NASA Weighs Cargo-Only Flight for Next Boeing’s Starliner Mission

NASA is seriously considering a shift in its test flight strategy for Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft, with agency officials now evaluating the possibility of conducting the next mission as a cargo-only flight. The decision, still under review, comes as Boeing continues to address a series of lingering technical issues with the spacecraft, which is being developed under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program to ferry astronauts to and from the International Space Station (ISS).

Read more »

PLD Space Preselected by ESA for European Launcher Challenge

In a major boost for Spain's burgeoning space sector, PLD Space has been named a preselected participant in the European Launcher Challenge (ELC) by the European Space Agency (ESA), a high-profile initiative aimed at securing Europe’s independent access to space. The program, unveiled earlier this year, could award up to €169 million per company, marking one of the most substantial space contract opportunities in Spain’s history.

Read more »

Trump Says Jared Isaacman Was “Inappropriate” Choice to Lead NASA, Citing Elon Musk Ties and Political Donations

American President Donald Trump has walked back his previous support for Jared Isaacman as NASA administrator, stating it would have been “inappropriate” for Isaacman to lead the space agency due to his connections with Elon Musk and his political donation history. The reversal comes weeks after Trump formally withdrew Isaacman’s nomination and amid lingering uncertainty over who will ultimately take the helm at NASA.

Read more »

United Launch Alliance Begins Stacking of Next Vulcan Rocket Ahead of National Security Mission

Just over a week after its latest Atlas V launch, United Launch Alliance (ULA) rolled its next Vulcan rocket to the Vertical Integration Facility at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Wednesday morning, marking the start of preparations for the third Vulcan launch since the rocket's debut. This booster is the first to fly since Vulcan achieved full certification to carry national security payloads, a key milestone for ULA’s launch cadence and mission portfolio.

Read more »

China’s Tianwen 2 Probe Surpasses 12 Million Kilometers in Groundbreaking Asteroid Mission| Looks Back At Earth And Moon

China’s Tianwen 2 spacecraft has now traveled more than 12 million kilometers from Earth on its ambitious asteroid sample-return mission, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) announced Tuesday. Over a month into its journey, the probe remains in excellent condition as it continues along its planned trajectory toward the near-Earth asteroid 2016 HO3.

Read more »

STARSHIP

Starship Full Stack Wet Dress Rehearsal

Starship and Super Heavy were loaded with more than 10 million pounds of propellant today october 24th in a flight-like rehearsal ahead of launch.  Vehicle is ready for the second test flight of a fully integrated Starship, pending regulatory approval. SpaceX progressing while we hear the FAA and Fish and Wildlife are as well. Next launch attempt coming before too long.

STARSHIP OVERVIEW

SpaceX’s Starship spacecraft and Super Heavy rocket – collectively referred to as Starship – represent a fully reusable transportation system designed to carry both crew and cargo to Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars and beyond. Starship is the world’s most powerful launch vehicle ever developed, capable of carrying up to 150 metric tonnes fully reusable and 250 metric tonnes expendable. HEIGHT120 m DIAMETER:9 m (fully reusable).

   Photo of Starship 25 and Booster 9 Full-stack awaiting for the second orbital launch.

First Orbital launch