NASA Updates 2025 Commercial Crew Plan

NASA and its industry partners Boeing and SpaceX continue planning next year’s missions to the International Space Station for the agency’s Commercial Crew Program. While significant work remains to prepare for these flights, the agency expects a busy year of in-orbit activities and is planning windows of opportunity for mission Read full post

Crew-8 Awaits Splashdown; Expedition 72 Stays Focused on Science

Four International Space Station crew members continue waiting for their departure date as mission managers monitor weather conditions off the coast of Florida. The rest of the Expedition 72 crew on Monday stayed focused on space biology and lab maintenance aboard the orbital outpost. NASA and SpaceX mission managers are watching Read full post

Signal Acquired – NASA’s Europa Clipper Begins Journey to Jovian System

Mission controllers for NASA’s Europa Clipper have received full acquisition of signal from the spacecraft. NASA’s Europa Clipper will be the first mission to conduct a detailed science investigation of Jupiter’s moon Europa. Scientists believe Europa has a salty ocean beneath its icy crust that potentially could hold the ingredients necessary Read full post

Orbit Departure Burn Coming Up

The orbital departure burn is planned to happen in just about 5 minutes. The second stage engine will restart for its second burn (SES-2) and will continue to burn for approximately 3 minutes. This second burn will give the Europa Clipper spacecraft the thrust it needs escape Earth’s gravity. When Read full post

Second Stage Engine Cutoff Reached

The initial second stage engine cutoff (SECO-1) is complete. The second stage engine will restart for its second burn (SES-2) in just about 40 minutes. This second burn (SECO-2) will give the Europa Clipper spacecraft the additional thrust needed to escape Earth’s gravity, after which the spacecraft will separate from Read full post