The DragonEye (DE) relative navigation sensor – set to ride with Discovery on STS-133 – will be installed two weeks later than planned, following a laser rod failure during testing. Discovery – currently enjoying a smooth processing flow – will be conducting the second test for the sensor during her arrival at the International Space [...]

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 launch vehicle has enjoyed a successful maiden flight on Friday, carrying a prototype Dragon spacecraft into orbit. Launch – at 2:45pm Eastern - came near the end of a four hour launch window, which was interrupted by an issue with the Flight Termination System (FTS) -  several incursions into the Range, and an abort at T-3 [...]

The Teal Group – a defense and aerospace consulting firm that provides intelligence to government and industry – estimates 2,229 space payloads will be launched to Earth, Lunar and deep space trajectories from 2010-2029. The Virginia-based group is also predicting a bright future for SpaceX’s Dragon, and Orbital’s Cygnus capsules, as they prepare to come [...]

Following its arrival onboard shuttle Atlantis during STS-129, the CRS UHF Communication Unit (CUCU) – a key element for the upcoming demonstration of SpaceX’s Dragon capsule – has passed a series of tests on the International Space Station (ISS), allowing the commercial company to confirm its successful activation.

As the Constellation Program (CxP) splutters along, ahead of its “proposed” cancellation, managers have successfully concluded its Preliminary Design Review (PDR), although several major elements – such as cost and schedule – were omitted from the review due to the “new direction”. Meanwhile, NASA managers preparing a draft document to prospective commercial crew providers, listing [...]

NASA managers are pushing through the shutdown of the Constellation Program (CxP) at a pace, with a series of memos showing all the Ares test flights have already been cancelled, along Orion ‘defunded’ and returned to the sole control of contractor Lockheed Martin. Meanwhile, MOD director Paul Hill has written to NASA administrator Charlie Bolden, [...]

Senator Kay Hutchison – in conjunction with Representatives Suzanne Kosmas and Bill Posey – has produced a 37 page Bill that proposes major refinements to NASA’s FY2011 proposal, and NASA’s forward plan. The Bill is centered around a shuttle extension to 2015, in support of fully utilizing the International Space Station (ISS), along with saving [...]

MOD Director Paul Hill has hinted that there’s a “remote” chance NASA may add one or more shuttle flights, in addition to “under evaluation” STS-135. Mr Hill’s comments came during an address to his team – relating to the upcoming White House decision on NASA’s Human Space Flight program - in which he noted his awareness of discussions relating [...]

When STS-129 launches next week, Atlantis will have one eye on the future, as she carries the CRS UHF Communication Unit (CUCU), a key element for the upcoming demonstration of SpaceX’s Dragon capsule, ahead of its debut arrival at the International Space Station (ISS) in 2010.

The United Launch Alliance (ULA) have created an expansive plan to utilize the Atlas and Delta Launch Vehicle families to provide the United States with an architecture that both reduces the gap and provides greater flexibility – when compared to NASA’s current Ares-based plans. ULA’s plans range from Low Earth Orbit (LEO) access, to the [...]

Sea Launch were in action early this morning, with the launch of SICRAL 1A – an Italian military communications satellite. Liftoff was at the opening of a 57-minute window, at 1:16am PDT (08:16 GMT), from the Odyssey Launch Platform out in the Pacific Ocean.

PlanetSpace Inc – which lost out on NASA’s 3.5 billion dollar Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract – have filed an official protest. Last month, SpaceX (Space Exploration Technologies Corp) and Orbital were awarded the contract to resupply the International Space Station (ISS) during the transition between Shuttle and Orion.

SpaceX chief Elon Musk has spoke of his desire to make Falcon 9 the first fully reusable launch vehicle, which he would “love” to include a flyback first stage. Musk also noted he is aiming for Falcon 9 to launch in under 60 minutes from the moment they leave their hangers.

SpaceX and Orbital Sciences Corporation have been awarded the lucrative Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract, with SpaceX (Space Exploration Technologies Corp.) earning 12 missions, and Orbital winning another eight missions. The details of the award – worth up to 3.5 billion dollars - equates to Orbital winning 54 percent of the funding. PlanetSpace Inc lose out on the award.

The last ILS mission of 2008 has launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, as their Proton-M launch vehicle prepares lifted-off from Pad PU-39 of Launch Complex 200. Launch occured on time at 13:43 UTC. The launch phase of the mission will last a total of nine hours, injecting the Ciel-2 communications satellite in to a geostationary [...]

NASA’s Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) spacecraft has been launched via an Orbital Sciences Pegasus XL launch vehicle on Sunday, after it was released by its L-1011 carrier aircraft at around 1:44pm EDT.

Space X have finally put their teething problems behind them with total success for their fourth launch attempt of their Falcon I vehicle, which launched from Omelek island, Kwajalein Atoll. NASASpaceflight.com covered the launch as a live event, with extensive background, live updates, images and video, all available on the link below (read more).

SpaceX’s third flight of their Falcon I launch vehicle – carrying three satellites – has failed during first and second stage separation. The launch window opened at 4:00 pm PDT – though a problem with the helium load resulted in several holds, before a launch attempt was aborted at T-0 seconds. A final attempt managed [...]

The re-award of NASA’s Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) contract – called after RpK’s failure to reach designated milestones – has been won by Orbital Sciences Corporation, due to being the “best, sustainable business case.” At the center of the bid is a new vehicle, OSC’s Taurus II – a medium class launch vehicle – [...]