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.
Matching Articles
323 articles
Artemis 2 crew blasts off on historic moon mission
A three-man one-woman crew blasted off on a voyage to the moon Wednesday, riding atop the world's most powerful operational rocket as it roared away on a trail-blazing flight to help pave the way for upcoming lunar landings and an American moon base.
VideoLaunch preview: NASA to launch Artemis 2, its first Moon-bound mission with astronauts since 1972
The four astronauts will spend more than nine days onboard their Orion spacecraft and is poised to pass the distance record set by Apollo 13 in 1970. Liftoff from Launch Complex 39B is scheduled for Wednesday, April 1, at 6:24 p.m. EDT (2224 UTC).
VideoArtemis 2 astronauts arrive in Florida ahead of April 1 launch attempt
The crew is expected to land in Florida around 2:30 p.m. EDT (1830 UTC) on Friday. April 1 at 6:24 p.m. EDT (2224 UTC) is the earliest launch opportunity during a six-day window.
NASA outlines ambitious $20 billion plan for moon base
Along with plans for a moon base, senior NASA managers also outlined work to develop nuclear power systems for use on the moon and Mars to keep astronauts, habitats and other equipment warm while providing the electricity needed for research, construction and daily operations.
VideoNASA returns its SLS rocket back to the launch pad ahead of planned April flight of Artemis 2
The rollout of the 322-foot-tall rocket took fewer than 12 hours after first motion, which occurred at about 12:20 a.m. EDT (0420 UTC). NASA hopes to launch the crewed test flight to the Moon no earlier than April 1.
VideoNASA Administrator teases further Artemis program updates in one-on-one interview
The conversation took place amid the flight readiness review for the Artemis 2 mission, which is currently set to launch no earlier than April 1, 2026, pending work being completed in the Vehicle Assembly Building.
NASA ready for another shot at launching Artemis 2 moon mission
At the conclusion of a two-day flight readiness review, "all the teams polled 'go' to launch and fly Artemis 2 around the moon, pending completion of some of the work before we roll out to the launch pad," said Lori Glaze, associate administrator of Exploration Systems Development at NASA Headquarters.
NASA inspector general assesses agency’s management of moon lander risk
NASA's Office of Inspector General said that while NASA is working to "mitigate and prevent hazards" associated with lunar landers being built by SpaceX and Blue Origin, "there are currently gaps in the agency's approach, including in its testing posture and crew survival analyses," including what might happen after a catastrophic but non-fatal event.
VideoNASA contract confirms selection of ULA’s Centaur 5 as new upper stage for the SLS rocket
The upper stage of United launch Alliance’s Vulcan rockets performed successfully across the first four flights of the rocket since 2024. The first launch of a Centaur 5 as part of a Space Launch System rocket would be on the Artemis 4 mission.
NASA announces major overhaul of Artemis moon program: “We’ve got to get back to basics”
New NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman announced a major overhaul of the agency's Artemis moon program Friday, acknowledging that the agency's plan to land astronauts on the moon in 2028 was not realistic without another preparatory mission first to lay the groundwork.