clark

Europe’s comet-bound Philae probe released from its Rosetta orbiter mothership, snapping photos of the spacecraft that ferried the lander on a ten-year journey from Earth to comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.

Video: Mission control celebrates separation as anxiety builds over landing

November 12, 2014 Stephen Clark

Paolo Ferri, head of mission operations, describes the moment of relief when engineers confirmed the Philae comet lander separated from its Rosetta mothership. But anxiety is building over touchdown after telemetry data raised questions about the status of an important cold gas thruster designed to keep the lander from bouncing off the comet.

NASA’s first Orion capsule delivered to launch pad

November 12, 2014 Justin Ray

NASA’s Orion spacecraft took a road trip to the launch pad Tuesday night, arriving at Cape Canaveral’s Complex 37 where a Delta 4-Heavy rocket awaits flight of the new capsule on Dec. 4.

Comet landing is a “go” despite thruster problem

November 12, 2014 Stephen Clark

A potential problem with a rocket thruster designed to keep the Philae lander from bouncing off comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko after touchdown Wednesday will make the probe’s daring descent even more challenging, officials said.

Unprecedented cosmic choreography essential to landing on comet

November 11, 2014 Stephen Clark

When a European landing probe goes for a daring touchdown on a comet Wednesday, officials say it would help to have a little luck on their side.

Live coverage: Philae “falls asleep”

November 11, 2014 Stephen Clark

The tiny European Philae lander after its historic touchdown on comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko has apparently ended as batteries depleted and the craft fell asleep Friday night.

Comet lander powered up after electronics glitch

November 11, 2014 Stephen Clark

Europe’s Philae lander — still latched inside its mothership — has been activated and should be ready for release Wednesday to begin a daring first-ever descent to a comet, the mission’s flight director said.