Spacecraft and Rovers
32 reportsInterpretation of spacecraft bus is tested with power system and thermal control. The discussion therefore addresses which instruments collect data and how commands reach spacecraft, separating design goals from performance demonstrated in operation.
SpaceX Launches Three BlueBird Satellites for Direct-to-Cell Network
A Falcon 9 rocket is set to deploy three AST SpaceMobile BlueBird satellites from Cape Canaveral, expanding a low Earth orbit constellation designed to deliver broadband directly to standard smartphones.
Spirit Rover Data Reveals Widespread Ancient Water Activity on Mars
A new analysis of NASA's Spirit rover data has identified crystalline hematite and altered magnetite in Martian soil, supporting the view that liquid water once shaped large regions of Mars
Why Real Space Salvage Cannot Work Like Hardspace: Shipbreaker
Hardspace: Shipbreaker turns derelict spacecraft into profitable scrap, but ESA's ClearSpace-1 shows why real debris removal must avoid fragmentation, stabilize tumbling targets, and control reentry
Apollo 15's Moon Liftoff Became Television's First From Another World
On Aug. 2, 1971, Apollo 15 transmitted the first live television view of a spacecraft leaving the moon, using a rover-mounted camera that revealed both the mission's ingenuity and its limits
Starship Captured on Video by a Starlink V3 Satellite
A camera-equipped Starlink V3 satellite recorded SpaceX's Starship upper stage after Flight 13, offering an unusual view of the vehicle's engines, thrusters and separation in space
Apollo 15's Lunar Rover Turned Moonwalking Into Exploration
Apollo 15's Lunar Roving Vehicle gave astronauts their first way to travel extensively across the moon's surface, extending scientific exploration beyond the immediate landing site in July 1971
SpaceX Rocket Stage to Impact Moon, Raising New Scientific Questions
A spent SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage is set to collide with the lunar surface on August 5, offering researchers a rare opportunity to observe the effects of artificial impacts on the Moon using telescopes and orbital instruments
Salyut 6 Space Station Deorbited After Five Years in Orbit
The Soviet Salyut 6 space station, operational since 1977, was deliberately deorbited on July 29, 1982, after supporting multiple long-duration missions and pioneering new space station technologies
SpaceX Starship Remains Afloat in Indian Ocean After Test Splashdown
SpaceX's Starship Version 3 upper stage was photographed floating intact in the Indian Ocean five days after its July 24 flight test, offering a rare look at the vehicle's post-splashdown condition and raising questions about rapid reusability
NASA's Swift Boost Mission Faces Setback After Spacecraft Malfunction
NASA's Swift Boost mission, launched to extend the life of the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, has encountered a critical control issue with its LINK spacecraft, raising uncertainty about the planned orbital rescue operation
NASA Astronaut Chris Williams Completes First ISS Mission After Eight Months
NASA astronaut Chris Williams has returned to Earth after spending eight months aboard the International Space Station, supporting scientific research and technology upgrades during Expedition 74
Viking 1's First Mars Surface Image Revisited on 50th Anniversary
NASA has released the original images captured by Viking 1 after its 1976 Mars landing, offering a detailed look at the Red Planet's surface and the mission's scientific legacy
Soyuz MS-28 to Return NASA and Roscosmos Crew from ISS July 26
NASA astronaut Chris Williams and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev are scheduled to depart the International Space Station aboard Soyuz MS-28, with landing expected in Kazakhstan on July 26
NASA's ESCAPADE Spacecraft Captures Earth and Moon in Dual Light
NASA's ESCAPADE mission has imaged Earth and the Moon in both visible and thermal infrared light, providing a rare calibration opportunity for its cameras as the spacecraft prepares for its journey to Mars
Expedition 74 Crew Begins Science Operations on International Space Station
Expedition 74 astronauts Anna Kikina, Pyotr Dubrov, and Anil Menon have joined the International Space Station, starting an eight-and-a-half-month mission focused on microgravity research and operational adaptation
NASA Astronaut Chris Williams Ends ISS Mission After Eight Months
Chris Williams is set to return from his first mission aboard the International Space Station, where he supported experiments on cancer therapies, semiconductor materials, and robotic systems during an eight-month stay
NASA Moves Artemis IV Hydrogen Tank for Core Stage Testing
A 130-foot liquid hydrogen tank for Artemis IV was transported at NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility, marking a key step toward core stage testing for the Space Launch System rocket
Artemis 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's Psyche Spacecraft Uses Mars Flyby to Refine Asteroid Trajectory
NASA's Psyche probe has completed a close flyby of Mars, capturing a time-lapse sequence and using the planet's gravity to adjust its course toward the metal-rich asteroid Psyche, its target for arrival in 2029
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 II Crew's Moon Orbit Mission Highlights Human Connection
NASA's Artemis II mission sent four astronauts around the moon, sharing daily updates and personal moments that resonated globally during a period of international tension and uncertainty
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
NASA Eyes Mars Skies 50 Years After Viking 1's Landmark Landing
NASA's Viking 1 lander touched down on Mars in 1976, launching a new era of planetary exploration. Now, five decades later, the agency is preparing to extend its reach above the Martian surface with aerial missions.
Viking 1's First Mars Surface Image Changed Planetary Exploration
NASA's Viking 1 lander transmitted the first direct image from the Martian surface in July 1976, revealing the planet's rocky terrain and marking a milestone in robotic planetary science
How NASA Langley Engineered the First Mars Landings
Fifty years after Viking 1 and 2 touched down on Mars, the engineering and mission design led by NASA's Langley Research Center remain central to how planetary landings are planned and executed across the solar system
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
Hayabusa2's Risky Asteroid Flyby Yields Unprecedented Close-Up Data
Japan's Hayabusa2 spacecraft has captured detailed images and thermal data of the near-Earth asteroid Torifune after a high-speed flyby, following intense debate over the mission's safety and scientific value
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
Soyuz MS-29 Launches NASA and Roscosmos Crew to Space Station
A Soyuz rocket has launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome, carrying NASA astronaut Anil Menon and Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina to the International Space Station for a long-duration mission focused on scientific research
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
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