[ad_1] This afternoon NASA astronauts will take off from US soil for the first time since NASA’s space shuttle program ended in 2011. The launch is historic for another reason too. It will be the first time NASA launches astronauts in a SpaceX spacecraft, and it marks the beginning of what could be many crewed […]
Category: Spacex
SpaceX Crew Dragon simulator shows what it’s like to dock with the ISS
[ad_1] You don’t have to train as an astronaut to know what it’s like to pilot Crew Dragon — you just need a web browser and some patience. TechCrunch notes that SpaceX has launched a web simulator that lets you dock the capsule with the International Space Station using the “actual interface” the crew relies […]
NASA is helping Tom Cruise film a movie in space
[ad_1] The title is reportedly in the very early stages, with no studio involved and no release window. SpaceX doesn’t expect to offer tourist flights aboard Crew Dragon until the second half of 2021 at the earliest. It’s not shocking that both sides would be eager to work with each other. Cruise is well-known for […]
SpaceX will make its Starlink satellites less of a blight on the night sky
[ad_1] On April 22nd, SpaceX launched its eighth payload of Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit. Shortly thereafter, the satellites could be seen from the ground, appearing to be dots of light traversing the night sky. According to Elon Musk, the company is working on reducing the glare that these cubesats create. The founder and […]
NASA and SpaceX’s first crewed flight is set for May 27th
[ad_1] Today, NASA announced that its crewed SpaceX flight will launch on May 27th, The Washington Post reports. The flight will mark the first astronaut launch from US soil since 2011, and it will be the first SpaceX flight carrying passengers, not just cargo. If successful, this Crew Dragon Demo-2 test will clear the way […]
SpaceX’s first-gen Dragon cargo capsule left the ISS for the last time
[ad_1] This marks the last flight in a $1.6 billion contract between NASA and SpaceX. Now, SpaceX is shifting its attention to the second-generation Dragon 2 capsule, which it will use for ISS resupply runs beginning in October. The new spacecraft will be able to fly up to five times, surpassing the three-trip max of […]
NASA’s iconic ‘worm’ logo will adorn the Falcon 9 Crew Dragon rocket
[ad_1] Despite its popularity, NASA retired the worm in 1992, returning to the meatball. Minus the occasional merchandising opportunity, NASA hasn’t used the graphic in an official capacity since then — that is until today’s announcement. Moving forward, NASA is considering using the logo in other contexts as well. “There’s a good chance you’ll see […]
NASA picks SpaceX to deliver cargo to the Lunar Gateway
[ad_1] The space company will use a variant of the Dragon capsule — different from the one it’s using for ISS missions — that can carry more than 5 metric tons of cargo for its Gateway missions. It will fly on top of the company’s super-heavy lift launch vehicle, the Falcon Heavy rocket. Unlike current […]
SpaceX parachute test failure could further delay crewed flight
[ad_1] It’s not clear what led to the problem, although SpaceX said the parachutes weren’t responsible. The crewed demo mission is still officially expected in May. However, Parabolic Arc sources said that the failure along with separate preparation issues made it “likely” that the flight would wait until June. It wouldn’t be surprising if the […]
SpaceX Crew Dragon’s Demo-2 test flight is still scheduled for May
[ad_1] SpaceX has been putting Crew Dragon to the test for quite a while now, successfully making sure that its engine, launch escape system and the capsule as a whole are working perfectly. The manned flight in May, which will ferry astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley to the space station, is the last test […]