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Axiom Space announces crew of Ax-3 private mission to the ISS
Today Axiom Space announced who will be flying to the ISS early next year on the third private astronaut mission. This mission will feature a return Axiom astronaut as well as an all European crew.
Expand Expanding CloseFor All Mankind returning to Apple TV+ for fourth season on November 10 [Video]
Premiere Apple TV+ series For All Mankind will return for its fourth season later this year. The 10-episode run of the alternate history sci-fi drama will begin on November 10. A new teaser clip and first look images from season four dropped today.
Expand Expanding CloseVirgin Galactic launches third commercial flight on the down low
Friday Virgin Galactic launched its latest commercial missions out of New Mexico. However this time there was no fanfare, livestream, or post launch interviews with the customers. They simply went up, had fun, and came back down.
Expand Expanding CloseFirefly Aerospace and Millennium Space Systems: Pioneering rapid satellite deployment
Firefly Aerospace and Millennium Space Systems have come together to showcase a demonstration mission called Victus Nox with the aim of setting a new industry standard for rapid satellite deployment. Last year, the two companies were chosen to conduct this mission, designed to demonstrate a 24-hour rapid-response capability for launching satellites into low Earth orbit for the U.S. Space Force.
Expand Expanding CloseThis Week In Launches: Russia to launch its first crewed Soyuz of the year
With ULA sneaking in its first Atlas V launch between issues in this series, the only exciting launch I have to discuss this week is Russia’s crew rotation to the ISS. While it might seem like the only topic, it is indeed a significant event. MS-24, a crewed Soyuz mission, will replace the crew of MS-22, who have been in space for approximately a year.
Expand Expanding CloseSpaceX releases Starship test flight update
Back on April 20, SpaceX launched their Starship rocket from Boca Chica, Texas. The test was a major milestone for the program which had previously spent 4 years in development, starting in 2019. The launch used Starship vehicle ‘Ship 24’ and Booster 7 (also known as B7). Together the two vehicles launched into the Texan skies, where issues rapidly started developing. The issues eventually resulted in the vehicle entering an uncontrolled spin, whereafter the vehicle was remotely destroyed over the Gulf of Mexico.
Expand Expanding CloseFAA closes investigation into April Starship launch
After months of investigations by both SpaceX and the FAA, both parties have finished going over all the data and have signed off on the root causes of Starship’s first launch. The FAA was the final one to do so and signed off on the plan SpaceX proposed to ensure Starship won’t fail again (in the same way at least).
Expand Expanding CloseChandrayaan-3 lander and rover prepared to hopefully survive the lunar night
India’s lunar lander and rover have completed its main missions and have now moved on to secondary goals, one of which will see if it can survive the lunar night. The other was a bold hop across the surface to gather science in some slightly different pastures.
Expand Expanding CloseElon Musk states SpaceX’s next Starship rocket is ready to launch
After completing the stacking of the company’s second Starship rocket, Elon Musk announced the rocket is ready to launch. However there are a few more hurdles to finish that could lead to some down time before it can really fly.
Expand Expanding CloseAmazon sued by shareholders for excluding SpaceX in Kuiper launch bid
A pension fund is suing Amazon over its contract to launch Kuiper satellites on Blue Origin, ULA, and Arianespace rockets because SpaceX was not included in the discussion. The suit argues that Bezos’ rivalry with Elon Musk created contracts that did not best meet the company’s fiduciary responsibility to its shareholders.
Expand Expanding CloseSpaceX all in on X, ditching YouTube for its livestreams
SpaceX is seemingly all in on X as its media distribution tool. Over the weekend the commercial launch provider ended streaming its launches and Dragon operations on YouTube in favor of exclusive coverage on the social media platform also owned by SpaceX founder Elon Musk.
Expand Expanding CloseUnder tight deadlines from the Space Force, Firefly gears up for its next launch
We’re coming up on one year since we’ve last seen Firefly launch its Alpha rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base. That wait will soon be over as the company announced it’s currently waiting on word from the US Space Force for its third launch, sometime within the next six months.
