News Archive / Organizations

• Inspiration4 mission names 2nd crew member

  Cullen DesforgesFebruary 25th, 2021

  Cancer survivor and frontline healthcare worker for St. Jude, Hayley Arceneaux, will join Jared Isaacman as part of the four-person Inspiration4 crew.

• Perseverance rover transmits ‘iconic’ video from Mars

  Derek RichardsonFebruary 22nd, 2021

  NASA has released never-before-seen video from Mars — the highly-anticipated views of the Perseverance rover from multiple entry, descent and landing cameras.

• NG-15 Cygnus takes aim on the ISS following successful launch

  Derek RichardsonFebruary 20th, 2021

  Northrop Grumman’s NG-15 Cygnus cargo freighter has been sent on its way to the International Space Station after soaring into orbit atop an Antares rocket.

• Northrop Grumman on track for launch of NG-15

  Sean CostelloFebruary 20th, 2021

  Blue skies and a positive forecast (holding at 75% favorable) greeted the NG-15 Antares launch vehicle this morning, as NASA and Northrop Grumman continue preparations for today’s launch from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport’s Pad-0A, at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.

• Touchdown confirmed!: Perseverance rover lands on Mars

  Cullen DesforgesFebruary 18th, 2021

  After a long flight originating in Florida, Mars has gained another robot resident with NASA's Perseverance rover successfully landing in Jezero crater.

• NASA chooses Falcon Heavy for first segments of lunar gateway

  Matt HaskellFebruary 13th, 2021

  In a contract award as part of NASA’s Artemis program, NASA announced on Tuesday, February 9, that they have awarded the launch contract for initial elements of the Gateway Lunar Outpost to SpaceX and their Falcon Heavy rocket.

• Vulcan rocket progresses towards first launch with pathfinder arrival

  Matt HaskellFebruary 13th, 2021

  Progress continues to advance for United Launch Alliance’s newest rocket, as the pathfinder for the Vulcan rocket arrived by the company’s cargo ship and was unloaded at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Saturday, February 15.

• SpaceX VP Hans Koenigsmann set to retire

  Cullen DesforgesFebruary 11th, 2021

  SpaceX's fourth technical employee said he would be retiring from full-time work, as reported first by CNBC. Hans Koenigsmann served as vice president of mission assurance for the company since 2011.

• Artemis 1 SLS booster stacking nearing completion

  Theresa CrossFebruary 11th, 2021

  The stacking of the twin solid rocket boosters for NASA’s Space Launch System is nearly complete with only one set of segments remaining.

• Firefly awarded NASA contract for CLPS Lunar Lander

  Matt HaskellFebruary 6th, 2021

  As part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, Firefly Aerospace has been awarded a $93.3 million contract to land a set of 10 research payloads on the moon in 2023 as part of CLPS Task Order 19D.

• SpaceX launches Starlink satellites on record-setting rocket

  Matt HaskellFebruary 4th, 2021

  Under perfectly clear skies, a SpaceX Falcon 9 took to the skies over Cape Canaveral Space Force Station's Space Launch Complex 40, taking another batch of 60 Starlink satellites to orbit.

• Starship SN9 lands hard following high-altitude test

  Nicholas D'AlessandroFebruary 2nd, 2021

  SpaceX was finally able to launch its Starship SN9 prototype in a much-anticipated sophomore outing for the high-altitude test flight program. However, an engine issue appeared to cause the vehicle to land explosively.

• Following FAA approval, SpaceX set to fly Starship SN9 today

  Derek RichardsonFebruary 2nd, 2021

  Late on Feb. 1, the Federal Aviation Administration granted approval for SpaceX to test its Starship SN9 prototype as early as Feb. 2.

• NASA, Boeing to conduct second SLS rocket core hot fire

  Cullen DesforgesFebruary 2nd, 2021

  Nearly two weeks after the first attempt, NASA and prime contractor Boeing announced their decision to proceed with a second hot fire test of the Space Launch System core stage.

• Amid FAA delays, twin Starships stand tall in Boca Chica

  Nicholas D'AlessandroJanuary 29th, 2021

  While SpaceX and Starship SN9 continue to face regulatory holds from the Federal Aviation Administration for flight certification, Starship SN10 has been rolled out to the launch pad.

• Regulators withhold Starship SN9 flight approval, test delayed

  Derek RichardsonJanuary 28th, 2021

  When SpaceX employees in South Texas woke up this morning, they likely expected they'd be flying their Starship SN9 prototype on a high-altitude test, hopefully ending with a successful landing. However, the regulatory process appeared to keep the test article firmly planted on the ground.

• SpaceX set for ambitious Starship SN9 high-altitude test

  Nicholas D'AlessandroJanuary 26th, 2021

  SpaceX's Starship SN9 continues the company's theme of ultra-rapid development, with the next high-altitude flight test coming as early as this week.

• SpaceX Transporter-1 mission breaks record for most satellites in single launch

  Cullen DesforgesJanuary 25th, 2021

  #ICYMI: Over the weekend, SpaceX launched Transporter-1, a dedicated Falcon 9 rideshare mission.

• Virgin Orbit’s LauncherOne system achieves orbit

  Cullen DesforgesJanuary 18th, 2021

  After several hours filled with hopeful anticipation, California-based Virgin Orbit successfully air-launched its LauncherOne rocket Jan. 17 over the Mojave Desert.

• Hot fire test of NASA’s SLS Rocket ends prematurely, placing 2021 launch date into question

  Derek RichardsonJanuary 17th, 2021

  For the first time, NASA fired up the core stage for its Space Launch System rocket, which is designed to send humans into deep space. However, an anomaly prompted the engines to shut down much earlier than planned.