Multistage rocket

Shandong-based Orienspace pulled off its first-ever launch, breaking the record for the largest payload capacity on a commercial rocket for China’s growing space industry.Would Peter Capaldi Return to Doctor Who?The Chinese company launched the Gravity-1 rocket on Thursday at 12:30 a.m. ET from a mobile platform in the Yellow Sea, producing massive plumes above the surface of the water that framed the launch vehicle’s ascent into the skies. The rocket carried three commercial weather satellites, Yunyao-1 (18-20), to…

After its rocket failed to reach orbit last month, California-based Relativity Space doesn’t want to dwell on the past. Instead, the company is leaping forward with its next launch vehicle, which promises to be bigger and better.Astronomers Could Soon Get Warnings When SpaceX Satellites Threaten Their ViewOn Wednesday, Relativity Space announced its lessons learned from the launch of Terran-1, a 3D-printed, methane-fueled rocket that was set to break records on its first flight. The rocket took off from Cape Canaveral…

China is developing a parachute system to help control where its rocket boosters land instead of free-falling onto the ground near populated areas.Taking out the Trash (in Space)The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) is finalizing a plan whereby it uses a parachute and a gliding control system on some of its Long March rockets’ boosters and payload fairings, CCTV reported (English translation provided in the video). The parachute will significantly narrow down the falling booster’s landing area…

Terran 1 at the Cape Canaveral pad. Photo: Relativity SpaceAfter an aborted launch attempt on Wednesday, Relativity Space is now ready for a do-over. The three-hour launch window for the 3D-printed Terran 1 rocket opens at 1:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, and you can catch the action live right here.The two-stage rocket will attempt to blast off from Launch Complex 16 in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on March 11 at 1:00 p.m. ET, with the three-hour launch window closing at 4:00 p.m. ET. The company’s live broadcast of the launch,…

Terran 1 on the launch pad. Photo: Relativity SpaceUpdate: 3:38 p.m. ET: Relativity Space gave it a royal try today, but ultimately chose to forgo the attempt. No reason was given for today’s scrub, nor do we know when the company might try again. Update: 3:04 p.m. ET: Relativity Space now targeting 3:45 p.m. ET for launch. An automated abort stopped the countdown due to second stage oxygen temperature being out of limits, an issue that ground teams are fixing right now. Update: 1:50 p.m. ET: Launch is now anticipated for…

An illustration of the Zhuque-2 rocket.Illustration: LandspaceThe Zhuque-2 rocket lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert on Wednesday, leaving behind an unusual purplish trail—a product of its unique methane fuel. The rocket managed to take flight, but it failed to reach orbit and deliver the 14 satellites that were on board. China’s private aerospace company Landspace was hoping to lead the way in utilizing methane—the next-generation rocket fuel—which is considered to be cleaner and safer…

China’s Long March-5B Y3 rocket carried the Wentian lab module to China’s space station in July.Photo: LIU HUAIYU (AP)On November 12, China’s Long March 6A rocket broke apart after launch, scattering debris in low Earth orbit. Now, reports suggest that the disintegrated upper stage of the rocket has grown to a cloud of 350 pieces of space debris. The rocket launched at 5:52 p.m. ET on November 11 from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in north China, carrying the Yunhai 3 environmental monitoring satellite.Shortly after…

Rocket Lab’s first attempt saw a successful booster catch.Photo: Rocket LabAfter making history earlier this year by catching a rocket mid-air using a helicopter, but then fumbling it, Rocket Lab is ready to do it all over again. The California-based company announced on Tuesday that it will make a second attempt at catching its Electron rocket as it returns from space this week. The rocket is scheduled to launch during a window that opens at 1:15 p.m. ET on Friday, November 4, for the mission aptly titled, “Catch Me If…