Space industry
About 35,000 pieces of space debris are flying around our Earth — meet the Swiss partnership determined to clear it up
Every week, about 50 satellites are launched into space. This number is expected to grow rapidly over the next few years, and with it, an increased risk of collisions — creating debris. These collisions would create problems for us on Earth — whether that be through taking down communications, transport or even banking systems. But one […]
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DOT secretary says he spoke with Elon Musk on U.S. airspace reforms
An American Airlines plane takes off as a salvage barge with a crane is positioned near the crash site along the Potomac River after a passenger jet collided with a helicopter while landing at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) in Arlington, Virginia, US, on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. Al Drago | Bloomberg | Getty […]
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Boeing’s Starliner losses top $2 billion after spacecraft program reports worst year yet
Boeing spacecraft Starliner is seen from the window of SpaceX’s Dragon capsule “Endeavour” on July 3, 2024, while docked with the International Space Station during the crew flight test. NASA Boeing has lost more than $2 billion and counting on its Starliner spacecraft after a rough year in which the capsule’s first astronaut flight turned […]
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Trump and Musk called for former Starliner astronauts to return ‘as soon as possible.’ Here’s what NASA planned.
Elon Musk speaks with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and guests at a viewing of the launch of the sixth test flight of the SpaceX Starship, in Brownsville, Texas, U.S., November 19, 2024. Brandon Bell | Via Reuters Elon Musk and President Donald Trump took to social media this week declaring that astronauts left at the […]
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Planet lands $230 million contract for Pelican imagery satellites
An animated rendering of a Pelican satellite in orbit. Planet Satellite imagery and data analysis company Planet announced it had signed a $230 million contract on Wednesday, with an anchor customer furthering the rollout of its next-generation Pelican satellites. “It is a momentum-building event. … It’s both our biggest deal ever and it’s a significant […]
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Britain takes stake in SpaceX rival Orbex to boost space ambitions
Orbex is a startup that develops both small and medium-sized space rockets. The firm uses a renewable form of propane known as bio-propane to fuel its rockets. Michal Wachucik | AFP via Getty Images The U.K. government announced Wednesday a £20 million ($24.8 million) investment in Orbex, a Scottish spaceflight startup aiming to rival Elon […]
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FAA grounds SpaceX’s Starship after mid-flight explosion, reports property damage on Turks and Caicos
SpaceX’s mega rocket Starship launches for a test flight from Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas, on Jan. 16, 2025. Eric Gay | AP The Federal Aviation Administration said on Friday that SpaceX’s Starship rocket is grounded until the company and regulator complete an investigation into the midflight failure of the most recent test flight, which […]
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Watch SpaceX launch Starship flight testing how it will deploy satellites in space
SpaceX is set to launch the seventh test flight of its Starship rocket on Thursday, as the company looks to push development of the mammoth vehicle further, including with a crucial test for how it will deploy satellites. The company has an hour window, from 5 p.m. ET to 6 p.m. ET, to launch Starship […]
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Blue Origin’s first New Glenn rocket reaches orbit, misses booster landing
Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket streaks into orbit after launching from the Kennedy Space Center on its maiden flight, at Cape Canaveral, Florida on January 16, 2025. Gregg Newton | Afp | Getty Images Blue Origin launched its towering New Glenn rocket for the first time on Thursday, in a crucial milestone for Jeff Bezos’ […]
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Firefly Aerospace kicks off first moon mission after SpaceX launch
The company’s Blue Ghost moon lander before shipping out for launch. Firefly Aerospace Another American company, Texas-based rocket and spacecraft builder Firefly Aerospace, is moon-bound. Firefly’s “Blue Ghost” cargo lander launched from Florida early Wednesday morning on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket to begin a 45-day trip. The space transportation company’s first moon mission comes as […]
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