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
2,411 articles
ULA chief explains reusability and innovation of new rocket
United Launch Alliance will salvage the main engines through a mid-air recovery plan and reuse them again aboard the company's new Vulcan rocket, saving 90 percent in booster propulsion costs, the company announced Monday.

Nearby storms keep Falcon 9 rocket grounded
Hazardous anvil clouds approaching from a nearby thunderstorm forced SpaceX to abort the takeoff of a Falcon 9 launcher Monday, delaying the start of an International Space Station resupply mission and a bold attempt to recover the rocket intact on an ocean-going platform.
VideoVideo: Animation of Vulcan launch
This animation depicts United Launch Alliance's new Vulcan rocket blasting off.

Artwork: ULA Vulcan rocket revealed
These are artist's concepts and press conference briefing slides from the United Launch Alliance unveiling of its new Vulcan rocket to debut in 2019.

ULA unveils its future with the Vulcan rocket family
Meet the Vulcan, the next-generation rocket family brought to you by United Launch Alliance that comes with a bold reusability plan, multiple configurations for medium- to heavy-lift, all-American engines and serves as the eventual replacement for the historic Atlas and Delta rocket lines.

ULA plans to introduce new rocket one piece at a time
United Launch Alliance is expected to reveal its design for a next generation satellite launcher Monday, outlining a 20-year roadmap to develop a new methane-powered first stage booster, an advanced space tug and a reusable rocket engine.

Live coverage: Dragon cargo craft arrives at space station
Loaded with mice, plant specimens and the International Space Station's first espresso machine, a SpaceX Dragon cargo capsule arrived at the complex Friday with a fresh delivery of supplies. ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti grappled the spacecraft with the station's robot arm at 6:55 a.m. EDT (1055 GMT).

Falcon 9 rocket fires engines for prelaunch test
SpaceX engineers ran through a customary prelaunch countdown test Saturday and fired the Falcon 9 rocket's nine Merlin main engines at Cape Canaveral ahead of liftoff Monday with 2.2 tons of supplies and experiments for the International Space Station.

SpaceX on track for cargo launch Monday
Weather forecasters will be on the lookout for rain showers and thunderstorms during Monday's scheduled launch of a SpaceX cargo craft to the International Space Station, but there is a 60 percent chance conditions at Cape Canaveral will permit liftoff.

Atlas 5 slips at payload’s request
The next Atlas 5 rocket launch from Cape Canaveral will be delayed two weeks to resolve an undisclosed issue with the payload, United Launch Alliance officials announced Friday.