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Commercial Spaceflight

All articles tagged with #commercial spaceflight

Former NASA Astronaut Joins Vast as Haven-1 Integration Advances, Launch Slips to 2027
technology1 month ago

Former NASA Astronaut Joins Vast as Haven-1 Integration Advances, Launch Slips to 2027

Vast has hired former NASA astronaut Megan McArthur as an astronaut adviser to support Haven-1’s development, joining a cadre of ex-astronauts guiding the project. Haven-1 has begun integration in Long Beach with systems and avionics work, interior outfitting, and exterior shielding. The launch has shifted from mid-2026 to the first quarter of 2027, as the company emphasizes safety and maturation of its design, manufacturing, testing, and operations for future stations.

via SpaceNews|
#commercial-spaceflight#haven-1#megan-mcarthur
Billionaire Jared Isaacman Tapped to Lead NASA Amid Industry Optimism
space-exploration1 year ago

Billionaire Jared Isaacman Tapped to Lead NASA Amid Industry Optimism

Billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman has been nominated by President-elect Donald Trump to lead NASA, sparking discussions about the agency's future direction amid budget constraints and competition from private space companies. Isaacman, known for his commercial space missions with SpaceX, represents a shift from traditional NASA leadership, raising questions about the balance between public exploration goals and commercial interests. As NASA faces challenges with its Artemis Moon program and the costly Space Launch System, Isaacman's leadership could either revitalize the agency or further entangle it with commercial spaceflight demands.

via Gizmodo|
#artemis-program#commercial-spaceflight#jared-isaacman
"Boeing's Starliner: NASA's First Crewed Flight Takes Off"
space-exploration1 year ago

"Boeing's Starliner: NASA's First Crewed Flight Takes Off"

Boeing's Starliner program, once seen as a competitor to SpaceX, is now positioned as a backup for NASA's crew transportation needs, with the company expressing uncertainty about its future beyond fulfilling its current NASA contracts. Meanwhile, SpaceX continues to lead the commercial spaceflight industry, with significant achievements in crewed missions and satellite launches. Other industry developments include aerospace companies' legal disputes, executive appointments, and upcoming rocket launches.

via CNBC|
#boeing#commercial-spaceflight#nasa
"SpaceX's Third Starship Launch Test: What to Expect and How to Watch Live"
spacespace-exploration1 year ago

"SpaceX's Third Starship Launch Test: What to Expect and How to Watch Live"

SpaceX is preparing for the third test flight of its Starship megarocket, aiming to demonstrate capabilities crucial for NASA's moon missions and the commercial spaceflight industry. The launch is scheduled for Thursday morning from the Starbase test site in Texas, with objectives including controlled re-entry through Earth’s atmosphere and various technology demonstrations. If successful, this test could pave the way for future missions to the moon and beyond, with Starship expected to play a key role in NASA’s Artemis III mission.

via NBC News|
#commercial-spaceflight#nasa#spacespace-exploration
space-exploration1 year ago

"Challenges and Cheers: Moon Lander's Struggle and Farewell"

The first commercial moon mission, conducted by the company Intuitive Machines, is attempting to revive its lunar lander as the lunar night comes to an end. The lander, which delivered NASA's water-hunting VIPER rover to the moon's surface, shut down during the two-week-long lunar night due to the extreme cold. Intuitive Machines is now working to re-establish communication with the lander and resume its operations as the sun rises on the moon's surface.

via Financial Times|
#commercial-spaceflight#lunar-lander#lunar-night
"Space-Produced Antiviral Drug Safely Returns to Earth Aboard Varda's Capsule"
space-technology2 years ago

"Space-Produced Antiviral Drug Safely Returns to Earth Aboard Varda's Capsule"

Varda Space Industries successfully obtained FAA approval for the reentry of its space capsule, marking the first commercial spacecraft landing at a military test range. The company's achievement was the result of navigating complex regulatory and bureaucratic processes, including securing a commercial reentry license and coordinating with government entities. The spacecraft landed in the Utah desert and was retrieved for transport back to Varda's headquarters, signaling a significant milestone for the in-space manufacturing company.

via Ars Technica|
#commercial-spaceflight#faa-approval#reentry-capsule
"Dream Chaser: Sierra Space's New Spaceplane Prepares for Historic Flight"
space-technology2 years ago

"Dream Chaser: Sierra Space's New Spaceplane Prepares for Historic Flight"

