Topic: international space station
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Senate Staffer Urges NASA to Accelerate Commercial Space Stations
A key Senate staffer stressed the urgent need to accelerate NASA's commercial space station program to prevent any gap in the U.S. human presence in orbit before the International Space Station retires in 2030. The Commercial LEO Destinations (CLD) program's critical next phase is delayed, with a...
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Chinese Rocket Disintegrates Near Starlink Satellite Cluster
A Chinese Zhuque-2E rocket's upper stage disintegrated in low-Earth orbit shortly after launching on June 9, scattering 100-150 pieces of debris in a congested region containing the International Space Station and Starlink satellites. The U.S. Space Force confirmed the breakup, stating no current...
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Full Crew Returns to Space Station After Month-Long Gap
The International Space Station's crew was restored to seven members with the successful docking of SpaceX's Crew-12 mission on February 14th. The arrival of four new astronauts re-establishes the full team needed to operate the US Orbital Segment, following a temporary reduction due to a medical...
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NASA Picks Axiom Space for 5th Private Astronaut Mission
NASA has awarded Axiom Space a fifth private astronaut mission (Axiom Mission 5) to the International Space Station, scheduled for launch no earlier than January 2027, marking a significant shift toward integrating commercial providers into space station operations. The mission, lasting up to two...
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Northrop Grumman Overcomes Software Glitch to Resupply ISS
A Northrop Grumman Cygnus cargo ship successfully docked with the International Space Station, delivering over five tons of supplies and experiments after a minor delay. The spacecraft was captured and berthed using the station's robotic arm, and it will remain attached for up to six months for u...
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Northrop Grumman's Massive New Spacecraft Breaks Size Records
Northrop Grumman's Cygnus XL spacecraft delivered a record 10,827 pounds of cargo to the International Space Station, launched via a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The upgraded Cygnus XL is 5.2 feet longer, offering 33% more capacity to transport more scientific equipment and supplies efficiently. The m...
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Industry officials flag Crew Dragon availability as a 'disaster waiting to happen'
NASA's Commercial Crew Program, intended to create two reliable providers for low-Earth orbit transportation, has largely failed as Boeing's Starliner is unlikely to fly another crewed mission before 2028, leaving SpaceX's Crew Dragon as the only operational American vehicle. The near-total depen...
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NASA safety panel: Starliner incident deserved more serious response
The Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel criticized NASA for inadequately communicating the severity of Starliner's in-flight anomalies, including thruster failures and helium leaks, leading to internal and public confusion. During its first crewed mission, Starliner experienced multiple critical fail...
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NASA delays spacewalk over astronaut medical issue
A scheduled spacewalk from the International Space Station has been postponed due to a stable but unspecified medical issue with a crew member, with NASA prioritizing their health and privacy. The delayed mission was a critical six-and-a-half-hour task to prepare the station's exterior for new so...
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Space CEO: Why Private Space Stations Are a Viable Business
NASA is accelerating the development of private space stations through its Commercial LEO Destinations program to replace the International Space Station before its retirement around 2030. Voyager Technologies gained significant validation and funding from institutional investor Janus Henderson, ...
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ISS Crew Uncertain of Return Date Amid Trump's NASA Cutbacks
A new four-person crew, led by Commander Zena Cardman, launched to the ISS aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon, though their return timeline is uncertain due to shifting NASA priorities. SpaceX's Landing Zone 1 (LZ-1) was used for the final time, marking the end of an era as the company transitions to ne...
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Gateway manufacturer admits issue but omits “corrosion”
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman revealed corrosion in Lunar Gateway's two habitation modules during a congressional hearing, which was later confirmed by Northrop Grumman, ESA, and Axiom Space. Thales Alenia Space, the manufacturer of the modules' pressure vessels, broke its silence after five ...
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NASA orders emergency medical evacuation from space station
NASA has ordered an early return of four astronauts from the International Space Station due to an undisclosed medical event involving one crew member, who is in stable condition. The entire Crew-11 mission is returning ahead of schedule as a precaution, using their SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, wh...
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Crew-13 Astronauts Embrace New Patch Design, Defying Superstition
NASA has assigned Crew-13, its first mission bearing the number 13 since Apollo 13, to launch to the International Space Station in mid-September with astronauts from NASA, the Canadian Space Agency, and Roscosmos. The crew will spend roughly five months in orbit conducting scientific investigati...
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Varda partners with major US pharma firm to develop drugs in space
NASA's microgravity research, which gained momentum with the International Space Station, led to breakthroughs like growing a more uniform crystalline form of the cancer drug Keytruda in 2019, enabling injectable delivery. Private company Varda Space Industries has started operating uncrewed caps...
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NASA's First Space Medical Evacuation Ends in Perfect Splashdown
A multinational crew's mission was shortened by over a month for a non-emergency medical situation, leading to a safe splashdown in the Pacific Ocean after 167 days on the International Space Station. NASA did not disclose details of the medical issue but emphasized it was a controlled return, no...
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NASA Rushes Dragon Missions After Russian Launch Site Damage
NASA is accelerating two SpaceX Cargo Dragon missions to ensure ISS supply flow after damage to a key Russian launch pad halted a primary supply line. The damage occurred at Russia's Baikonur Cosmodrome when a service structure fell and crippled Pad 31, which is uniquely configured for vital Soyu...
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Ukraine hits key Russian rocket factory in cruise missile strike
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy confirmed Ukrainian forces struck Russia's Progress Rocket Space Center in the Samara region, roughly 900 km from the border, using ground-launched Flamingo cruise missiles, calling it "a good achievement." The facility is Russia's key rocket manufacturer, assembling...
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UAE's Burjeel to Send First Diabetic Astronaut to Space
Burjeel Holdings plans to send the first astronaut with diabetes to space after research confirmed that standard diabetes management tools like continuous glucose monitors and insulin pens work effectively in microgravity. The Suite Ride initiative on Axiom Mission 4 achieved historic milestones,...
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Starliner could finally launch into space this year
NASA classified Boeing's 2024 Starliner crewed test flight as a "Type A" mishap due to a serious propulsion system failure, forcing astronauts to return to Earth on a Crew Dragon capsule instead. Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg reported during a quarterly earnings call that the redesign of Starliner's p...
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