Space Exploration

Latest about Space Exploration

An image of a white spacecraft over a blue portion of earth, seen through a curved window, is superimposed over a photo of two astronauts floating in a space station hatch on the right, both smiling.

Boeing Starliner astronauts will return to Earth in March 2025 after new NASA, SpaceX delay

By Josh Dinner published

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will stay in space an extra month, until March 2025, giving SpaceX more time to complete a new Crew Dragon capsule.

Human Spaceflight
A SpaceX Starship spacecraft on a test stand with the setting sun for Flight 7

SpaceX's Starship Flight 7 test flight gets FAA launch license. But when will it fly?

By Tariq Malik published

The FAA issued a launch license for SpaceX's upcoming Starship Flight 7, clearing the way for the company's next launch of the world's largest rocket from South Texas.

Launches & Spacecraft
Five towering starship segments stand near cranes against a blue sky, by a dusty road walked on by a guy in a backwards white ball cap and tshirt.

SpaceX wants Starbase to become an official city in Texas

By Samantha Mathewson published

SpaceX is hoping to officially make its Starbase launch site a new city in South Texas.

Private Spaceflight
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches the mPower 7 & 8 satellites for SES from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Dec. 17, 2024.

SpaceX launches 2 mPOWER satellites from Florida on 2nd leg of spaceflight doubleheader (video)

By Mike Wall last updated

SpaceX launched two communication satellites to orbit from Florida's Space Coast today (Dec. 17) on the second leg of a spaceflight doubleheader.

Launches & Spacecraft
SpaceX conducts a single-engine static fire test with the upper stage of the Flight 7 Starship vehicle. The company posted this photo via X on Dec. 17, 2024.

SpaceX test-fires Starship spacecraft again ahead of Flight 7 launch (video)

By Mike Wall published

SpaceX test-fired the upper stage of its seventh Starship megarocket again recently, practicing an in-space engine burn.

Launches & Spacecraft
SpaceX's CRS-31 Dragon cargo capsule, seen from the International Space Station shortly after undocking on Dec. 16, 2024.

SpaceX’s 31st Dragon cargo capsule returns to Earth with splashdown off Florida coast

By Josh Dinner last updated

SpaceX's 31st robotic Dragon cargo capsule splashed down off the Florida coast today (Dec. 17), a day after undocking from the International Space Station.

International Space Station
closeup of two postage stamps that feature colorful cosmic views

Webb mail: US Priority Mail stamps to again star deep space images in 2025

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

The universe of U.S. postage stamps featuring James Webb Space Telescope imagery is set to expand again in 2025. The U.S. Postal Service revealed its Priority Mail and Express flat rate stamps.

James Webb Space Telescope
a bright plume of fire shoots through a dark early morning sky

SpaceX launches 6th batch of next-gen US spy satellites from California (video)

By Mike Wall published

SpaceX launched the sixth batch of "proliferated architecture" spy satellites for the NRO this morning (Dec. 17) from California's central coast.

Launches & Spacecraft
an astronaut in a black long sleeve shirt floats in a cluttered space station behind a cubical robot with two blue tentacles like bunny ears.

NASA astronaut Suni Williams poses with adorable tentacle-armed Astrobee robot on ISS (photo)

By Samantha Mathewson published

An Astrobee robotic free-flyer with tentacle-like arms was tested in a demonstration experiment aboard the space station.

Tech
Graphic showing the the artemis accords logo above white text reading "the artemis accords", the surface of the moon is seen in the lower portion of the image and a distant Mars peeks out from the surface of the moon.

Artemis Accords: What are they & which countries are involved?

By Robert Lea last updated

Reference As the Artemis program aims to return humanity to the moon and beyond, the Artemis Accords lay out a framework for nations collaborating in this effort.

Reference
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