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NASA, SpaceX watching weather in downrange abort zones for crew launch
Preparations for the planned liftoff Thursday of a SpaceX Dragon capsule with a four-person crew to the International Space Station cleared another readiness review Tuesday at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, but officials are tracking marginal wind and sea conditions in downrange abort zones in the Atlantic Ocean that could force a launch delay.
VideoNASA chief: Russian cosmonauts unlikely fly on U.S. crew capsules until next year
NASA’s acting administrator said Tuesday he does not expect Russian cosmonauts to start launching to the International Space Station on U.S. commercial crew vehicles until next year. A proposed agreement with Russia to ensure the space station is always staffed with an international crew is awaiting U.S. government approval.
VideoAfter successful first flight, NASA wants to push Mars helicopter to its limits
The work isn't over for NASA's Ingenuity Mars helicopter. Engineers hope to fly the rotorcraft four more times in the next two weeks before calling it quits on the pioneering technology experiment, which accomplished the first powered flight of an aircraft on another planet Monday.
Dragon crew rehearses for launch day, first-look weather forecast looks good
After completing a dress rehearsal for launch day over the weekend, the four astronauts gearing up for liftoff Thursday on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket are in good spirits and spending time with their families in Florida before leaving the planet for a six-month expedition on the International Space Station. Forecasters with the U.S. Space Force's 45th Weather Squadron predict an 80% chance of acceptable weather for launch early Thursday.
NASA celebrates first historic helicopter flight on Mars
An automated mini-helicopter driven by two fast-spinning, counter-rotating rotors took off from the surface of Mars, hovered for 30 seconds, then successfully landed Monday to complete the historic first powered flight of an aircraft on another planet.
VideoLive coverage: NASA confirms successful first flight of Mars helicopter
NASA's robotic Ingenuity helicopter is poised to make the first attempt at a powered flight in the atmosphere of Mars. Watch live at 6:15 a.m. EDT (1015 GMT) Monday as NASA officials receive signals confirming the outcome of the automated flight attempt.
Photos: Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon roll out to pad 39A
SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon Endeavour spacecraft rolled out to pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on Friday. Hydraulics raised the 215-foot-tall rocket vertical on the historic launch pad in preparation for liftoff with four astronauts heading for the International Space Station.
VideoNASA schedules first Mars helicopter test flight for Monday
After some long-distance troubleshooting, NASA's Ingenuity Mars helicopter will attempt the first flight of its kind on another world Monday in a demonstration that could open the door to a new era of interplanetary aerial scouts. Watch live at 6:15 a.m. EDT (1015 GMT) Monday as NASA officials receive signals confirming the outcome of the flight attempt.
VideoSpaceX test-fires rocket for crew launch
SpaceX test-fired the Falcon 9 rocket early Saturday ahead of launch with the next four astronauts heading to the International Space Station. The static fire test before sunrise Saturday in Florida was a major step toward liftoff Thursday.
Russian capsule brings home three space fliers
Two cosmonauts and a NASA astronaut undocked from the International Space Station and plunged back to Earth early Saturday, landing on the steppe of Kazakhstan amid preparations in Florida for launch of another station-bound crew Thursday aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft.