NASA – Page 5 – Spaceflight Now

Nelson: Decision on Mars Sample Return expected before new administration takes office

December 27, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said teams were meeting at the Kennedy Space Center on Friday, Dec. 20, to make some of the final determinations about how they will return dozens of samples from the Red Planet.

As it happened: NASA leadership announces delays to first Artemis crewed launch, Moon landing missions

December 5, 2024 Spaceflight Now

NASA announced new delays for the Artemis Moon program at a news conference at the agency’s headquarters in Washington, D.C. The Artemis 2 mission to circle the Moon is now scheduled for 2026 and the first lunar landing is delayed to 2027.

Trump nominates Jared Isaacman to serve as next NASA administrator

December 4, 2024 William Harwood

If confirmed, Isaacman, 41, would be the fifth NASA administrator with spaceflight experience, replacing former Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson, who flew into orbit aboard the space shuttle Columbia in early 1986.

Launch preview: SpaceX to launch Starship Flight 6 test mission from Starbase in southern Texas

November 19, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The mission is likely to be the fourth and final Starship flight before the end of 2024. Liftoff from Pad 1 at Starbase at Boca Chica Beach, Texas, is set for 4 p.m. CST (5 p.m. EST, 2200 UTC).

SpaceX targets Starship Flight 6 launch on November 18

November 8, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

This will be the fastest turnaround for the Starship program as SpaceX works towards what needs to become a weekly launch cadence for NASA’s Artemis program. Liftoff is set for no earlier than 4 p.m. CST (5 p.m. EST, 2200 UTC) on Nov. 18.

As it happened: SpaceX’s Cargo Dragon docks with the International Space Station

November 5, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

SpaceX’s Cargo Dragon spacecraft docked to the International Space Station to begin a one-month stay at the orbiting outpost. Dragon launched atop a Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center at 9:29 p.m. EST (0229 UTC) for the Commercial Resupply Services 31 (CRS-31) mission.

SpaceX launches 400th Falcon rocket on 31st cargo resupply mission to the space station for NASA

November 4, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

A Cargo Dragon spacecraft launched to begin its fifth journey to the International Space Station, carrying with it more than 6,000 pounds of science and supplies. Liftoff happened at 9:29 p.m. EST Monday (0229 UTC Tuesday).

Starship booster catch brings NASA, SpaceX closer to Artemis 3 Moon landing

November 1, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

As a milestone for NASA’s Human Landing System program, SpaceX is working towards an on-orbit propellant transfer demonstration campaign, beginning in spring 2025. The Artemis 3 Moon landing is targeting touchdown in Fall 2026.

One astronaut hospitalized in Pensacola after splashdown; crewmates flown back to Houston

October 25, 2024 William Harwood

The astronaut “is in stable condition under observation as a precautionary measure,” NASA said in a statement 10 hours after the Crew Dragon’s landing. “To protect the crew member’s medical privacy, specific details on the individual’s condition or identity will not be shared.”

Live coverage: Crew-8 splashdown off the coast of Pensacola, Florida

October 25, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

Splashdown occurred at 3:29 a.m. EDT (0729 UTC). In an unusual post-splashdown statement NASA said that all four crew members were transported “to a local medical facility for additional evaluation,” but didn’t provide any additional information.