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Make-or-break tests on tap for Boeing’s Starliner capsule
Critical tests are on tap this weekend to confirm Boeing's Starliner capsule can safety carry its two-person crew back to Earth despite unexpected helium leaks and degraded maneuvering thrusters, officials said Thursday.
VideoAs it happened: NASA, Boeing provide update on the Starliner Crew Flight Test mission
The update comes after NASA said it and Boeing completed ground hot fire testing of a reaction control system (RCS) to better understand some of the in-flight anomalies seen during the spacecraft's rendezvous and docking with the International Space Station.
NASA plans for space station’s demise with new SpaceX ‘Deorbit Vehicle’
The ISS Deorbit Vehicle, or DV, will be a custom-built, one-of-a-kind spacecraft needed to make sure the space station re-enters the atmosphere at the precise place and in the proper orientation to insure any wreckage that survives the 3,000-degree heat of re-entry will crash harmlessly into the sea.
Starliner crew confident spacecraft will bring them safely home
Helium leaks and thruster issues prompted NASA to extend their stay aboard the space station indefinitely -- Wednesday marked their 35th day in orbit -- while engineers carry out tests and analysis to better understand what caused the problems and to make sure the spacecraft can safely being Wilmore and Williams home.
VideoSpaceX Falcon 9 second stage fails leaving Starlink satellites in wrong orbit
It was the first failure of a Falcon 9 rocket in flight since 2015. Liftoff occurred at 7:35 p.m. PDT (10:35 p.m. EDT, 0235 UTC) from pad 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
VideoSpaceX launches 100th Direct to Cell Starlink satellite on Falcon 9 flight from Cape Canaveral
The overnight mission saw the return of Falcon 9 booster, tail number B1073, which experienced an abort as its engine began firing during the June 14 launch attempt of the Starlink 10-2 mission. Liftoff from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station was at 4:55 a.m. EDT (0855 UTC).
Starliner landing now on indefinite hold for more tests, but NASA insists crew not ‘stranded’ in space
The problem for NASA and Boeing is that the Starliner's service module, which houses the helium lines, thrusters and other critical systems, is discarded before re-entry and burns up in the atmosphere. Engineers will not be able to study the hardware after the fact and as a result, they want to collect as much data as possible before NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams head home.
VideoSpaceX launches 350th Falcon 9 rocket on a Starlink flight from Cape Canaveral
The mission will push the Falcon 9 first stage booster, B1062, into the flight leader position with this 22nd flight. Liftoff of the Starlink 10-3 mission is set for 7:14 a.m. EDT (1114 UTC).
VideoSpaceX completes Falcon 9 double launch day with Starlink mission from Vandenberg Space Force Station
The mission marked SpaceX's second launch of the day. Liftoff happened at 8:47 p.m. PDT (11:47 p.m. EDT, 0347 UTC).
VideoSpaceX marks record 20th flight with Falcon 9 payload fairing half on Starlink mission
SpaceX swapped out the Falcon 9 vehicle after a last-second abort at engine ignition during a launch attempt on June 14. Liftoff of the Starlink 10-2 mission happened at 1:15 p.m. EDT (1715 UTC) on Sunday.