spacecraft

SpaceX has launched its Starship spacecraft into orbit for the first time, a milestone for the company's most powerful rocket, though the mission was deliberately ended earlier than planned. The flight marks a key step in SpaceX's efforts to develop a fully reusable launch system for future deep space missions.

SpaceX cut short the first orbital flight of its Starship rocket, bringing the vehicle home earlier than planned. The company's next-generation spacecraft, central to its plans for Moon and Mars missions, ended its maiden orbital attempt ahead of schedule. News outlets, including Axios, are reporting on the outcome, with attention focused on what the early return means for the programme's development timeline and future test flights.

SpaceX launched its Starship rocket on an unprecedented test flight, with the lift-off captured on video and widely shared by news outlets including CNN. The mission marks another milestone in the company's effort to develop the massive spacecraft for future deep-space missions. Observers are following the flight closely to see how the vehicle performs during its test objectives.

SpaceX is flying its Starship rocket for the 14th time, with the giant spacecraft heading toward orbit in another high-profile test of the launch system. Coverage is being streamed live, and spaceflight watchers are following the mission's milestones in real time. The 14th flight marks continued progress in SpaceX's campaign to prove out the vehicle for future deep space missions.

SpaceX's Starship has splashed back down to Earth, completing another test flight of the giant rocket system. The splashdown marks the conclusion of the mission, with the spacecraft returning after its journey. Attention now turns to how the vehicle performed during reentry and landing, as SpaceX continues developing Starship for future deep space missions.

SpaceX is preparing its Starship for an ambitious test flight lasting roughly 10 hours, far longer than previous demonstrations of the vehicle. Outlets are urging viewers to watch the launch live. The long-duration mission is intended to test the spacecraft's endurance in orbit as SpaceX continues developing the system for future deep-space missions.

SpaceX has launched its Starship rocket toward orbit for the first time, a milestone for the company's next-generation heavy-lift vehicle. The test flight marks the first attempt to send the spacecraft on an orbital trajectory, a key step in Elon Musk's plans for lunar and Mars missions and NASA's Artemis program.

NASA says it will attempt to fly astronauts on Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, despite the capsule's troubled history of technical failures on earlier missions. The decision keeps Boeing in the program alongside SpaceX as a second provider for carrying crews to the International Space Station, and space observers are debating whether the spacecraft is ready to carry people safely.

SpaceX launched its Starship rocket on a flight taking the vehicle further than any previous test. The launch was broadcast live, with viewers watching as the giant spacecraft attempted new milestones in its development program. Commentators highlighted the flight as a significant step in SpaceX's efforts to advance reusable spaceflight technology and future missions to the Moon and Mars.

NASA says it is currently unable to move the International Space Station's large robotic arm, the Canadarm2, for the time being. The arm is essential for capturing cargo spacecraft, moving equipment and supporting spacewalks outside the orbiting laboratory. Few further details about the cause of the problem or expected repair timeline have been released, and observers are waiting for updates from the agency.

NASA and Boeing are holding a joint news conference to give an update on the future of the Starliner spacecraft program. The briefing comes amid ongoing questions about the capsule's readiness and next steps for its missions, and viewers are following the announcement live as details emerge about the program's path forward.

The large robotic arm on the International Space Station has stopped working, according to an Ars Technica report. The Canadarm2-style manipulator is a critical tool for capturing cargo spacecraft, moving equipment and supporting spacewalks, so any outage raises questions about station operations and resupply. Details on the cause of the failure and prospects for repair remain limited.

The Canadarm2, the large robotic arm on the International Space Station, has reportedly stopped working. The arm is critical for capturing cargo spacecraft, moving equipment and supporting spacewalks, so a failure would be a significant operational problem for the station's crews and their backers at NASA and the Canadian Space Agency. Details on the cause and possible fixes remain limited.

SpaceX launched its Starship rocket on a roughly 10-hour test flight, with the spacecraft aiming to orbit Earth six times before returning. The mission is part of SpaceX's ongoing campaign to prove out the vehicle for future deep-space missions, and the extended duration marks a step up in ambition from earlier, shorter tests.

SpaceX's Starship, described as the world's most powerful spacecraft, launched in a first attempt to orbit Earth. Viewers followed the flight live as the giant rocket lifted off from Texas, with coverage focusing on whether the vehicle could complete its inaugural orbital test flight.

ESA's JUICE mission to Jupiter and its icy moons passed less than 10,000 km overhead at 13:45 CEST during its second Earth gravity assist, with scientists noting ships in the Indian Ocean were directly beneath its path. The spacecraft will return for a final slingshot flyby in 2029 before heading onward to Jupiter.

SpaceX launched its Starship spacecraft on its first orbital test flight, a major milestone for the company's next-generation rocket designed for missions to the Moon and Mars. The test drew widespread attention as the most powerful rocket ever built attempted the unprecedented flight from SpaceX's Starbase facility in Texas.

SpaceX is aiming to conduct the first orbital test flight of its Starship spacecraft, the largest and most powerful rocket ever developed. The launch, planned from the company's Starbase facility in Texas, marks a major step toward Elon Musk's goal of deep-space travel and future Moon and Mars missions, drawing wide attention from space watchers worldwide.

Northrop Grumman has completed delivery of 21 data-relay satellites for a US military constellation, according to SpaceNews. The satellites are designed to pass communications and sensor data between spacecraft and ground forces, forming part of the Pentagon's push for resilient, proliferated orbital networks. The delivery marks a production milestone for defense space programs at a time of growing investment in military satellite constellations.

SpaceX is preparing for the first orbital test flight of its Starship spacecraft, the most powerful rocket ever built. The launch, targeted from the company's Starbase facility in Texas, would mark a major milestone in efforts to develop a fully reusable vehicle capable of carrying crews to the Moon and Mars. Space watchers are closely tracking preparations for the debut flight.

Saturn's icy moon Enceladus may be capable of hosting microbial life, according to researchers cited by IFLScience. The moon's subsurface ocean could offer habitable conditions, and plumes of water vapor erupting from its south pole could carry biosignatures outward, potentially allowing spacecraft to detect microbes without drilling through the ice shell. The findings renew interest in Enceladus as a prime target in the search for extraterrestrial life.

NASA has published a rundown of lessons learned from the mission that boosted the orbit of its Swift observatory, a space telescope that studies gamma-ray bursts. The agency says the operation offered practical insights into prolonging the life of aging satellites, and space-science watchers are passing the findings around.

DARPA is developing a robotic spacecraft designed to service and repair satellites in geosynchronous orbit, some 35,000 kilometers above Earth. The effort, covered by IEEE Spectrum, would allow maintenance of aging communications and military satellites that are otherwise unreachable after launch. It marks a step toward routine robotic servicing in the most valuable and crowded orbital region.