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NASA could extend space station stays as hedge against commercial crew delays
NASA is working with the Russian space agency to potentially extend crew stays on the International Space Station, the agency's acting administrator said last week, as a cushion against expected delays in the development of commercial crew capsules by Boeing and SpaceX.
Lawmakers question safety, schedule for Boeing/SpaceX commercial crew ships
Boeing and SpaceX hope to launch commercial crew ferry ships on long-awaited test flights later this year, but both companies face major challenges getting the spacecraft certified before late 2019 when seats aboard Russian Soyuz spacecraft will no longer be easily available for NASA space station crews, officials told lawmakers Wednesday.
Engine for upgraded Falcon 9 rocket explodes on test stand
A Merlin engine designed for the version of SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket that will carry astronauts into orbit for NASA failed during testing Saturday in Texas, but the company said its upcoming launches will not be affected by the accident.
Anticipating upgraded spaceships, SpaceX builds final first-generation Dragon cargo craft
The Dragon supply ship set for liftoff from Florida next month was the last of SpaceX's first-generation cargo capsules off the production line, meaning future logistics deliveries to the International Space Station will fly on recycled spacecraft until a new Dragon variant is ready.
VideoPropulsive landings nixed from SpaceX’s Dragon spaceship
SpaceX's upgraded Dragon capsules will not return astronauts to Earth for powered landings as originally envisioned, company boss Elon Musk said Wednesday, a design change that raises questions about the space transport firm's plans to send commercial landers to the surface of Mars.
Q&A with Elon Musk, SpaceX’s founder and CEO
SpaceX's Elon Musk spoke with reporters Monday about his company's plan to launch two space tourists on a loop around the moon in 2018.
SpaceX to send two private citizens around the moon and back
SpaceX founder and chief executive Elon Musk announced Monday plans to send two paying "private individuals" on a week-long flight around the moon and back to Earth by the end of next year.
SpaceX’s first crew launch moved back to 2018
Astronauts will not fly to the International Space Station on SpaceX's Crew Dragon spaceship until at least May 2018, NASA said this week, missing a previous target launch date at the end of next year.
NASA has no plans to buy more Soyuz seats, and it may be too late anyway
NASA is sure enough that Boeing and SpaceX can safely launch astronauts to the International Space Station by early 2019 to hold off paying Russia to keep flying U.S. crews to the research complex, and one official says a deadline to order parts for new Russian Soyuz crew capsules may have already passed.
Boeing nears fix for CST-100 Starliner design hitch
Boeing engineers are close to resolving concerns with the mass and aerodynamic shape of the company's CST-100 Starliner commercial crew carrier, and officials are optimistic the spaceship will be ready to deliver astronauts to the International Space Station in early 2018.