SpaceX plans to launch its giant Starship rocket this morning (June 6), and you can watch the action live.
Space News & Blog Articles
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Starliner Finally Launches, Carrying Two Astronauts Into Orbit
After many delays and two scrubbed launch attempts, Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner successfully launched earlier today! The Crewed Flight Test (CFT) took off from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, at 10:52 a.m. EDT (07:52 PDT) atop a ULA Atlas V rocket. For this mission, the capsule is carrying two NASA astronauts: Barry “Butch” Wilmore (commander) and Sunita “Suni” Williams (pilot). They are expected to reach the International Space Station (ISS) at 12:15 p.m. EDT (09:15 a.m. PDT) on Thursday, June 6th.
ESA Sets the Launch Date for Ariane 6: July 9th
The European Space Agency has retired its Ariane 5 rocket, and all eyes are on its next generation, Ariane 6. The rocket’s pieces have been arriving at the Kourou facility in French Guiana and are now assembled. ESA has now announced they’ll attempt a test launch on July 9th and hope to complete a second flight before the end of 2024. This new heavy-life rocket has a re-ignitable upper stage, allowing it to launch multiple payloads into different orbits.
Metal is 3D Printed on the Space Station
I have always wanted a 3D printer but never quite found a good enough reason to get one. Seeing that NASA are now 3D printing metal is even more tantalising than a plastic 3D printer. However, thinking about it, surely it is just a computer controlled soldering iron! I’m sure it’s far more advanced than that! Turns out that the first print really wasn’t much to right home about, just an s-curve deposited onto a metal plate! It does however prove and demonstrate the principle that a laser can liquify stainless steel and then deposit it precisely in a weightless environment.
Primordial Black Holes Can Only Explain a Fraction of Dark Matter
What is Dark Matter? That question is prominent in discussions about the nature of the Universe. There are many proposed explanations for dark matter, both within the Standard Model and outside of it.
Research Work Begins on the Habitable Worlds Observatory
NASA are planning on building a telescope to hunt for habitable worlds. The imaginatively named ‘Habitable Worlds Observatory’ is at least a decade away but NASA have started to develop the underlying technology needed. The contracts have been awarded to three companies to research the next-generation optics, mission designs and telescope features at a cost of $17.5 million. Work should begin late summer 2024.
1st telescope removed from controversial astronomy hub on Hawaiian volcano
The 36-inch telescope and its dome has been decommissioned as part of a deal that will hopefully see the Thirty Meter Telescope receive a permit for construction on Maunakea.
SpaceX congratulates Boeing, ULA on 1st crewed Starliner launch
Elon Musk and SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell both congratulated the coalition that sent Boeing's Starliner capsule aloft today (June 5) on its first crewed mission.
The JWST is Re-Writing Astronomy Textbooks
When the James Webb Space Telescope was launched at the end of 2021, we expected stunning images and illuminating scientific results. So far, the powerful space telescope has lived up to our expectations. The JWST has shown us things about the early Universe we never anticipated.
What time is SpaceX's Starship Flight 4 launch test on June 6?
SpaceX will launch its 4th Starship test flight as early as Thursday (June 6) in what it hopes will be a historic flight of the world's biggest rocket. Here's when it may fly.
'They're going to test this thing from izzard to gizzard:' NASA hails success of Boeing's 1st Starliner astronaut launch
Boeing's Starliner capsule launched with astronauts on board for the first time today (June 5), and NASA celebrated the milestone.
Boeing's Starliner launches astronauts for 1st time in historic liftoff (photos, video)
Boeing's Starliner capsule thundered to orbit today (June 5) with two astronauts on board, kicking off a crucial test flight for the company and for NASA.
NASA exoplanet hunter finds 'weird' world surviving a star's relentless bombardment — it's named Phoenix
NASA's TESS exoplanet hunter has discovered a weird world called Phoenix that has managed to hold on to its atmosphere despite being relentlessly bombarded with radiation from its red giant star.
'Star Wars: The Acolyte' episodes 1 & 2: Who's really behind the Jedi murder mystery?
The first two episodes of "The Acolyte" are refreshing Star Wars and open up plenty of possibilities, but the visual presentation and pacing are irregular.
Terrifying new 'Alien: Romulus' trailer unleashes the facehuggers (video)
Roughly two months before its theatrical release, "Alien: Romulus" is giving us a better look at its plot, characters, and scares.
Save $400 on Unistellar smart binoculars: Early bird deal
Unistellar's brand new smart binocular, Envision, is now $400 off when you order it on pre-sale in this early bird Kickstarter deal.
Midnight sun: What it is and how to see it
Experience the wonders of the midnight sun, a natural phenomenon where the sun never sets. Learn where you can witness this endless daylight and the science behind the strange phenomenon.
Comet 13P/Olbers Juices Up June Skies
June brings heat and bugs but also a moderately bright, early-evening comet that returns every 69 years.
EarthCARE on cloud nine after smooth start to mission
ESA’s EarthCARE mission has completed its important ‘Launch and Early Orbit Phase’ and is ready to begin the commissioning of its four scientific instruments. The data they gather will improve our understanding of the role that clouds and aerosols play in Earth’s radiation balance and benefit both climate modelling and weather forecasting.
First detection of negative ions on the Moon
The first ESA instrument to land on the Moon has detected the presence of negative ions on the lunar surface produced through interactions with the solar wind.
