Spaceflight

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SpaceX launch Starlink group 3-3, rocket rising in sky with plume underneath

SpaceX launches 46 Starlink satellites, lands rocket on drone ship

By Elizabeth Howell published

SpaceX sent a batch of 46 Starlink satellites into orbit Friday (Aug. 12) at 5:40 p.m. EDT (2140 GMT). The target orbit seems prone to space debris from a Russian anti-satellite test.

u.s. vice president kamela harris giving a speech at a podium

VP Kamala Harris pledges new 'rules framework' for commercial space

By Elizabeth Howell published

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, also the chair of the National Space Council, says the 'outdated' rules governing commercial space will be addressed starting Sept. 9.

Parachute with rocket underneath

Rocket Lab plans another helicopter catch later this year

By Elizabeth Howell published

The company says data so far from May's first epic helicopter snatch shows a lot of success, even though they let it go into the water.

NASA's Artemis 1 Space Launch System megarocket and Orion capsule on their Florida launchpad under a blue sky.

How to watch NASA's Artemis 1 moon mission briefings and megarocket rollout next week

By Tariq Malik published

You can learn about NASA's Artemis 1 moon mission science and watch its SLS megarocket roll to the launch pad in webcasts next week.

rocket launching into the sky with the sun shining nearby

New rules needed to fix growing space debris problem, FCC says

By Elizabeth Howell published

The FCC opened a new inquiry Aug. 5 focusing on how space manufacturing may help the fight against space debris — or hinder it.

mars reconnaissance orbiter launch

On This Day In Space: Aug. 12, 2005: Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter launches to Red Planet

By Hanneke Weitering published

On Aug. 12, 2005, NASA launched its Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) mission.

A smoke plume billows on the horizon behind sunflower fields, in the Donbass region on August 11, 2022, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Damaged Russian airfield in Crimea spied by satellites (photos)

By Brett Tingley published

Satellite images have revealed the extent of damage at Russia's Saki Air Base on Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula, currently occupied by Russian military forces.

SpaceX's Booster 7 Super Heavy prototype fires one of its Raptor engines for 20 seconds during a test on Aug. 11, 2022.

SpaceX fires up Starship Super Heavy booster again in long engine test

By Mike Wall published

The Super Heavy prototype Booster 7 fired one of its 33 Raptor engines for 20 seconds on Thursday (Aug. 11).

A segment of the Mengtian space station module arrives at Wenchang Satellite Launch Center on Hainan Island on Aug. 9, 2022.

3rd Chinese space station module arrives at spaceport ahead of October launch

By Andrew Jones published

The Mengtian module arrived at Wenchang spaceport in south China on Tuesday (Aug. 9) after being shipped in containers from the northern port city of Tianjin.

Liftoff of a Long March 6 rocket carrying 16 commercial remote sensing satellites on Aug. 10, 2022.

China launches 16 commercial remote sensing and weather satellites

By Andrew Jones published

China has carried out its ninth orbital mission within the last 30 days, sending 16 new commercial satellites into orbit with a Long March 6 rocket.

NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with the Orion spacecraft aboard is seen at sunrise atop a mobile launcher at Launch Complex 39B, Monday, April 4, 2022.

Hubble-servicing NASA astronaut urges human-robot synergy for future moon missions

By Josh Dinner published

John Grunsfeld says NASA should embrace and expand the partnership between human space explorers and robotic ones.

spacex rocket firing in static test on launch pad

SpaceX's Starship won't launch on 1st orbital test flight this month

By Mike Wall published

The first orbital test flight of SpaceX's Starship deep-space transportation vehicle won't get off the ground this month.

A Russian Soyuz rocket takes off at night, its exhaust plume glowing bright red.

Pentagon space chief condemns 'irresponsible' launch of Russian inspector satellite

By Brett Tingley published

The Pentagon is speaking out against Russia's launch of a spy satellite believed to be shadowing one of its American counterparts closely in the same orbit.

People watch a TV at the Seoul Railway Station in South Korea showing a file image of a North Korean missile launch on March 24, 2022.

Did North Korea lie about its big ICBM test launch?

By Mike Wall published

The first launch of North Korea's powerful new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) this spring apparently didn't go well after all.

rocket lifting off from launch pad with clouds billowing around

SpaceX Starlink satellites face Russia space debris 'squalls' in orbit: report

By Elizabeth Howell published

An Aug. 6 close encounter saw hundreds of Starlink satellites get uncomfortably close to debris generated in a Russian anti-satellite test in November 2021.

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope in its deployed form as seen in an artist's illustration.

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope mission: Live updates

By Space.com Staff published

Read the latest news about NASA's James Webb Space Telescope.

A multispectral satellite images of an artillery battalion actively firing in a southeasterly direction on March 11, 2022 as seen by the WorldView-2 satellite for Maxar Technologies.

Ukraine invasion's impacts on space exploration: Live updates

By Space.com Staff published

The Russia-Ukraine war has already stretched into space, with satellites providing internet and intel and longstanding international relations in outer space shifting rapidly.

Cosmonaut Oleg Novitsky shared this photo of the International Space Station on Twitter on Sept. 29, 2021. He and two colleagues were relocating a Russian Soyuz spacecraft from one port to another at the time.

International Space Station: Live updates

By Space.com Staff published

Find out what's going on at the International Space Station.

Anti-satellite weapons targeted at satellite as the pair orbit above Earth.

Anti-satellite weapons: History, types and purpose

By Mark Smith published

Reference With the satellite network being a key component of modern life on Earth, space is now a major battleground for countries looking to get ahead of their competitors.

Reference
Liftoff of the Lijian 1 solid rocket on July 27, 2022.

Big new Chinese rocket lofts 6 experimental satellites on debut launch (video)

By Andrew Jones published

The solid-fueled Lijian 1 rocket, also referred to as ZK-1A, lifted off from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on July 27, carrying six satellites into orbit on its debut flight.