International Space Station – Spaceflight Now

Robot-carrying capsule launches on test flight to space station

August 22, 2019

With a robot rather than a cosmonaut in the commander’s seat, a Russian Soyuz spacecraft rocketed into orbit from Kazakhstan late Wednesday (U.S. time) en route to the International Space Station on a critical test flight before crews begin riding an upgraded Soyuz booster next year.

Live coverage: Soyuz launches from Kazakhstan

August 22, 2019

Russian teams launched the unpiloted Soyuz MS-14 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 11:38 p.m. EDT Wednesday (0338 GMT Thursday) on a two-day trip to the International Space Station. The spaceship — with a robot passenger — launched on a test flight with an upgraded model of the Soyuz rocket that will begin carrying crews into orbit next year.

Russians ready unpiloted Soyuz capsule for launch

August 22, 2019

An unpiloted Russian Soyuz spacecraft, with a humanoid robot in the commander’s seat instead of a cosmonaut, is scheduled for liftoff late Wednesday (U.S. time) from Kazakhstan on a test flight to verify the spaceship’s compatibility with the new-generation Soyuz-2.1a rocket set to begin launching crews to the International Space Station next year.

Spacewalkers help install new space station docking port

August 21, 2019

NASA astronauts Nick Hague and Drew Morgan completed a 6-hour, 32-minute spacewalk outside the International Space Station Wednesday to help connect a newly-arrived docking port to the orbiting research outpost.

Sierra Nevada selects ULA’s Vulcan rocket to launch Dream Chaser missions

August 14, 2019

Sierra Nevada Corp. has booked at least six launches on United Launch Alliance’s new Vulcan Centaur rocket to carry Dream Chaser supply ships into orbit on cargo runs to the International Space Station beginning in 2021, becoming the first confirmed customer for ULA’s next-generation launcher.

Cygnus supply ship departs space station, begins extended mission

August 6, 2019

Wrapping up 109 days attached to the International Space Station, a Northrop Grumman Cygnus supply ship departed the orbiting research lab Tuesday to begin an extended four-month mission for additional technology demonstrations and smallsat deployments.

SpaceX to begin flights under new cargo resupply contract next year

August 2, 2019

SpaceX is set to retire its current fleet of Dragon capsules, in use since 2010, next year and begin flying supplies to the International Space Station on a new variant of the Dragon spacecraft based on the model in development to carry astronauts.

Progress cargo freighter lifts off, reaches space station hours later

July 31, 2019

A Russian Progress cargo freighter lifted off Wednesday from Kazakhstan on top of a Soyuz-2.1a booster and completed a record-breaking 3-hour, 19-minute pursuit of the International Space Station with an automated docking to deliver 2.7 tons of food, fuel, water and other supplies.

Photos: SpaceX completes resupply run to International Space Station

July 29, 2019

A SpaceX Dragon capsule packed with more than 5,000 pounds of hardware, provisions and experiments launched July 25 from Cape Canaveral and arrived at the International Space Station two days later.

Soyuz booster rolls out to launch pad with space station refueling freighter

July 29, 2019

Packed with nearly 3 tons of rocket fuel, water, oxygen and crew provisions, the Russian Progress MS-12 supply ship and its Soyuz booster arrived at a launch pad Sunday at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, moving a step closer to liftoff Wednesday on a fast-track three-hour flight to the International Space Station.