Space News & Blog Articles

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NASA Inspector General issues harsh report on delayed SLS mobile launcher project

The NASA Office of Inspector General has issued a scathing report on the Mobile Launcher 2 project. ML-2 is needed to transport NASA's Space Launch System moon rocket to the launch pad.

No Intermediate-Mass Black Hole for Omega Centauri?

Last month, astronomers discovered a giant black hole in Omega Centauri. But it might contain a swarm of stellar-mass black holes instead.

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Archaeologists find huge, 2,500-year-old Egyptian astronomy observatory

An Egyptian dig uncovered a massive building that shows considerable evidence of astronomy observations, including a sundial and features meant to track the sun and stars.

Satellite watches as hazardous wildfire particles drift into the air

The recently launched satellite has been watching the spread of aerosols from wildfire smoke, creating a catalog that scientists say would eventually benefit weather forecasting.

Trump says he'd create a Space National Guard if elected

Former President Trump said he would create a Space National Guard if elected for a second term this November.

Blue Origin's powerful New Glenn rocket to debut Oct. 13 with NASA Mars launch

The inaugural flight of Blue Origin's New Glenn heavy-lift rocket, which will send NASA's two-satellite ESCAPADE mission toward Mars, will launch no earlier than Oct. 13.

Space tourism: What are the pros and cons?

Space tourism is controversial, and there are a multitude of reasons why.

Sentinel-2C pre-launch media briefing

Video: 00:52:00

The Copernicus Sentinel-2C satellite is set for liftoff on 4 September on the last Vega rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.

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Watch Blue Origin launch NS-26 space tourism mission today

Blue Origin will launch its eighth suborbital space tourism mission this morning (Aug. 29), and you can watch the action live.

FAA grounds SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket following landing mishap

A streak shot of the Starlink 8-6 mission showing the Falcon 9 rocket flying away from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Aug. 28, 2024. Image: Michael Cain/Spaceflight Now

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket has been grounded by the Federal Aviation Administration for the second time in less than two months, following the failed landing of a first stage booster, which had earlier helped launch a batch of satellites for the Starlink network.

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Astronaut John McFall carries Paralympic flag at opening ceremony Aug. 28

John McFall, a Paralympian medalist in 2008 and a reserve astronaut with the European Space Agency, carried the games' official flag during opening ceremonies Aug. 28.

FAA requires investigation into SpaceX Falcon 9 landing failure

The FAA is requiring an investigation into the failed touchdown attempt of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket's first stage after a successful Starlink satellite launch early Wednesday morning (Aug. 28).

What if you Flew Your Warp Drive Spaceship into a Black Hole?

Warp drives have a long history of not existing, despite their ubiquitous presence in science fiction. Writer John Campbell first introduced the idea in a science fiction novel called Islands of Space. These days, thanks to Star Trek in particular, the term is very familiar. It’s almost a generic reference for superliminal travel through hyperspace. Whether or not warp drive will ever exist is a physics problem that researchers are still trying to solve, but for now, it’s theoretical.

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Mock shuttle Pathfinder restored atop its stack at Alabama rocket center (photos)

An early mockup of NASA's winged orbiters, Pathfinder was returned to its position atop a space shuttle propulsion "stack" at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

DART Did More Than Deter Dimorphos; It Sent It Into a Chaotic Tumble

In 2022, NASA’s DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) spacecraft collided with an object named Dimorphos. The objective was to test redirecting hazardous asteroids by deflecting them with an impact. The test was a success, and Dimorphos was measurably affected.

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Japan declares its SLIM moon lander dead at last

The SLIM moon lander survived a staggering three lunar nights before JAXA officially declared the mission to be over.

SpaceX rocket catches fire, falls over while landing at sea after record-breaking Starlink launch (video)

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket set a reusability record during a Starlink satellite launch early Wednesday morning (Aug. 28) but failed to stick its landing.

Boom Supersonic's XB-1 prototype aces 2nd test flight (photos)

Colorado company Boom Supersonic's XB-1 supersonic demonstrator aircraft flew for the second time ever on Monday (Aug. 26).

Flight into Darkness — Observe the International Space Station in Earth's Shadow

Did you know you can see the International Space Station even when it's in Earth's shadow? We explore possible reasons why.

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Is Betelgeuse Actually a Binary Star?

Betel-gurz or Beetle-juice has been a favourite among amateur astronomers for many years. However you pronounce it, its unexpected dimming draw even more attention to this red supergiant variable star in Orion. It has a few cycles of variability, one of them occurs over a 2,170 day period, 5 times longer than its normal pulsation period. A paper has just been published that suggests a companion star of 1.17 solar masses could be the cause. It would need an orbit about 2.43 times the radius of Betelgeuse and it might just lead to the modulation of dust in the region that causes the variations we see. 

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