Space Tourism, Space Transport and Space Exploration News
February 03, 2025
ROCKET SCIENCE
Caltech takes first steps toward lightsails that could reach distant star systems



Los Angeles CA (SPX) Feb 03, 2025
The idea of traveling through interstellar space using spacecraft propelled by ultrathin sails may sound like the stuff of sci-fi novels. But in fact, a program started in 2016 by Stephen Hawking and Yuri Milner known as the Breakthrough Starshot Initiative has been exploring the idea. The concept is to use lasers to propel miniature space probes attached to "lightsails" to reach ultrafast speeds and eventually our nearest star system, Alpha Centauri. Caltech is leading the worldwide community wor ... read more

ROCKET SCIENCE
Fifth H-3 rocket successfully launches Michibiki No. 6 satellite
Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Feb 03, 2025


The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) successfully launched its fifth H-3 rocket on Sunday, carrying the Michibiki No. 6 satellite, a key addition to Japan's independent positioning system ... more

ROCKET SCIENCE
SpaceX launches more Startlink satellites from California
Washington DC (UPI) Feb 2, 2025
SpaceX launched 22 more Starlink satellites, this time from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. ... more
DRAGON SPACE
Astronaut insights from mid mission aboard Tiangong
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Feb 03, 2025
China's Shenzhou-19 mission has reached its midpoint as the three crew members aboard the Tiangong space station share their unique experiences during the Spring Festival. Orbiting 400 kilometers ab ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
SpaceX launches from Florida, retires first-stage booster because of extra power needed
Washington DC (UPI) Jan 29, 2025
SpaceX on Wednesday night launched a Spanish communications satellite from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida and retired the first-stage booster rather than landing on a droneship. ... more
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Chinese Satellite Companies Expand Global Services with Advanced Networks and Constellations
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Jan 30, 2025
Chinese space companies are rapidly expanding their global satellite services, offering capabilities in communications, navigation, and remote sensing. This expansion is coupled with a swift increas ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
Airbus-built SpainSat NG-I satellite successfully launched
Toulouse, France (SPX) Jan 30, 2025
The first of the next-generation SpainSat satellites, SpainSat NG-I, has successfully launched aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, USA. This advanced satellite, operated by Hisdesat for th ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
UK Government backs UK orbital launch with 20 million pound investment
London, UK (SPX) Jan 29, 2025
The UK Government has taken a significant step in bolstering the nation's space capabilities, investing GBP 20 million into spaceflight company Orbex as part of its Series D funding round. This mark ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
How to Operate NASA's Orion Spacecraft for Artemis II Mission
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jan 29, 2025
During NASA's Artemis II mission, the first crewed flight under the Artemis campaign, astronauts will manually operate the Orion spacecraft as part of their journey around the Moon and back. This mi ... more

