News Archive / Missions

• A record ride: Soyuz MS-23 trio return to Earth after a year in orbit

  Derek RichardsonSeptember 27th, 2023

  Two Russian cosmonauts and a NASA astronaut returned to Earth after a 371-day stay in space -- the third longest mission in human spaceflight history.

• SLS booster segments for Artemis 2 arrive in Florida

  Derek RichardsonSeptember 25th, 2023

  A journey of more than a million miles began by rail as the solid rocket booster segments for NASA’s Artemis 2 mission made their way to Florida’s Space Coast.

• Asteroid Treasure: OSIRIS-REx returns with Bennu samples

  Derek RichardsonSeptember 24th, 2023

  After a seven-year, 3.86-billion-mile odyssey, NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission successfully delivered to Earth samples from asteroid Bennu.

• Methane, carbon dioxide discovered in exoplanet atmosphere

  Derek RichardsonSeptember 20th, 2023

  Data from the James Webb Space Telescope shows evidence of “carbon-bearing” molecules in the atmosphere of K2-18 b, an exoplanet located some 120 light years away around its host star’s habitable zone.

• SpaceX completes engine tests for Lunar Starship

  Derek RichardsonSeptember 19th, 2023

  In a NASA update, the agency detailed two engine tests completed by SpaceX for the Starship human landing system, which is expected to be used for the Artemis 3 and 4 Moon landings later this decade.

• First engine installed on Artemis 2 Moon rocket

  Derek RichardsonSeptember 18th, 2023

  Technicians have installed the first engine on the core stage of the second Space Launch System rocket, which is tasked with sending the first people to the Moon in more than a half century.

• Soyuz MS-24 launches fresh trio to International Space Station

  Derek RichardsonSeptember 15th, 2023

  Russia has launched its first crewed flight in nearly a year with the flight of Soyuz MS-24 with two Russian cosmonauts and one NASA astronaut for a multi-month stay aboard the International Space Station.

• NASA’s Frank Rubio breaks US spaceflight duration record

  Derek RichardsonSeptember 11th, 2023

  During the afternoon of Sept. 11, 2023, NASA astronaut Frank Rubio broke the record for the longest single spaceflight by an American citizen.

• FAA closes SpaceX Starship investigation, orders fixes

  Derek RichardsonSeptember 11th, 2023

  It’s been more than four months since the first integrated flight test of SpaceX’s Starship Super Heavy rocket, which resulted in the vehicle breaking apart several minutes into flight.

• NASA’s MOXIE wraps up oxygen production on Mars

  Derek RichardsonSeptember 8th, 2023

  NASA’s microwave-oven-sized oxygen-generating MOXIE technology demonstrator has completed its mission on Mars aboard the Perseverance rover.

• SpaceX Crew-6 mission returns to Earth after 186 days in orbit

  Derek RichardsonSeptember 4th, 2023

  Three astronauts and one cosmonaut returned to Earth in a SpaceX Dragon capsule after spending roughly six months aboard the International Space Station.

• Crew-7 mission launches to the International Space Station

  Derek RichardsonAugust 26th, 2023

  SpaceX launched the multinational Crew-7 Dragon mission carrying three astronauts and one cosmonaut bound for a six-month stay aboard the International Space Station.

• New Horizons seeks help for Uranus and Neptune observations

  Laurel KornfeldAugust 21st, 2023

  NASA's New Horizons mission is seeking assistance from amateur astronomers in observations of ice giants Uranus and Neptune, which will be conducted in September.

• Final Antares 230+ rocket launches NG-19 Cygnus spacecraft

  Steve HammerAugust 2nd, 2023

  In near-perfect weather, the final Antares 230+ rocket took to the skies to send the Cygnus cargo spacecraft on its way to the International Space Station.

• Northrop Grumman prepares the final Antares 230+ rocket

  Steve HammerJuly 31st, 2023

  Northrop Grumman is set to launch a Cygnus cargo spacecraft atop what will be the final flight of the Antares 230+ rocket.

• NASA receives new ‘Astrovans’ for Artemis missions

  Derek RichardsonJuly 12th, 2023

  A fleet of three all-electric vehicles was delivered to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida to serve as the final terrestrial transportation for Artemis astronauts before boarding the Orion spacecraft to fly to the Moon.

• Redwire awarded follow-on contract for more ISS solar arrays

  Derek RichardsonJune 30th, 2023

  Redwire Corporation announced it was awarded a contract from Boeing to develop two additional solar arrays for the International Space Station.

• SpaceX CRS-28 Dragon departs International Space Station

  Derek RichardsonJune 29th, 2023

  SpaceX’s CRS-28 cargo Dragon spacecraft undocked from the International Space Station after spending just over three weeks at the outpost.

• Orion heat shield for Artemis 2 has been installed

  Derek RichardsonJune 28th, 2023

  With some 18 months until the crewed Artemis 2 mission, teams at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida have completed the installation of the Orion spacecraft’s heat shield.

• NASA and India to cooperate on human space exploration

  Derek RichardsonJune 23rd, 2023

  NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation are set to cooperate on a joint mission to the International Space Station next year, according to the White House.