The Range Archives - SpaceFlight Insider

Spitzer telescope to be decommissioned after 16 years

Laurel KornfeldJanuary 20th, 2020

NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope, which has studied the universe in infrared light since its launch in August of 2003, will be decommissioned on Thursday, January 30, 2020.

Gallery: SpaceX’s Dragon clears safety check paving way for crewed missions

Michael McCabeJanuary 19th, 2020

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Images from the Jan. 19 test of SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft which successfully demonstrated the vehicle's ability to pull astronauts away from the rocket in the event of an accident on its way to orbit.

No in-flight abort for SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft today

SpaceFlight InsiderJanuary 18th, 2020

SpaceX has been forced to stand down from today's attempt to test out a critical element of the company's crew-rated spacecraft.

Boeing releases video from recent OFT mission

Cullen DesforgesJanuary 16th, 2020

Boeing has released video from its failed attempt to send its "Starliner" spacecraft to the International Space Station.

Processing of Starlink 2 booster underway, following return to Port Canaveral

Theresa CrossJanuary 11th, 2020

SpaceX's B1049.4 returned to Port Canaveral January 9, 2020 after the completion of its fourth flown mission delivering the third set of Starlink satellites into low-Earth-orbit (LEO). This is Spacex’s first launch supported by the newly-created U.S. Space Force and its forty-eighth successful booster recovery.

CRS-19 Dragon wet and waiting for next mission

Cullen DesforgesJanuary 7th, 2020

After spending nearly a month berthed to the International Space Station, a SpaceX Cargo Dragon capsule left the Station and splashed down marking the successful completion of its mission.

OPINION: 2019 – Numbers and Names

Jason RhianJanuary 1st, 2020

Well that happened. 2019 was a roller-coaster of ups and downs that will have far-reaching consequences for future space exploration efforts.

SpaceX prepares for first of many Starlink launches in 2020

Jim SiegelDecember 31st, 2019

2020 looks to be a big year for space. The next twelve months could see the U.S. regain a long-lost capability and another rover should be sent on its way to the Red Planet. SpaceX is planning to kick off 2020 with the launch of the next batch of Starlink satellites.

NASA Mars 2020 rover passes driving test

Jim SharkeyDecember 27th, 2019

Remember how stressful it was taking your first driver's test? Now imagine driving a car that's worth $2.5 billion.

ULA gets the nod to launch GOES-T satellite

SpaceFlight InsiderDecember 23rd, 2019

NASA has selected a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket to ferry the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES)-T to orbit.

Starliner makes history in redefined ‘victory’

SpaceFlight InsiderDecember 22nd, 2019

Boeing's Orbital Flight Test concluded today (Sunday Dec. 22) when the Starliner capsule touched down at White Sands Missile Range. Launched Friday, the mission saw the first U.S.-built crew-rated capsule land on soil rather than splashing down in the ocean.

OFT: What went wrong?

Jim SiegelDecember 21st, 2019

NASA and Boeing don't seem to know what exactly prevented the OFT Starliner from completing its primary mission objective.

Gallery: ULA launches OFT-1 Starliner

SpaceFlight InsiderDecember 20th, 2019

While Boeing's Starliner spacecraft might not have made a very good first showing under its first Commercial Crew Program (CCP) flight - United Launch Alliance's Atlas V N422 was a complete success.

GALLERY: SpaceX launches JCSAT-18 and Kacific-1

SpaceFlight InsiderDecember 17th, 2019

Launching right on time, SpaceX used one of its Falcon 9 rockets to send the JCSAT-18/Kacific-1 satellite to orbit on Monday, Dec. 16, 2019 at 7:10 p.m. EST (00:10 UTC on Tuesday). SpaceX sent the Boeing-built satellite on its way to a geostationary transfer orbit. All photos courtesy of SpaceX.