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TECHNOLOGY NEWS


ROCKET SCIENCE
Sierra Space Dream Chaser Spaceplane Passes Key NASA Test in Preparation for ISS Resupply Mission
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jan 30, 2025
Sierra Space, a leading innovator in commercial space exploration and defense technology, has announced a significant achievement in its partnership with NASA. The company successfully completed and ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
SpaceX launches 21 Starlink satellites from Cape Caneveral
Washington DC (UPI) Jan 27, 2025
SpaceX launched its next round of Starlink satellites into lower Earth orbit on Monday afternoon from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
China's Hainan Commercial Launch Center expands with two new launch pads
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Jan 26, 2025
The Hainan commercial spacecraft launch site in China has begun the second phase of its development, which will feature two new launch pads specifically designed for liquid propellant rockets. The e ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
New Shepard's 29th mission to simulate Lunar Gravity
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jan 26, 2025
Blue Origin is preparing for the 29th flight of its New Shepard rocket, set to launch on January 28 at 10:00 AM CST / 1600 UTC from Launch Site One in West Texas. The mission, known as NS-29, will s ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
NASA's Artemis II rocket booster stacking process reaches new milestone
Washington DC (UPI) Jan 24, 2025
Assembly of the Artemis II moon rocket has reached its latest milestone with the stacking of the twin boosters' right forward center segment, NASA announced Friday. ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
SpaceX launches Starlink satellites into space on 11th 2025 mission
Washington DC (UPI) Jan 24, 2025
SpaceX launched a new round of Starlink satellites into lower Earth orbit on its 11th launch of 2025, setting it on pace to break another one-year launch record. ... more
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DRAGON SPACE
China launches additional satellites for Spacesail Constellation
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Jan 24, 2025
China successfully launched 18 new satellites on Thursday as part of the ongoing expansion of the Spacesail Constellation. The satellites were sent into orbit from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Cente ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
Musk, Wikipedia founder in row over how to describe 'Nazi salute'
Washington (AFP) Jan 23, 2025
The gesture was controversial enough, but now come the sub-controversies: Elon Musk is trolling Wikipedia and encouraging its defunding after a description of his recent flourish, seen by some as a Hitler salute, appeared on the encyclopedic website. ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
Three rockets will ignite Poker Flat's 2025 launch season
Fairbanks AK (SPX) Jan 23, 2025
Three NASA sounding rockets are set to launch from Poker Flat Research Range as early as Tuesday to learn more about three types of aurora - black, flickering and fast-pulsating. The launch wi ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
Rocket Lab to launch wildfire detection satellites for OroraTech
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jan 23, 2025
Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB), a global leader in launch services and space systems, has announced a contract with Orora Technologies (OroraTech) to launch a mission dedicated to wildfire dete ... more
DRAGON SPACE
Shenzhou XIX crew completes second spacewalk mission
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Jan 22, 2025
The crew of Shenzhou XIX aboard China's space station successfully carried out their second series of extravehicular activities (EVAs) early Tuesday, as confirmed by the China Manned Space Agency. T ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
Rocket Lab schedules next Electron launch for IoT constellation operator
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jan 22, 2025
Rocket Lab USA, Inc. has announced the upcoming launch of its Electron rocket for Kineis, a global Internet-of-Things (IoT) connectivity provider. This mission, titled "IOT 4 You and Me," is schedul ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
Galactic Energy launches five satellites into orbit
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Jan 21, 2025
Galactic Energy, a Beijing-based private rocket manufacturer, successfully completed a mission on Monday afternoon, deploying five satellites into orbit. According to the company's statement, ... more
DRAGON SPACE
Shenzhou XIX crew completes second spacewalk
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Jan 21, 2025
Members of the Shenzhou XIX mission aboard China's Tiangong space station successfully completed their second round of extravehicular activities (EVAs) early Tuesday morning, as confirmed by the Chi ... more
DRAGON SPACE
China unveils logos for three space missions in 2025
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Jan 21, 2025
The China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) has revealed the official logos for three prominent missions scheduled for 2025: the crewed spaceflights Shenzhou XX and Shenzhou XXI, and the cargo spacecraft T ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
SpaceX again scrubs launch of more satellites from California
Washington DC (UPI) Jan 20, 2025
SpaceX for the third time on Monday scrubbed plans to launch 27 more Starlink internet satellites into low-earth orbit from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California with an earlier one postponed because of a Delta jet flying nearby. ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
ISRO demonstrates restart of Vikas engine
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Jan 20, 2025
ISRO successfully demonstrated the capability to restart its Vikas liquid engine during a test conducted on January 17, 2025, at the ISRO Propulsion Complex in Mahendragiri. The Vikas engine, a crit ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
China deploys three spacecraft with Long March 2D rocket
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Jan 20, 2025
China successfully launched a Long March 2D carrier rocket on Friday afternoon, deploying three spacecraft, including a cutting-edge atmospheric research satellite, into their designated orbits. ... more
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ROCKET SCIENCE
Top Beijing official urges Musk to deepen ties with China: state media
Beijing (AFP) Jan 20, 2025
Chinese Vice President Han Zheng met with tech tycoon Elon Musk and urged US firms to "seize the opportunity" to deepen economic ties with China, Beijing's state media said Monday. ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
SpaceX catches Starship booster again, but upper stage explodes
Washington (AFP) Jan 17, 2025
Hours after Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin nailed its first-ever orbital mission, SpaceX seized back the spotlight on Thursday as its latest test of Starship, its gargantuan next-generation megarocket, ended with the upper stage dramatically disintegrating over the Atlantic. ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
FAA grounds SpaceX Starship launches after breakup
Washington DC (UPI) Jan 18, 2025
The Federal Aviation Administration has paused SpaceX's launch of its Starship rocket as the U.S. agency oversees an investigation by the private company of the breakup after a test launch Thursday. ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
US grounds SpaceX's Starship after fiery mid-air explosion
Washington (AFP) Jan 17, 2025
The United States on Friday grounded SpaceX's Starship and ordered Elon Musk's company to investigate why the spaceship spectacularly disintegrated in a fiery cascade over the Caribbean during its latest test mission. ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
US grounds SpaceX's Starship rocket pending probe
Washington (AFP) Jan 17, 2025
The US Federal Aviation Administration on Friday grounded SpaceX's Starship pending an investigation by Elon Musk's company into why the rocket's upper stage dramatically disintegrated in a fiery cascade over the Caribbean during its latest test flight. ... more
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