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Blue Origin to Reuse New Glenn Rocket Stage for First Time in April 19 Launch

Blue Origin to Reuse New Glenn Rocket Stage for First Time in April 19 Launch

Blue Origin to Reuse New Glenn Rocket Stage for First Time in April 19 Launch
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SpaceX to Launch Europe's First Mars Rover with Falcon Heavy in 2028

SpaceX to Launch Europe's First Mars Rover with Falcon Heavy in 2028

SpaceX has been selected to launch Europe's first Mars rover, Rosalind Franklin, using its Falcon Heavy rocket. Scheduled for 2028, this mission marks SpaceX's first Mars launch contract. The rover is part of the European Space Agency's ExoMars program, which aims to explore the Martian surface for signs of life. The mission has faced several delays due to budget issues, technical challenges, and geopolitical tensions, particularly following the severance of space partnerships with Russia after its invasion of Ukraine. NASA has stepped in to support the mission, providing a launch vehicle and additional technical assistance.
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SpaceX to Launch European Mars Rover Amid Political and Technical Challenges

SpaceX to Launch European Mars Rover Amid Political and Technical Challenges

NASA has confirmed that SpaceX will launch the European Space Agency's Rosalind Franklin Mars rover on a Falcon Heavy rocket from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, potentially as soon as late 2028. This decision follows a complex history of delays and changes in plans due to political and technical challenges, including Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Originally part of a joint initiative with NASA, the European rover's mission has faced numerous setbacks, including the withdrawal of NASA's support in 2012 due to budget constraints. The mission, now part of the ExoMars program, aims to search for signs of past life on Mars, with the rover equipped to drill into the Martian surface.
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NASA Advances ESA's Rosalind Franklin Mars Mission with New Implementation Phase

NASA Advances ESA's Rosalind Franklin Mars Mission with New Implementation Phase

NASA has approved the implementation phase for the Rosalind Franklin Support and Augmentation (ROSA) project, which is part of the European Space Agency's (ESA) Rosalind Franklin mission to Mars. This mission, scheduled for launch in 2028, aims to search for signs of past or present life beneath the Martian surface. NASA's role includes providing essential hardware and services such as the launch service, braking engines for the rover's lander platform, and radioisotope heater units for the rover's internal systems. Additionally, NASA will supply specialized electronics and a mass spectrometer for the Mars organic molecule analyzer, which will investigate potential life-building blocks in samples from Mars' Oxia Planum. The mission will be launched using SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
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Blue Origin's New Glenn Rocket Prepares for Landmark Reflight with Static Fire Test

Blue Origin's New Glenn Rocket Prepares for Landmark Reflight with Static Fire Test

Blue Origin's New Glenn Rocket Prepares for Landmark Reflight with Static Fire Test
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Blue Origin's third New Glenn launch faces key reuse test in rivalry with SpaceX

Blue Origin's third New Glenn launch faces key reuse test in rivalry with SpaceX

By Akash Sriram April 16 (Reuters) - Blue Origin is set to launch its third New Glenn mission on Friday, carrying AST SpaceMobile's BlueBird 7 satellite to low-Earth orbit in a flight that marks a pivotal step for the Jeff Bezos-led company's ambitions.
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SpaceX and Blue Origin Compete in Lunar Lander Development for Artemis Missions

SpaceX and Blue Origin Compete in Lunar Lander Development for Artemis Missions

Elon Musk's SpaceX and Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin are intensifying their efforts to develop lunar landers for NASA's Artemis missions, aiming to land humans on the Moon by the end of the decade. Both companies have been awarded multi-billion-dollar contracts to create reusable landers, with SpaceX working on its Human Landing System and Blue Origin developing the Blue Moon lander. The Artemis III mission, scheduled for mid-2027, will test these landers' docking capabilities with NASA's Orion capsule in low Earth orbit. This mission is a precursor to the planned lunar landings in 2028, where the Orion capsule and moon lander will dock in lunar orbit before astronauts descend to the Moon's surface. NASA's broader goal is to establish a permanent human presence on the Moon's south pole, which will serve as a proving ground for future crewed Mars missions.
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Bezos and Musk Compete for Lunar Dominance and AI Infrastructure in Space

Bezos and Musk Compete for Lunar Dominance and AI Infrastructure in Space

Bezos and Musk Compete for Lunar Dominance and AI Infrastructure in Space
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NASA's Artemis III Mission Prepares for Lunar Return, Following Successful Artemis II

NASA's Artemis III Mission Prepares for Lunar Return, Following Successful Artemis II

NASA's Artemis III Mission Prepares for Lunar Return, Following Successful Artemis II
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NASA Awards Private Astronaut Mission to Voyager for Future ISS Visit

NASA Awards Private Astronaut Mission to Voyager for Future ISS Visit

NASA has awarded its seventh private astronaut mission to Voyager, a company involved in providing microgravity research and astronaut flight services. The mission, named VOYG-1, is scheduled to launch no earlier than 2028 and will spend up to 14 days at the International Space Station (ISS). Voyager, in partnership with Airbus, is also working on the Starlab commercial space station project. The mission will involve four crewmembers who will undergo training with NASA and international partners. SpaceX is expected to provide transportation services for the mission.
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NASA Awards Private Astronaut Mission to Voyager for Future Space Station Operations

NASA Awards Private Astronaut Mission to Voyager for Future Space Station Operations

NASA has awarded its seventh private astronaut mission to Voyager, a company involved in microgravity research and astronaut flight services. This mission is seen as a practice run for Voyager's planned Starlab space station. Voyager and Airbus are partners in the Starlab project, which aims to succeed the International Space Station (ISS) with a commercial space station. The mission, named VOYG-1, is scheduled to launch no earlier than 2028 and will spend up to 14 days at the ISS. SpaceX is expected to provide transportation services for the mission.
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SpaceX Launches Two Starlink Satellite Groups in Rapid Succession

SpaceX Launches Two Starlink Satellite Groups in Rapid Succession

SpaceX Launches Two Starlink Satellite Groups in Rapid Succession