FAA grounds SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket after a malfunction on its return to Earth
02 Oct
Science & Technology

FAA grounds SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket after a malfunction on its return to Earth

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NASA Space Technology The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration on Monday said SpaceX must investigate why the second stage of its workhorse Falcon 9 rocket malfunctioned after a NASA astronaut mission on Saturday, grounding the rocket for the third time in three months.After SpaceX on Saturday launched two astronauts to the International Space Station for NASA, the rocket body that had boosted the crew further into space failed to properly re-light its engine for its “deorbit burn,” a routine procedure that discards the booster into the ocean after completing its flight.The astronaut crew carried on to the ISS safely, docking on Sunday as planned. The FAA said there were no injuries or property damage linked to the booster mishap.The malfunction caused the booster to fall into a region of the Pacific Ocean outside of the designated safety zone...
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‘I think it was hard not to watch that rocket lift off without thinking, That’s my rocket and that’s my crew.’ How the NASA astronauts bumped from SpaceX’s Crew-9 watched their ride launch without them
02 Oct
Science & Technology

‘I think it was hard not to watch that rocket lift off without thinking, That’s my rocket and that’s my crew.’ How the NASA astronauts bumped from SpaceX’s Crew-9 watched their ride launch without them

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NASA Space Technology Two astronauts who were supposed to be in space right now say they are still glad to be part of the ground team.Until recently, NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Stephanie Wilson were assigned to SpaceX's Crew-9 mission. But their Crew Dragon spacecraft left without them on Saturday (Sept. 28) after their seats had to be reassigned in August to bring home two other NASA astronauts currently living on the International Space Station (ISS)."I think it was hard not to watch that rocket lift off without thinking, 'That's my rocket and that's my crew,'" Cardman said during the launch broadcast on NASA+, formerly NASA Television, of the Crew-9 astronauts who did leave Earth: NASA's Nick Hague and Aleksandr Gorbunov of the Russian space agency Roscosmos."It makes me feel very connected to this...
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Companies seek more opportunities to send private astronaut missions to ISS
02 Oct
Science & Technology

Companies seek more opportunities to send private astronaut missions to ISS

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NASA Space Technology A SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft docked to the International Space Station during Axiom Space's Ax-2 private astronaut mission in May 2023. Credit: NASAWASHINGTON — Companies developing commercial space stations want NASA to offer more opportunities to fly precursor missions to the International Space Station to help them gain experience and stimulate customer interest.As part of a NASA policy in 2019 to promote commercialization of the ISS, the agency said it would allow up to two private astronaut missions, or PAMs, to visit the station each year. NASA subsequently issued a series of requests for proposals for individual PAM opportunities.Three such PAMs have flown to date, all by Axiom Space. A fourth PAM, also by Axiom, is currently scheduled to fly to the station in the spring of 2025.The pace of those missions,...
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