Sierra Space's Dream Chaser undergoes successful testing at NASA's Neil Armstrong Test Facility, preparing for its first flight to the International Space Station in 2024. The vehicle, equipped with a cargo module capable of carrying 9,000 pounds of cargo, will join NASA's Commercial Resupply Services program, offering down mass capability to return science experiments and research samples back to Earth. Sierra Space plans to conduct multiple flights with the potential for global launch and landing locations, marking the beginning of what they call the "orbital age" of commercializing low-Earth orbit.

via NASASpaceflight.com|
#commercial-spaceflight#dream-chaser#international-space-station
"Exploring Health Challenges for Private Astronauts: Insights from Global Space Workshop"
space-exploration2 years ago

"Exploring Health Challenges for Private Astronauts: Insights from Global Space Workshop"

Medical researchers and commercial spaceflight advocates are collaborating to study the health issues and risks associated with space travel for a more diverse population of private astronauts, who may not meet the strict medical standards used by NASA and other space agencies. The proposed Human Research Program for Civilians in Spaceflight and Space Habitation (HRP-C) aims to collect medical data and conduct research on potential spaceflight risks, focusing on informed consent and research rather than regulation. Efforts like TRISH's EXPAND initiative are also working to fill gaps in the population of space travelers, with a new focus on women. The goal is to reduce health risks for private astronauts while enabling as many people as possible to fly in space based on strong science.

via SpaceNews|
#commercial-spaceflight#informed-consent#medical-research
"Turkey's First Astronaut Joins International Space Station Expedition"
space-exploration2 years ago

"Turkey's First Astronaut Joins International Space Station Expedition"

A four-man crew, including Turkey's first astronaut, arrived at the International Space Station for a two-week stay as part of the Axiom Mission 3, a commercial mission arranged by Axiom Space. The crew, launched by SpaceX, will conduct over 30 scientific experiments focusing on the effects of spaceflight on human health and disease. Axiom, a company specializing in commercial spaceflight, charges at least $55 million per seat for its services and is also involved in building a commercial space station to replace the ISS, which NASA expects to retire around 2030.

via Reuters|
#astronauts#axiom-mission-3#commercial-spaceflight
"SpaceX's Ax-3 Mission: Watch the Launch Live from Kennedy Space Center"
space-exploration2 years ago

"SpaceX's Ax-3 Mission: Watch the Launch Live from Kennedy Space Center"

A private astronaut mission, the third for Axiom Space, is set to launch astronauts from Italy, Sweden, and Turkey to the International Space Station on a commercially chartered mission, marking Turkey's first astronaut. The launch, originally scheduled for Wednesday, has been rescheduled for Thursday at 4:49 p.m. Eastern time. The crew includes astronauts from the Italian, Swedish, and Turkish Air Forces, with the mission's commander being a former NASA astronaut. Other nations, such as Saudi Arabia, Poland, and the United Kingdom, are also making arrangements for their astronauts to fly on commercial spaceflights.

via The New York Times|
#astronauts#axiom-space#commercial-spaceflight
"Axiom-3: Europe's Disrupted Pathway to Space with Four Astronauts"
space-exploration2 years ago

"Axiom-3: Europe's Disrupted Pathway to Space with Four Astronauts"

Axiom Space, in partnership with SpaceX, is disrupting Europe's traditional pathway to space by offering privately funded missions for European astronauts, including those from the European Space Agency's (ESA) astronaut reserve pool. Countries like Sweden and Poland are paying substantial amounts to send their nationals to space through contracts brokered by ESA, raising questions about the benefits to European taxpayers who fund the agency's operations. The arrangement with Axiom Space and the costs involved have sparked concerns about ESA's purpose of promoting the European space sector and the principle of geo-return for member states.

via Ars Technica|
#astronaut-reserve-pool#axiom-space#commercial-spaceflight
Navajo Nation Urges White House to Halt Lunar Burial Mission Amid Protests
politicsscience2 years ago

Navajo Nation Urges White House to Halt Lunar Burial Mission Amid Protests

The Navajo Nation is protesting a commercial space burial mission that plans to send the remains of historical figures like George Washington and John F. Kennedy, as well as "Star Trek" celebrities, to the moon, a site they consider sacred. The Biden administration is intervening to address the concerns, while the company behind the mission, Celestis, argues that the mission is respectful and that no single group owns the moon. The controversy has prompted a White House meeting and could potentially delay the mission, which involves sending remains in titanium capsules to the moon's surface and into deep space.

via New York Post |
#commercial-spaceflight#moon-sacred#navajo-nation