Gadgets On Flight

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  First Orbital Rocket Launch from European Soil Delayed Due to Winds

  Isar Aerospace's Spectrum rocket was set to launch from Norway’s Andøya Spaceport but was delayed due to strong winds. The maiden flight was scheduled within a three-hour launch window on March 24. The company confirmed that both the rocket and infrastructure remain unaffected, and a new launch window is being determined. The test flight, which ...

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  NASA Plans Another Starliner Test Flight Amid Propulsion System Challenges

  NASA is considering another test flight for Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner before it is used for crew rotations to the International Space Station. Reports suggest that propulsion system issues, including helium leaks and thruster failures, are still being investigated. NASA’s Steve Stich has stated that Boeing is testing new seals and propulsion c...

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  SpaceX Starship Flight 8: Booster Caught, Upper Stage Lost Again in Mid-Flight

  SpaceX launched its eighth Starship test flight from Starbase, Texas, on March 6. While the Super Heavy booster executed a successful landing and was caught by the launch tower arms, the upper stage suffered multiple engine failures and was lost mid-flight. This marked the second consecutive test where the upper stage failed to complete its traject...

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  SpaceX Delays Starship Flight 8 Launch After Technical Glitches

  The scheduled launch of SpaceX’s Starship Flight 8 on March 3 was delayed due to last-minute technical issues. The test flight was expected to evaluate the booster recovery system and deploy four Starlink satellite models. A previous test, Flight 7, saw partial success, with the booster landing as planned but the upper stage failing due to a prop...

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  Katy Perry to Launch on Blue Origin’s First All-Female Spaceflight Mission

  Singer Katy Perry has been confirmed as part of an all-female crew set to launch into space on Blue Origin’s NS-31 mission this spring. The suborbital flight, led by Lauren Sánchez, includes professionals from science, media and aerospace. The reusable New Shepard rocket will carry the team past the Kármán line, offering minutes of weightlessn...

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  Blue Origin Completes 10th Human Spaceflight on New Shepard with Six Passengers

  Blue Origin successfully completed its 10th human spaceflight, launching six passengers aboard the New Shepard rocket from its West Texas facility. The mission, designated NS-30, lasted about 10-12 minutes, giving passengers a few moments of weightlessness. The booster and capsule safely landed, with all parachutes deploying as expected. This fligh...

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  NASA, General Atomics Test Nuclear Fuel for Faster Mars Missions

  NASA and General Atomics conducted key tests on nuclear reactor fuel at Marshall Space Flight Center. The fuel was exposed to extreme temperatures to assess its viability for nuclear thermal propulsion. With successful results, the technology could enable faster space travel, reducing risks for astronauts on long-duration missions. NASA and DARPA a...

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  Blue Origin’s New Shepard NS-29 Conducts First Lunar Gravity Simulation

  Blue Origin successfully launched its NS-29 mission, marking the first lunar gravity simulation on its New Shepard vehicle. The capsule rotated mid-flight to replicate Moon gravity for research payloads, including NASA-supported experiments on lunar dust behaviour and fire safety. Over half of the 30 payloads focused on Moon-related technologies. T...

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  SpaceX Starship Flight 7 Explosion Raises Concerns Over Air Pollution

  The explosion of SpaceX’s Starship Flight 7 in mid-January has raised concerns among scientists about atmospheric pollution. The upper stage, weighing 85 tons without fuel, detonated at 90 miles (146 km) above Earth, potentially releasing 45.5 metric tons of metal oxides and 40 metric tons of nitrogen oxides. Experts warn these pollutants could i...

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  SpaceX Falcon 9 Deploys 21 Starlink Satellites, Enhancing Mobile Connectivity

  SpaceX launched 21 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit from Cape Canaveral on January 27, 2025, at 5:05 p.m. EST. Among these, 13 satellites feature Direct-to-Cell technology designed to enhance mobile connectivity. The Falcon 9 rocket used for the mission was powered by a first-stage booster completing its 20th successful flight. This booster...

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  SpaceX Falcon 9 Launches 23 Starlink Satellites, Sets Booster Record

  SpaceX launched 23 Starlink satellites on January 24, 2025, from Vandenberg Space Force Base, marking its 11th Falcon 9 mission of the year. The booster achieved its record 23rd flight and successfully landed on the drone ship "Of Course I Still Love You" in the Pacific Ocean, bringing SpaceX's total orbital-class booster recoveries to 401. The sat...

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  ISRO to Launch NVS-02 Satellite Boosting India's NavIC System

  ISRO will complete its 100th mission with the launch of NVS-02 satellite, on January 29 from Sriharikota using the GSLV-F15 rocket. Part of the Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) system, the satellite enhances precise Position, Velocity, and Timing services for India and nearby regions. Weighing 2,250 kg, it features advanced navigation p...

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  Boom Supersonic’s XB-1 Nears Supersonic Milestone with Mach 0.95 Test Flight

  Boom Supersonic’s XB-1 demonstrator reached a significant milestone in its 11th test flight, hitting Mach 0.95 at a low altitude of 8,986 metres. The test, conducted on January 10, 2025, not only demonstrated the aircraft’s ability to handle extreme air pressure but also moved the company closer to achieving supersonic speeds. This breakthrough...

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  SpaceX Falcon 9 Delivers 27 Starlink Satellites into Orbit from Vandenberg

  SpaceX launched 27 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit on January 21, 2025, with its Falcon 9 rocket. The mission, following an aborted attempt, marked a milestone as the rocket's booster completed its 10th flight. These satellites, part of the Starlink Group 11-8 mission, feature advanced propulsion and power systems, with SpaceX's new in-hou...

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  Blue Origin’s New Glenn Rocket Successfully Reaches Orbit on First Test Flight

  Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket successfully completed its first test flight, reaching orbit within 12.5 minutes of launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The rocket aimed for reusability, with its first stage attempting a landing on a recovery ship. While the landing didn’t succeed, the mission was considered a major step for Blue Orig...