In battle with Russian lab module, space station ‘brought a knife to a gun fight’

Atlas 5, Mission Reports, News, Space Station, X Sidebar / By

Russia’s Nauka module, at left, docked with the International Space Station. Credit: NASA Playing it safe, the seven-member crew of the International Space Station moved into the U.S. segment of the outpost Friday, closed hatches and window shutters and stood by while Russian flight controllers vented helium pressurization lines in the newly arrived Nauka lab …

In battle with Russian lab module, space station ‘brought a knife to a gun fight’ Read More »

GAO dismisses lunar lander contract protests

News / By

STORY WRITTEN FOR CBS NEWS & USED WITH PERMISSION Artist’s concept of a Starship on the moon. Credit: SpaceX The Government Accountability Office ruled Friday that NASA did not violate procurement law or regulations when it awarded a single $2.9 billion moon lander contract to SpaceX, denying appeals from competitors Dynetics, a Leidos company, and Blue Origin, …

GAO dismisses lunar lander contract protests Read More »

Ariane 5 rocket launches two geostationary communications satellites

Ariane 5, Mission Reports, News, X Home Page Highlight / By

An Ariane 5 rocket lifts off Friday from a launch pad in French Guiana. Credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace – Photo Optique Video du CSG – P. Piron A European Ariane 5 rocket launched from French Guiana Friday, succeeding on its first flight in nearly a year to deploy a pair of geostationary communications satellites for commercial operators …

Ariane 5 rocket launches two geostationary communications satellites Read More »

High drama as Russian lab module tilts space station with errant thruster firings

Atlas 5, Mission Reports, News, Space Station, X Home Page Highlight / By

STORY WRITTEN FOR CBS NEWS & USED WITH PERMISSION NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough tweeted this view of the newly-arrived Nauka module at the International Space Station. Credit: NASA/Shane Kimbrough A heavyweight Russian laboratory module that experienced a variety of problems after launch last week docked at the International Space Station Thursday, but in a moment of unexpected …

High drama as Russian lab module tilts space station with errant thruster firings Read More »

Rocket Lab returns to service with “flawless” launch for U.S. military

Mission Reports, News, X Home Page Highlight / By

Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle lifts off at 2 a.m. EDT (0600 GMT; 6 p.m. local time) Thursday from Zealand. Credit: Rocket Lab Resuming launches after a mission failure two months ago, Rocket Lab successfully placed a small U.S. military research and development satellite into orbit Thursday following a fiery liftoff from New Zealand on …

Rocket Lab returns to service with “flawless” launch for U.S. military Read More »

Rocket Lab set to resume launches Thursday after failure in May

Mission Reports, News, X Sidebar / By

A technician at Rocket Lab’s launch base in New Zealand works with an Electron booster. Credit: Rocket Lab Rocket Lab is set to launch a small U.S. military technology demonstration satellite from New Zealand Thursday on the company’s first flight since a second stage failure doomed a commercial mission in May. The Air Force Research …

Rocket Lab set to resume launches Thursday after failure in May Read More »

“All eyes on weather” for Friday test launch of Boeing’s Starliner crew capsule

Atlas 5, Mission Reports, News, Space Station, X Home Page Highlight / By

Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft is stacked on top of a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket at Cape Canaveral. Credit: Boeing/Damon Tucci The threat of lightning could thwart plans to launch an Atlas 5 rocket from Cape Canaveral Friday with a Boeing commercial crew capsule on an unpiloted test flight to the International Space Station, according …

“All eyes on weather” for Friday test launch of Boeing’s Starliner crew capsule Read More »

SpaceX is about to begin launching the next series of Starlink satellites

Falcon 9, Mission Reports, News, X Home Page Highlight / By

A Starlink ground terminal. Credit: SpaceX After going through the month of July with no launches, SpaceX is scheduled to resume missions in August with Falcon 9 rocket flights from California and Florida to begin deploying Starlink internet satellites into new orbits. SpaceX is gearing up for at least two Starlink launches next month, beginning …

SpaceX is about to begin launching the next series of Starlink satellites Read More »

Watch live: Russia’s Pirs module set to depart space station today

Mission Reports, News, Space Station, X Home Page Highlight / By

Wrapping up nearly 20 years of service as a docking port and airlock, Russia’s Pirs module is set to depart the International Space Station Monday under tow from a Progress supply ship, heading for a destructive re-entry in Earth’s atmosphere to clear the way for arrival of a larger science lab later this week. Russia’s …

Watch live: Russia’s Pirs module set to depart space station today Read More »