SpaceX - Part 2
41 reportsArtemis IV Landing Debate: South Pole or Lunar Equator for Crew Safety
NASA's Artemis IV mission faces a critical decision: whether to target the moon's challenging south pole or opt for a safer equatorial landing, as astronaut Victor Glover urges a reassessment of mission priorities and safety constraints
NASA to Equip Artemis III Orion with Starlink Laser Terminals
NASA will install SpaceX Starlink laser communication terminals on the Artemis III Orion spacecraft, aiming to boost high-definition video and data transmission capabilities during the mission scheduled for 2027
Artemis III to Test NASA's Most Complex Multi-Spacecraft Mission Yet
NASA's Artemis III mission will attempt a coordinated two-week operation involving four astronauts and three independently launched spacecraft, aiming to validate critical lunar landing technologies in low Earth orbit
Rocket Launch Costs Plummet but New Barriers Emerge for Space Access
A new analysis of more than 4,400 launches reveals that the average cost to send a kilogram to orbit has dropped by 96% since 1960, but future reductions may be limited by debris, market dominance, and geopolitical shifts
NASA Tests Laser Link for Live 4K Video Transmission From the Moon
NASA's Artemis II mission used an experimental laser communications system to transmit live high-definition video from lunar orbit to Earth, testing a lower-cost, higher-bandwidth alternative to traditional radio links under real mission conditions
SpaceX Starship Test Aborted as Defense and Science Missions Advance
SpaceX's Starship Flight 13 test launch was halted seconds before liftoff, highlighting ongoing technical challenges as the company expands its role in US military and scientific space operations
Japan Tests RV-X Prototype in Step Toward Reusable Rocket Technology
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency has conducted a 40-second test flight of its RV-X prototype, marking a significant milestone in the country's pursuit of reusable launch vehicles and advancing international collaboration in spaceflight engineering
Vikram-1 Set for India's First Private Orbital Rocket Launch
Skyroot Aerospace will attempt to launch Vikram-1, India's first privately developed orbital rocket, from Sriharikota on July 18. The mission aims to deliver multiple small payloads to low Earth orbit and test key launch systems
Starlink Satellites Face Near-Constant Collision Avoidance in Orbit
SpaceX's Starlink satellites have performed hundreds of thousands of collision avoidance maneuvers in the past year, highlighting the growing challenge of managing orbital traffic and the risks posed by increasing satellite numbers
Portable X-ray Imaging System Demonstrates Diagnostic Quality in Space
A commercial portable X-ray device was operated aboard an orbital spacecraft, producing diagnostic-quality radiographs comparable to those acquired on Earth and highlighting the potential for in-flight medical imaging beyond ultrasound
SpaceX Starship Flight 13 to Test Starlink V3 Deployment
SpaceX is preparing to launch Starship Flight 13 from Starbase, Texas, aiming to deploy 20 Starlink Version 3 satellites and test upgraded booster recovery systems in a mission scheduled for July 16
Part 2 of 2