Shotwell discusses launch scrub, webcast issues, and competition

The Falcon 9 v1.1 carrying six ORBCOMM OG2 satellites stands on the launch pad Friday, June 20, prior to the launch scrub that day. SpaceX plans the next launch attempt in mid-July. (credit: SpaceX)

In a short radio interview Wednesday evening, SpaceX president Gwynne Shotwell confirmed that the next Falcon 9 launch attempt would […]

World View tests scale model of its high-altitude balloon system

A view of the Earth taken from an altitude of 36 kilometers (120,000 feet) on a World View test flight June 18. The company plans to offer similar views to customers of its balloon flights, which will be licensed as launches, starting in late 2016. (credit: World View)

World View Enterprises, the company that […]

Falcon launch delayed by one storm, as SpaceX gets caught up in another (updated)

See update below.

A second attempt in as many days by SpaceX to launch six ORBCOMM OG2 satellites was scrubbed again Saturday, this time by weather. Marc Eisenberg, the CEO of ORBCOMM, said that a lightning strike 18 minutes before the launch, which has already been pushed to the end of its window, violated a […]

Ten years after SpaceShipOne made history, still waiting for the future to arrive

Pilot Mike Melvill stands atop SpaceShipOne after flying the vehicle into space for the first time on June 21, 2004. (credit: J. Foust)

Ten years ago this morning, a small rocket-powered vehicle with a single test pilot aboard appeared to open a door into the future. SpaceShipOne, carried aloft by its carrier aircraft, White […]

Technical glitch scrubs Falcon 9 launch; may try again today

The Falcon 9 v1.1 carrying six ORBCOMM OG2 satellites stands on the launch pad Friday prior to the launch scrub. SpaceX may try again Saturday. (credit: SpaceX)

While the forecasted bad weather held off, SpaceX still scrubbed Friday night’s scheduled launch of six ORBCOMM OG2 satellites. During the countdown, controllers noted a drop in […]

SpaceX prepares for ORBCOMM launch, and shows off latest Falcon 9R test

SpaceX is set to try again to launch six ORBCOMM second-generation satellites late Friday from Cape Canaveral. Launch of the ORBCOMM OG2 satellites is scheduled for Friday at 6:08 pm EDT (2208 GMT); the company’s webcast of the launch will begin at 5:35 pm EDT (2135 GMT). Weather appears to be the major issue regarding […]

Astrobotic offers other GLXP teams a ride to the Moon, but does it have a ride of its own?

An illustration of the Griffin lunar lander being developed by Astrobotic. (credit: Astrobotic)

With just over 18 months left in the Google Lunar X PRIZE (GLXP) competition, one of the leading teams in the race is offering to give other teams a lift to the lunar surface, creating the potential for what it calls […]

Report claims Google considering investing in Virgin Galactic

Illustration of Virgin Galactic’s LauncherOne igniting its first stage engine after being dropped from WhiteKnightTwo. Google’s reported interest in Virgin Galactic likely centers on this smallsat launch system Virgin is developing. (credit: Virgin Galactic)

In the latest evidence that the search engine giant is taking an increased interest in space, British broadcaster Sky News […]

Google finally pulls the trigger on Skybox deal

An image of the Crown Perth entertainment complex in Perth, Australia, taken by the SkySat-1 spacecraft shortly after its launch last year. (credit: Skybox Imaging)

After months of rumors, Google made it official Tuesday: they are acquiring commercial satellite remote sensing company Skybox Imaging for $500 million in cash. “Skybox’s satellites will help keep […]

NASA considering lunar CubeSat prize competitions

NASA is considering two new prize competitions that would involve sending CubeSat-class spacecraft into cislunar space and beyond, perhaps on the first launch of the Space Launch System (SLS). NASA’s Centennial Challenges program issued a Request for Information (RFI) on Monday for two new potential prize competitions, seeking input from the public over the next […]