Irene Klotz
Irene Klotz is a founding member and long-time contributor to Space.com. She concurrently spent 25 years as a wire service reporter and freelance writer, specializing in space exploration, planetary science, astronomy and the search for life beyond Earth. A graduate of Northwestern University, Irene currently serves as Space Editor for Aviation Week & Space Technology.
Latest articles by Irene Klotz
![The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the classified NROL-76 spy satellite for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office stands atop Launch Pad 39-A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center ahead of a planned May 1, 2017 liftoff.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5fZQL3ysjm6QdjeP89keGR-320-80.jpg)
Secret US Spy Satellite Heading to Low-Earth Orbit, SpaceX Launch License Shows
By Irene Klotz published
![A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the classified NROL-76 spy satellite for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office stands atop Launch Pad 39-A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. A first stage sensor issue has delayed the launch to](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/beeDV7VwmxFyk6oFfvoyB3-320-80.jpg)
Rocket Sensor Glitch Scrubs SpaceX's First Spy Satellite Launch
By Irene Klotz published
SpaceX has pushed back its first launch of a U.S military satellite for Monday (May 1) after a sensor issue triggered a 24-hour delay on Sunday (April 30).
![Spacesuit test JSC](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vSBJshKqmiCE66hWdB7fkX-320-80.jpg)
NASA's $200M Spacesuit Problem Threatens Its Deep-Space Exploration Plans
By Irene Klotz published
NASA is years away from having new spacesuits for its deep-space astronauts despite spending nearly $200 million on three separate development efforts over the past decade.
![First Glide Flight for VSS Unity](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZNQC65JKdVZu62fGaR8fcW-320-80.jpeg)
Virgin Galactic Aims to Fly Space Tourists in 2018, CEO Says
By Irene Klotz published
Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic is on track to begin commercial passenger spaceflights before the end of 2018, the company's chief executive said.
![Celestis capsules and modules](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DGnNqMaMULdRqLzwy4Tooj-320-80.jpg)
Send Your DNA to Space and Back via New Service
By Irene Klotz published
Celestis, the same company that lets people send their loved ones' cremated remains to space, unveiled a new service that will launch samples of DNA off the planet.
![Bigelow Aerospace BA-330 space habitat](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/L3LnKQdxGUhHagrXn43EZX-320-80.jpg)
Moon 'Logical Next Step' for Trump Milestone in Space, Bigelow Says
By Irene Klotz published
![iss cargo launch](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/B6SpoSrd8WoPiD8EUBva9j-320-80.jpg)
Student's Genes in Space Test Looks at Effects of Microgravity on Chromosomes
By Irene Klotz published
The experiment, which arrives at the ISS on Saturday, will test a technique to reproduce and analyze telomeres, the DNA-protecting tips of chromosomes.
![Enceladus schematic](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/p4tYDWn6F9HoxSnDpadmak-320-80.jpg)
How Would NASA Search for Extraterrestrial Life on Enceladus?
By Irene Klotz published
NASA hasn't planned any follow-on missions for Enceladus, but it could be selected for a current or future round of planetary missions.
![A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket launches from a pad at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida to send the Orbital ATK Cygnus spacecraft S.S. John Glenn on a NASA cargo delivery mission to the International Space Station on April 18, 2017.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Yex9VL5j6kLrT5j85hbVAf-320-80.jpg)
Atlas V Rocket Launches Private Cygnus Cargo Ship to Space Station
By Irene Klotz published
![The United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying the Orbital ATK Cygnus spacecraft S.S. John Glenn rolls out its pad at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida ahead of a planned April 18, 2017 launch.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/C4xtSnJNJxyXLoDHSK7WYS-320-80.jpg)
Atlas V Rocket Poised for Space Station Cargo Run Today
By Irene Klotz published
An Orbital ATK cargo ship bound for the International Space Station is poised for liftoff Tuesday (April 18) aboard a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket.
![Orbital ATK’s NGL Rocket on the Pad](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QP4LCS9PzsWjBQ3YDELonX-320-80.jpg)
Orbital ATK Developing New Rocket Family to Compete with SpaceX, ULA
By Irene Klotz published
![emergency egress system zip line](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uUvePtCekdeBEj5crYvmg9-320-80.jpg)
Zip Line to Safety: ULA Installs Launchpad Escape System for Astronauts
By Irene Klotz published
![Making History: Falcon 9 Lifts Off on 1st Reflight Mission](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EMncdvyk6VNozLEd3RwAH3-320-80.jpg)
Used SpaceX Rocket Launches Satellite, Then Lands in Historic 1st Reflight
By Irene Klotz published
![SpaceX Test-fires Used Falcon 9 Rocket](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LpSGuAy5DrXFbR5NY2rYrf-320-80.jpeg)
SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket Poised for 1st Reflight Thursday
By Irene Klotz published
SpaceX aims to re-fly one of its used Falcon 9 rocket first stages for the first time Thursday (March 30), on a mission to loft the SES-10 communications satellite.
![Vector Rocket at LC 46](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/sSPbXWi94PkXogbf6gp85G-320-80.jpg)
Vector Space Systems Will Launch Microsatellite Rockets from Florida
By Irene Klotz published
![International Space Station](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kueUrkmG8yk8XfWoZXqhbE-320-80.jpg)
Congress Mulls Options for Space Station Beyond 2024
By Irene Klotz published
![A United Launch Alliance Delta IV rocket carrying the Wideband Global SATCOM 9 communications satellite for the U.S. military lifts off from Space Launch Complex-37 of Florida's Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at 8:18 pm ET on March 18, 2017.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PkJHQYSPHxhW2ZPxdJgBLe-320-80.jpg)
Advanced US Military Communications Satellite Launches Into Orbit
By Irene Klotz published
A Delta IV rocket blasted off Saturday night (March 18) to deliver a $445 million U.S. military communications satellite into orbit, the ninth member of a planned network of 10 satellites.
![A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the EchoStar 23 communications satellite launches from Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida early on March 16, 2017.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2NJUfKdgNzjdxdokQrWki8-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX Rocket Launches EchoStar 23 Communications Satellite Into Orbit
By Irene Klotz published
![SpaceX Falcon 9 Launch](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3W3Yh2J6vmvWykNDHiD7v3-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX Quickens Launch Pace to Sharpen Competitive Edge
By Irene Klotz published
![SpaceX Falcon 9 and EchoStar 23 on the Pad](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kCfx6FGHGuXK7MGdjoUgYn-320-80.jpg)
Bad Weather Delays SpaceX Falcon 9 Launch
By Irene Klotz published
Cloudy skies and high winds in Florida early Tuesday (March 14) forced SpaceX to delay the launch of a Falcon 9 rocket carrying the EchoStar 23 communications satellite, the company said.
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