Cargo spacecraft

The third test flight of Starship on March 14 marked a huge victory for SpaceX, with the experimental rocket hitting a number of key milestones. The unplanned loss of both stages triggered a Federal Aviation Administration investigation, but neither the FAA nor SpaceX anticipate the lengthy delays experienced after the first two tests.Astronomers Could Soon Get Warnings When SpaceX Satellites Threaten Their ViewStarship’s second test flight, conducted on November 18, 2023, happened 30 weeks (212 days) after its inaugural…

Artist’s depiction of OSAM-1 docking with a satellite.Image: NASAAn ambitious NASA project designed to test satellite refueling in space, known as OSAM-1, has been discontinued after significant technical, cost, and scheduling difficulties. The cancellation comes in the wake of an October 2023 report from NASA’s Office of Inspector General that cited “poor performance” by Maxar, the primary contractor for the project. - George Dvorsky Read More Artist’s depiction of OSAM-1 docking with a satellite.Image: NASAAn…

Jupiter’s icy moon Europa produces plenty of oxygen every day, according to new findings based on data from NASA’s Juno spacecraft. The moon has long been of interest to astrobiologists because of the possibility that life could exist in its subsurface ocean. - Isaac Schultz Read MoreRead more... Jupiter’s icy moon Europa produces plenty of oxygen every day, according to new findings based on data from NASA’s Juno spacecraft. The moon has long been of interest to astrobiologists because of the possibility that life…

Image: Photo: Shutterstock Graphics: Vicky LetaRenowned puzzler Peter Winkler invented the addictive word game, HIPE, with some friends when they were juniors in high school. While it may not have become the overnight success of Wordle, the game did earn Winkler admission to Harvard. According to his book, Mathematical Mind-Benders, he wrote a college admission essay about how his verbal diversion sparked a local craze. Four years later, as a Harvard senior, Winkler overheard an admissions committee member quizzing a…

Elon Musk recently revealed that the explosion of the Starship’s upper stage this past November during its second test flight was caused by a propellant dump gone wrong. Despite this setback, the incident will not impact the megarocket’s upcoming scheduled flight in February, according to the SpaceX CEO.Mr. Tweet Fumbles Super Bowl TweetSpaceX’s second test of Starship, which took place on November 18, 2023, was a notable improvement over the first test, performed several months earlier on April 20. However, instead of a…

In the face of drug use allegations that could jeopardize million dollar contracts, NASA has come to Elon Musk’s defense, as the space agency waits on a SpaceX lunar lander for its Artemis missions.Tesla Investors Not Happy With Mr. Tweet's TweetsNASA responded to a recent report in the Wall Street Journal, which claimed that Musk’s drug use is alarming and worrying for SpaceX executives. “The agency does not have evidence of non-compliance from SpaceX on how the company addresses the drug- and alcohol-free workforce…

SpaceX is actively preparing for the third test of its Starship launch system, a mission that may feature the inaugural attempt at in-flight propellant transfer. This capability is essential for enabling deep space missions and is a crucial component of NASA’s Artemis Moon plans.Zillow Says You’ll Buy Your Next House With… AI? | AI Unlocked The demo, though preliminary in nature, would require Starship to boldly go where no Starship has gone before: low Earth orbit. NASA spokesperson Jimi Russell confirmed the test of the…

If you told a person on the street in the 1970s that humans would have no base on the Moon by the year 2000, they’d probably laugh in your face. Well, it’s 2023 and we still lack even the barest of lunar infrastructure. But this week, Alenia Space and the Italian Space Agency sketched out their plans for a sustainable base on the Moon. Read up on that and much more in our roundup of the week’s most-read science stories.—Rose Pastore“Even AI Rappers are Harassed by Police” | AI UnlockedElon Musk Unveils Plans for Starship…

SpaceX’s latest test flight of the Starship rocket lasted for around eight minutes—twice the length of the previous test. Both the booster and the Starship upper stage were lost, but SpaceX achieved many key milestones during the flight test.Astronomers Could Soon Get Warnings When SpaceX Satellites Threaten Their ViewThe rocket left the Boca Chica launch mount at 8:03 a.m. ET on Saturday morning, with water blasting upwards to quell the power of 33 Raptor engines coming to life. The upgraded launch mount appeared to work…

SpaceX’s worth is nearing $150 billion after signing a share sale agreement with new and existing investors this week.Tesla Investors Not Happy With Mr. Tweet's TweetsAs per the agreement, the investors will sell up to $750 million in stock from insiders at $81 a share, CNBC reported based on a copy of the purchase offer that was sent out by SpaceX CFO Bret Johnsen on Thursday and obtained by the news organization. The new share price is about a 5% increase from its previous secondary sale at $77 each, putting the…