NASA pushes back Mars rover again, citing 'launch vehicle processing delays'
WASHINGTON -- Nearly three weeks after it delayed the launch of its next Mars rover, NASA has pushed it back again, citing "launch vehicle processing delays."
Spacewalking astronaut loses mirror, newest space junk
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — A spacewalking astronaut added to the millions of pieces of junk orbiting the Earth on Friday, losing a small mirror on his sleeve as soon as he emerged from the International Space Station for battery work.Commander Chris Cassidy said the mirror quickly floated away.
NASA names DC headquarters after 1st Black female engineer, Mary W. Jackson
WASHINGTON -- NASA announced Wednesday that the agency will name its D.C. headquarters building after "Hidden Figure" Mary W.
Astronauts: Falcon 9 rocket was 'totally different' ride than the space shuttle
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket was a “pure flying machine” compared to the space shuttle, according to the astronauts who rode it into space.Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken piloted the first manned flight of the Falcon 9 on May 30.
Asteroid larger than Empire State Building set to whiz by Earth this weekend
LOS ANGELES - An asteroid which NASA estimates may be larger than the Empire State Building is headed in Earth’s direction and expected to pass near our planet on Saturday.While NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) may have labeled asteroid, named 163348 (2002 NN4), a “potentially hazardous asteroid” due to its predicted proximity to Earth, the celestial planet killer will actually keep a distance of over 3.1 million miles when it passes.
SpaceX opens era of amateur astronauts, cosmic movie sets
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — SpaceX’s debut astronaut launch is the biggest, most visible opening shot yet in NASA’s grand plan for commercializing Earth’s backyard.Amateur astronauts, private space stations, flying factories, out-of-this-world movie sets — this is the future the space agency is striving to shape as it eases out of low-Earth orbit and aims for the moon and Mars.It doesn’t quite reach the fantasized heights of George Jetson and Iron Man, but still promises plenty of thrills.“I’m still waiting for my personal jetpack.
Asteroid larger than Empire State Building set to whiz by Earth this weekend
LOS ANGELES -- An asteroid which NASA estimates may be larger than the Empire State Building is headed in Earth’s direction and expected to pass near our planet on Saturday, June 6.While NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) may have labeled asteroid, named 163348 (2002 NN4), a “potentially hazardous asteroid” due to its predicted proximity to Earth, the celestial planet killer will actually keep a distance of over 3.1 million miles when it passes.
SpaceX's astronaut-riding Dragon arrives at space station
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — SpaceX delivered two astronauts to the International Space Station for NASA on Sunday, following up a historic liftoff with an equally smooth docking in yet another first for Elon Musk’s company.With test pilots Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken poised to take over manual control if necessary, the SpaceX Dragon capsule pulled up to the station and docked automatically, no assistance needed.
Meet the dinosaur hitching a ride to space with US astronauts
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Two American astronauts headed for the International Space Station (ISS) on Saturday have some company during their flight: a stuffed dinosaur.The adorable stuffed animal covered in colorful sequins was spotted riding shotgun during the historic manned mission that successfully launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Take 2 for SpaceX's 1st astronaut launch with more storms
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — SpaceX pressed ahead with its second attempt to launch astronauts for NASA — a historic first for a private company — but more stormy weather threatened more delays.Elon Musk’s company came within 17 minutes Wednesday of launching a pair of NASA astronauts for the first time in nearly a decade from the U.S., before the threat of lightning forced a delay.With more storms ahead, managers debated Friday whether to bump the next launch attempt from Saturday to Sunday to take advantage of slightly improved forecast at Kennedy Space Center.NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine tweeted that no decision was made, and they would reassess the situation Saturday morning.
Historic SpaceX launch postponed to Saturday because of stormy weather
CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida — The launch of a SpaceX rocket ship with two NASA astronauts on a history-making flight into orbit has been called off with 16 minutes to go in the countdown because of the danger of lightning.Liftoff is rescheduled for Saturday.
NASA chief 'all in' for Tom Cruise to film on space station
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — NASA is rolling out the International Space Station’s red carpet for Tom Cruise to make a movie in orbit.The space agency's administrator, Jim Bridenstine, said before Wednesday’s planned launch of two NASA astronauts aboard a SpaceX rocket that Elon Musk’s company is already getting customers eager to blast off.Cruise is one of them.Bridenstine said he’ll leaving it to Cruise and SpaceX to provide the mission details.“I will tell you this: NASA has been in talks with Tom Cruise and, of course, his team, and we will do everything we can to make it a successful mission, including opening up the International Space Station," he told The Associated Press.Asked about Cruise filming on the space station, Musk told “”CBS This Morning,” Actually, I think that remains to be seen.
Stormy weather puts damper on SpaceX's 1st astronaut launch set for Wednesday
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Stormy weather is threatening to delay SpaceX’s first astronaut launch.A SpaceX rocket is scheduled to blast off Wednesday afternoon from Kennedy Space Center, carrying a Dragon capsule with NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken to the International Space Station.
SpaceX's 1st astronaut launch breaking new ground for style
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — The first astronauts launched by SpaceX are breaking new ground for style with hip spacesuits, gull-wing Teslas and a sleek rocketship — all of it white with black trim.The color-coordinating is thanks to Elon Musk, the driving force behind both SpaceX and Tesla, and a big fan of flash and science fiction.NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken like the fresh new look.
1st commercial space taxi a pit stop on Musk's Mars quest
LOS ANGELES -- It all started with the dream of growing a rose on Mars.That vision, Elon Musk’s vision, morphed into a shake-up of the old space industry, and a fleet of new private rockets.
President Trump to attend Wednesday's NASA astronaut launch in Florida
STERLING, Va. (AP) — President Donald Trump plans to be on the Florida coast Wednesday to watch American astronauts blast into orbit from the Kennedy Space Center for the first time in more than a decade.It will be the first time since the space shuttle program ended in 2011 that U.S. astronauts will launch into space aboard an American rocket from American soil.Also new Wednesday: a private company — not NASA — is running the show.Elon Musk’s SpaceX is the conductor and NASA the customer as businesses begin chauffeuring astronauts to the International Space Station.The NASA/SpaceX Commercial Crew flight test launch will carry NASA’s newest test pilots, Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken, in a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.They're scheduled to blast off from launch pad 39A, the same one the Apollo astronauts used to get to the moon.The shift to private companies allows NASA to zero in on deep space travel.
NASA, SpaceX bringing astronaut launches back to home turf
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — For the first time in nearly a decade, U.S. astronauts are about to blast into orbit aboard an American rocket from American soil.
Who are the astronauts that will embark on 1st manned mission into space in nearly 10 years?
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Two experienced astronauts will go back into space this month.NASA and SpaceX will launch the first astronauts from American soil in nearly a decade on May 27 from Kennedy Space Center’s launch complex 39A.
Astronauts arrive for NASA's 1st home launch in decade
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — The two astronauts who will end a nine-year launch drought for NASA flew to Kennedy Space Center on Wednesday, exactly one week before their historic SpaceX flight.It will be the first time a private company, rather than a national government, sends astronauts into orbit.NASA test pilots Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken departed Houston aboard one of the space agency's jet planes.They're scheduled to blast off next Wednesday atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, bound for the International Space Station.
US military's mystery space plane rockets back into orbit
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — The U.S. military’s mystery space plane rocketed into orbit again Sunday, this time with an extra load of science experiments.It’s the sixth flight of an X-37B, a solar-powered plane that's flown by remote control without a crew.Officials aren't saying how long the spacecraft will remain in orbit this time or the purpose of the mission.