Stay updated with the latest events in spaceflight.
A NASA test to confirm repairs to seals in the Space Launch System’s liquid hydrogen fueling system was only partially successful because of problems with ground equipment. The post NASA continues SLS hydrogen leak tests appeared first on SpaceNews.
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In a statement to European Spaceflight, a spokesperson for The Exploration Company suggested that the failure of its acquisition of launch services startup Orbex was linked to the UK government’s decision not to approve the transaction. On 21 January, The Exploration Company announced that it had signed a letter of intent to purchase Orbex, a […] The post Did the UK Block The Exploration Company’s Purchase of Orbex? appeared first on European Spaceflight.
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This was the first time that the space agency happened to launch a crewed mission to the International Space Station on a Friday the 13th. The Crew-12 mission took flight onboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at 5:15 a.m. EST (1015 UTC).
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In this episode of Space Minds, Mike Gruss sits down with David Ariosto to discuss his new book, “Open Space.” David talks about how some of the themes of the […] The post A new book captures the forces shaping space: China, the moon and industry appeared first on SpaceNews.
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The Senate Commerce Committee approved a bill intended to streamline satellite licensing after revising provisions related to automatic approval of applications. The post Senate committee advances FCC satellite licensing bill after changes appeared first on SpaceNews.
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A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the company’s Dragon spacecraft is launched on NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission to the International Space Station with NASA astronauts Jessica Meir, Jack Hathaway, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev onboard, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. NASA’s […]
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Docking
The Crew-12 Crew Dragon will dock autonomously to the International Space Station, carrying four astronauts to the International Space Station.
Spacecraft Undocking
The SpaceX CRS-33 Dragon spacecraft will undock from the International Space Station ahead of its reentry, splashdown and recovery.
EVA
Two astronauts will exit the station’s Quest airlock to prepare the 2A power channel for future installation of International Space Station Roll-Out Solar Arrays. Once installed, the array will provide additional power for the orbital laboratory, including critical support of its safe and controlled deorbit.
Founded: 1998-11-20
The International Space Station (ISS) is a space station, or a habitable artificial satellite, in low Earth orbit. Its first component was launched into orbit in 1998, with the first long-term residents arriving in November 2000. It has been inhabited continuously since that date. The last pressurised module was fitted in 2011, and an experimental inflatable space habitat was added in 2016. The station is expected to operate until 2030. Development and assembly of the station continues, with several new elements scheduled for launch in 2019. The ISS is the largest human-made body in low Earth orbit and can often be seen with the naked eye from Earth. The ISS consists of pressurised habitation modules, structural trusses, solar arrays, radiators, docking ports, experiment bays and robotic arms. ISS components have been launched by Russian Proton and Soyuz rockets, and American Space Shuttles.
Founded: 1986-02-20
Mir was a space station that operated in low Earth orbit from 1986 to 2001, operated by the Soviet Union and later by Russia. Mir was the first modular space station and was assembled in orbit from 1986 to 1996. The station served as a microgravity research laboratory in which crews conducted experiments in biology, human biology, physics, astronomy, meteorology and spacecraft systems with a goal of developing technologies required for permanent occupation of space.
Founded: 1973-05-14
Skylab was a United States space station launched and operated by NASA, and occupied for about 24 weeks between May 1973 and February 1974 – the only space station the U.S. has operated exclusively. In 1979 it fell back to Earth amid huge worldwide media attention. Skylab included a workshop, a solar observatory, and other systems necessary for crew survival and scientific experiments. It was launched unmanned by a modified Saturn V rocket, with a weight of 170,000 pounds (77,000 kg). Lifting Skylab into low earth orbit was the final mission and launch of a Saturn V rocket (famous for carrying the manned Moon landing missions). Three missions delivered three-astronaut crews in the Apollo command and service module (Apollo CSM), launched by the smaller Saturn IB rocket. For the final two manned missions to Skylab, a backup Apollo CSM/Saturn IB was assembled and made ready in case an in-orbit rescue mission was needed, but this backup vehicle was never flown.