Two NASA astronauts aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft are stranded at the International Space Station due to technical difficulties, forcing a delayed return to Earth. This latest setback for the Starliner capsule follows a history of issues and delays, highlighting the challenges of private spaceflight.
NASA’s Boeing Starliner spacecraft, on its first crewed mission, is scheduled to depart from the International Space Station (ISS) on Tuesday, June 25. The mission was initially planned for a week-long stay but was extended to allow for engine tests after some reaction control thrusters experienced issues during docking. The Starliner will return to Earth, landing in New Mexico, marking the first time an American capsule has touched down on land with astronauts aboard.
SpaceX’s fourth Starship test flight marked a major milestone for the company’s reusable rocket program. Both the Super Heavy booster and the Starship spacecraft successfully reentered Earth’s atmosphere and made soft ocean landings, paving the way for more frequent and cost-effective spaceflight missions. The next Starship test is expected to implement a tower-based catching system for the Super Heavy booster, further reducing costs and increasing payload capacity.
Indian-American astronaut Sunita Williams embarked on her historic third space mission on Wednesday, becoming the first female astronaut to fly on the inaugural flight of a crewed spacecraft. Accompanied by fellow astronaut Barry Wilmore, Williams piloted the Boeing Starliner spacecraft from the Cape Canaveral Space Station in Florida, bound for the International Space Station (ISS). The successful launch marks a significant milestone for Boeing and the future of spaceflight, bringing the United States closer to certifying the Starliner for routine astronaut missions to the ISS.
SpaceX is aiming for Wednesday, June 5, for the fourth test launch of its Starship rocket. The launch is contingent upon approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), but the company is optimistic about launching with short notice. The 120-meter-tall Starship is the most powerful rocket ever built and consists of the Super Heavy booster and the upper-stage Starship spacecraft. The first three test flights have met varying degrees of success, but the goal remains to develop a fully reusable system for missions to the moon and Mars.
SpaceX has once again pushed the boundaries of spaceflight with a historic mission, marking the first time a Falcon 9 booster has been launched and landed successfully for the 21st time. This remarkable feat was achieved on May 18, 2024, from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where the booster deployed 23 Starlink internet satellites into orbit. The milestone highlights SpaceX’s revolutionary flight system, which enables the reuse of Falcon 9 boosters, reducing spaceflight costs and advancing the company’s ambitious goals.
On May 19, Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin New Shepard-25 (NS-25) mission successfully returned to the skies, two years after a rocket failure in September 2022. The mission, the seventh human flight and 25th overall for the New Shepard program, featured a six-person crew including Indian-origin entrepreneur and pilot Gopichand Thotakura. The crew also included Ed Dwight, the first Black astronaut candidate in the United States and the oldest person to travel to space at 90 years old.
NASA has released a collection of its best photos from 2023, showcasing a year filled with exciting spaceflight moments. From the return of asteroid samples to the selection of the first Artemis astronauts, these stunning images capture the highlights of the past year in space exploration.
SpaceX has accomplished its 300th successful first-stage touchdown, marking a significant milestone in rocketry. This achievement showcases SpaceX’s continuous advancements in reusable rocket technology, enabling more frequent and cost-effective missions. The company’s dedication to landing and reusing boosters has revolutionized the spaceflight industry, leading to lower launch costs and increased launch capabilities.