Expand Expanding CloseThis Week In Launches: Virgin Galactic eying up next flight opportunity to keep momentum
A slow week at least here in the US when it comes to spaceflight activities but we do have an exciting moment Friday. With Virgin Galactic planning its third flight the end of this week, they are trying to keep their momentum going with a truly incredible launch rate.
Expand Expanding CloseSpaceX sending iPhone Emergency SOS satellites to space for Apple partner Globalstar
Nearly a year has passed since Apple introduced the iPhone 14 featuring Emergency SOS via Satellite, allowing users to reach out to emergency services even in areas without cellular coverage. And Globalstar, Apple’s partner in providing satellites for this technology, could soon expand its coverage thanks to Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
Expand Expanding CloseAstrolab’s FLEX rover secures SpaceX deal for lunar mission aboard StarshipÂ
Venturi Astrolab, the developer of the Flexible Logistics and Exploration (FLEX) rover, has inked an agreement with SpaceX that is set to propel its innovative rover to the lunar surface aboard a Starship flight. This ambitious mission, scheduled for a potential launch in mid-2026, marks SpaceX’s first-ever commercial cargo contract for lunar delivery.
Expand Expanding CloseIndian Moon rover sends back photo of Chrandrayaan-3 lander on the lunar surface
It’s been an entire week since Chandrayaan-3 landed on the Moon, putting India in a small club of those who can do it. Since then ISRO has been sharing photos from its lander and rover, as well as some early science results. On Wednesday, ISRO treated us to a photo of the Chandrayaan-3 lander, on the surface of the Moon, courtesy of the small rover that tagged along for the ride.
Expand Expanding CloseNASA’s Deep Space Network can’t keep up with demand
Between the increasing need and decreasing budgets, NASA’s Deep Space Network is running into constraints during big missions like Artemis 1. DSN’s director is concerned the lack of funding to expand deep space communications and the continued requirement to drop everything for these missions will harm NASA’s other science missions.
Expand Expanding CloseJames Webb Space Telescope captures Whirlpool galaxy in never before seen detail
It’s clear the James Webb Space Telescope was set to stun in newly released galactic portraits of galaxy M51. Researchers tapped into two of the telescope’s powerful infrared instruments to capture the distant object. Let’s take a look!
Expand Expanding CloseWhat time is the rare ‘blue supermoon’ on August 30?
On Wednesday, August 30th, we’ll have our second full moon of the month! This occurrence is known as a “blue moon,” and just as the saying goes, it doesn’t happen often.
What makes this blue moon even more special is that it also coincides with a supermoon creating a rare event that won’t happen again until 2037. Here’s what time the rare blue supermoon occurs in different areas of the world…
Expand Expanding CloseRocket Lab reflies its first Electron engine, putting them on the heels of SpaceX
On Rocket Lab’s 40th Electron rocket launch, the company successfully re-debuted the Rutherford engine, but this time it was flight-proven. After a last-minute change, Capella Space’s latest satellite was deployed into orbit using a recoverable variant of the Electron with one of its nine first-stage engines being reused from a previous mission.
Expand Expanding CloseCrew-7 begins its six-month stay in space, lifting off from Florida
Early Saturday morning a crew of four astronauts from around the globe lifted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on a SpaceX Falcon 9 for a six-month stay on the International Space Station. The crew is currently in transit to the ISS, and expecting to arrive Sunday morning.
Expand Expanding CloseSpaceX sued by DOJ over hiring practices
The Department of Justice announced Thursday that they are suing SpaceX over hiring practices that might have discriminated against non-US citizens and asylum/refugee seekers. This is not the first time this topic has been brought up about SpaceX but after years of investigation, the DOJ seems ready to bring suit.
Expand Expanding CloseAxiom Space secures $350M funding to propel vision of commercial space exploration
Houston-based Axiom Space secured a significant boost of $350 million in funding. The Series-C funding round was led by Aljazira Capital from Saudi Arabia and Boryung Pharmaceutical, a prominent South Korean healthcare company.
Expand Expanding CloseThe first 2024 Presidential debate ended in a question about UFOs
In case you didn’t watch or finish the first Presidential debate of the 2024 election, I don’t blame you it was chaos. Before moving to closing statements there was a rather interesting question to former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie about UFOs. While no answer was really given, it was an interesting addition to the night.
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