News Archive
Browse every article published on Spaceflight Now, from launch reports and mission previews to spacecraft development coverage. Use the filters to narrow by topic or search by keyword.
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22 articles
VideoAstronauts ‘operate’ on space station’s broken robot arm
On May 27, flight controllers at the Johnson Space Center in Houston noticed one of the Canadian-built arm's seven joints was drawing more current than expected and not moving properly.
VideoStarliner lands safely in New Mexico
Despite NASA's concerns about earlier thruster problems and multiple helium leaks in the ship's propulsion pressurization system, the Starliner had no trouble undocking and moving away from the station at 6:04 p.m. EDT and executing a critical 59-second deorbit braking maneuver at 11:17 p.m. to drop out of orbit.
VideoStarliner crew welcomed aboard space station
Working around multiple helium leaks and thruster problems, the crew of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft wrapped up a challenging rendezvous and a delayed-but-successful docking with the International Space Station Thursday in a major milestone for the new ship's first piloted test flight.
VideoNASA says Boeing’s Starliner crew capsule can safely fly ‘as is’ with propulsion system helium leak
After nearly three weeks of exhaustive tests and data analysis, NASA managers said Friday they are confident Boeing's oft-delayed Starliner crew capsule can safely launch "as is" June 1, saying a small helium leak in the ship's propulsion system does not pose a flight safety concern.
VideoLong-delayed Boeing Starliner ready for first piloted flight to space station
Years behind schedule and more than a billion dollars over budget, Boeing's Starliner capsule is finally poised for its first piloted launch Monday, a critical test flight carrying two veteran astronauts to the International Space Station and in so doing, demonstrate an alternative to SpaceX's already operational Crew Dragon.
VideoSpaceX readies Falcon 9 for commercial flight to space station
An international four-man crew strapped into a SpaceX capsule atop a Falcon 9 rocket at the Kennedy Space Center Tuesday for a dress-rehearsal countdown. The launch of the privately-funded research mission to the International Space Station has been delayed until Thursday.
VideoJapanese billionaire and assistant arrive at space station
A Russian cosmonaut, a Japanese billionaire and his production assistant rocketed into orbit Wednesday and headed for the International Space Station for an 12-day visit, the first by paying "space tourists" in more than a decade.
VideoAstronauts describe thrilling ride to orbit on Falcon 9 rocket
When the countdown hit zero last Friday and the engines powering a previously flown Falcon 9 first stage roared to life for takeoff, the four astronauts strapped into a SpaceX Crew Dragon some 21 stories up started laughing.
VideoHurriedly planned ‘contingency’ spacewalk on tap Tuesday
Space station commander Peggy Whitson and astronaut Jack Fischer are set for a two-and-a-half hour spacewalk Tuesday, a quickly-planned excursion to replace a recently installed external computer that failed Saturday.
VideoSoyuz docking boosts station crew size back to six
Two days after launch from Kazakhstan, a Russian Soyuz ferry ship glided to a smooth docking with the International Space Station Saturday, bringing a veteran cosmonaut, a Frenchman making his first flight and NASA's most experienced female astronaut to the lab complex.