Tag: commercial-space
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Axiom strikes deal with SpaceX to ferry private astronauts to space station
The International Space Station viewed in October 2018 from the departing Soyuz MS-08 spacecraft. Credit: NASA/Roscosmos Axiom Space, a Houston-based company with plans to develop a commercial outpost in space, announced Thursday it has signed a contract with SpaceX to ferry a professional astronaut and three paying passengers to the International Space Station as soon…
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After last-minute abort, DARPA Launch Challenge ends without a winner
Astra’s small satellite launcher stands vertical at Pacific Spaceport Complex on Kodiak Island, Alaska. Credit: John Kraus/Astra Astra engineers scrubbed a launch attempt Monday at Kodiak Island, Alaska, to assess troubling data from a guidance, navigation and control sensor on the company’s new small satellite launcher, ending a bid to win up to $12 million…
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SpaceX test-fires rocket, preps for final flight of first-generation Dragon capsule
SpaceX test-fired a Falcon 9 rocket Sunday on pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. Credit: William Harwood/CBS News The Falcon 9 booster for SpaceX’s next mission fired up briefly on a Cape Canaveral launch pad Sunday in a routine pre-flight test before a scheduled launch Friday night to kick off the final…
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Second Starship test article implodes during pressure test
A prototype for SpaceX’s Starship vehicle imploded during a pressurization test at the company’s facility in South Texas Friday night, an event captured on video by local residents. The stainless steel structure ruptured after being loaded with cryogenic fluid at SpaceX’s seaside launch complex at Boca Chica, Texas. SpaceX was testing the test article’s…
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Live coverage: Debut flight of Astra’s satellite launcher scrubbed
Live coverage of the countdown and launch of Astra’s Rocket 3.0, also known as “1 of 3,” from Pacific Spaceport Complex – Alaska in the first of two missions planned through DARPA’s Launch Challenge. Text updates will appear automatically below. Follow us on Twitter. DARPA plans a live webcast of the final countdown and flight of Astra’s Rocket…
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Two-time spaceflier Charles Simonyi offers advice for commercial space travelers
With a photo of his Soyuz launch in the background, Microsoft’s Charles Simonyi talks about spaceflight’s physical effects at a Hacker News Seattle Meetup. (GeekWire Photo / Alan Boyle) Microsoft billionaire Charles Simonyi is the only man on Earth to buy a multimillion-dollar ride to orbit not just once, but twice — so it’s worth…
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Photos: Servicing spacecraft approaches Intelsat satellite high above Earth
Northrop Grumman’s first Mission Extension Vehicle captured spectacular views of the commercial Intelsat 901 communications satellite as it approached for docking this week, providing the first-ever up-close public views of a spacecraft flying near geosynchronous orbit more than 22,000 miles above Earth. Flying on autopilot, the MEV 1 spacecraft docked with the Intelsat 901 satellite…
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SpaceX swaps upper stage for next Falcon 9 launch
In this image from the company’s most recent launch Feb. 17, a Merlin engine is seen firing on the upper stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Credit: SpaceX SpaceX is targeting launches March 6 and March 11 for its next two missions after swapping an upper stage for its next Falcon 9 rocket with…
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Two commercial satellites link up in space for first time
The Intelsat 901 satellite, backdropped by planet Earth, is seen by Northrop Grumman’s first Mission Extension Vehicle more than 22,000 miles over the Pacific Ocean. Credit: Northrop Grumman A Northrop Grumman robotic servicing spacecraft has hooked up with an aging Intelsat communications satellite more than 22,000 miles over the Pacific Ocean, accomplishing the first link-up…
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Fresh out of stealth mode, Astra gearing up for orbital launch from Alaska
Astra employees open the payload fairing last week on the company’s small satellite launcher at Kodiak Island, Alaska, to mate several small payloads ahead of the company’s first orbital launch attempt. Credit: DARPA Some time in the next few days, a California-based company that has quietly toiled to develop a new light-class satellite launcher since…