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VideoSpaceX will trigger an intentional rocket failure to prove crew capsule’s safety
SpaceX will sacrifice a Falcon 9 rocket Sunday in a fiery test a minute-and-a-half after liftoff from Florida’s Space Coast to prove the company’s Crew Dragon spacecraft can safely push astronauts away from a failing launch vehicle, simulating a daring maneuver that would only be attempted on a piloted mission during an in-flight emergency.
Pending test outcomes, NASA says SpaceX could launch astronauts in early March
A NASA official said Friday that SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft could be ready to ferry astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken to the International Space Station as soon as early March, pending the results from a major demonstration of the ship's launch abort system this weekend, a pair of parachute drop tests, and space station crew schedules.
VideoLive coverage: SpaceX successfully performs Crew Dragon abort test
SpaceX launched an unpiloted Crew Dragon spacecraft aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center at 10:30 a.m. EST (1530 GMT) Sunday. SpaceX triggered an escape maneuver using the Dragon's thrusters about a minute-and-a-half after liftoff to verify the launch abort engines can safely carry the capsule -- and astronauts on future missions -- away from a failing rocket.
SpaceX abort test serves as practice run for astronauts, rescue teams
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon capsule were raised vertical at launch pad 39A in Florida late Thursday, setting the stage for a launch day dress rehearsal Friday with NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken -- the veteran space fliers assigned to the Crew Dragon's first piloted mission later this year -- before a critical in-flight test of the ship's emergency escape system Saturday.
Koch, Meir continue space station battery replacements on successful spacewalk
Astronauts Christina Koch and Jessica Meir floated back outside the International Space Station Wednesday for history's second all-female spacewalk, installing two powerful new lithium-ion batteries on the far left end of the lab's solar power truss.
Koch marks record stay in space for female astronaut
Astronaut Christina Koch, launched to the International Space Station in March, marks her 289th day in space Saturday, breaking retired astronaut Peggy Whitson's world record for the longest single spaceflight by a female.
VideoLive coverage: Starliner lands in New Mexico
Boeing's Starliner crew capsule accomplished an early at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico at 7:58 a.m. EST (5:58 a.m. MST; 1258 GMT) Sunday to conclude an abbreviated two-day unpiloted test flight after a timing error on the spacecraft shortly after launch prevented it from linking up with the International Space Station as planned.
After redesigns, the finish line is in sight for SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spaceship
Five-and-a-half years ago, SpaceX founder Elon Musk revealed SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft, a sleek-looking human-rated spaceship with 3D-printed engines, a roomy stylized interior and touchscreen controls. Now SpaceX's first ship to ferry astronauts -- with numerous design changes introduced since 2014 -- is about to leave the company's factory for final testing before launching early next year.
Astronauts perform third spacewalk to fix cosmic ray detector
After prepping their patient -- a $2 billion cosmic ray detector -- during two earlier spacewalks, two space station astronauts ventured back outside for a third outing Monday to carry out what amounted to transplant surgery, installing replacement coolant pumps in a bid to revive the costly instrument and extend its life.
After quiet autumn, SpaceX preps for busy December launch schedule
After a lull in launch activity this fall, SpaceX teams at Cape Canaveral are preparing for up to four Falcon 9 missions in December to close out 2019 with a surge of launches.