NASA

PARIS — A loss of attitude control and an open valve contributed to the loss of Isar Aerospace’s first Spectrum rocket in March as the company gears up for a second flight. In a Sept. 15 briefing held in conjunction with World Space Business Week, company executives discussed the outcome of the investigation into the March 30 launch of Spectrum from the Andøya Spaceport in northern Norway. The vehicle activated its flight termination system about half a minute after liftoff, shutting down its engines and plummeting into waters just offshore of the pad. The primary issue with the rocket was a loss of attitude control. Alexandre Dalloneau, vice president of mission and launch operations at Isar, said that the company had not properly characterized bending modes of the vehicle at li...

On this day 50 years ago, human beings embarked on a journey to set foot on another world for the very first time. At 9:32 a.m. EDT, millions watched as Apollo astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins lifted off from Launch Pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, flying high on the most powerful rocket ever built: the mighty Saturn V.As we prepare to return humans to the lunar surface with our Artemis program, we’re planning to make history again with a similarly unprecedented rocket, the Space Launch System (SLS). The SLS will be our first exploration-class vehicle since the Saturn V took American astronauts to the Moon a decade ago. With its superior lift capability, the SLS will expand our reach into the solar system, allowing astronauts aboard ...

WASHINGTON — The Pentagon on Friday announced a slate of senior leadership shifts within the U.S. Space Force, including new appointments to key command and planning posts. Lt. Gen. David Miller will serve as deputy chief of space operations for strategy, plans, programs and requirements, succeeding Lt. Gen. Shawn Bratton. Miller previously commanded Space Operations Command at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado. Lt. Gen. Douglas Schiess has been named deputy chief of space operations for operations, taking over from retired Lt. Gen. DeAnna Burt. Schiess most recently led U.S. Space Forces–Space and served as Combined Joint Force Space Component Commander at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The service also announced two promotions.  Maj. Gen. Gregory Gagn...

Sensory Friendly Events at Space Center Houston invite explorers of all ages with sensory sensitivities to enjoy a welcoming, supportive space filled with wonder and discovery.  Accessible Space Exploration for All Ages  Whether your explorer is fascinated by the stars or curious about rockets and rovers, our sensory-friendly events offer a calmer way to explore it all. These programs create a sensory-supportive environment with adjusted lighting, lowered sound effects and limited attendance so guests can enjoy a more comfortable visit without the stress of large crowds.  Here’s what you can expect:  Smaller crowds: These exclusive events offer limited tickets for a more open and easygoing atmosphere.  Modified settings: We adjust lights, music and sound effects to r...

This NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image features a galaxy whose asymmetric appearance may be the result of a galactic tug of war. Located 35 million light-years away in the constellation Leo, the spiral galaxy Messier 96 is the brightest of the galaxies in its group. The gravitational pull of its galactic neighbors may be responsible for Messier 96’s uneven distribution of gas and dust, asymmetric spiral arms, and off-center galactic core. This asymmetric appearance is on full display in the new Hubble image that incorporates data from observations made in ultraviolet, near infrared, and visible/optical light. Earlier Hubble images of Messier 96 were released in 2015 and 2018. Each successive image added new data, building up a beautiful and scientifically valuable view of the...