Private Space Missions
- All
- News
- Videos
-
SpaceX Sends Europe’s First Reentry Capsule into Orbit on Bandwagon-3 Rideshare Mission
SpaceX’s Bandwagon-3 mission carried Phoenix 1, Europe’s first private reentry capsule, into orbit. Built by Germany’s Atmos Space Cargo, the capsule will attempt a full reentry and ocean splashdown after one orbit. The mission marks a turning point for European space logistics and reusable technology tailored for scientific, defence, and com...
-
ISRO-NASA-European Space Agency Partnership For Experiments On Axiom-4
Axiom-4 is a private commercial space flight where India is paying between $60-70 million for the mission.
-
SpaceX’s Fram2 Crew Captures First-Ever Views of Earth’s Polar Regions
SpaceX’s Fram2 mission, launched on March 31, has made history as the first astronaut mission to orbit over both poles. The Crew Dragon spacecraft Resilience is carrying four first-time astronauts—Chun Wang, Jannicke Mikkelsen, Rabea Rogge, and Eric Phillips—on a research-driven journey. The crew has captured stunning images of Earth’s Arct...
-
SpaceX Fram2 Mission Lifts Off, First Private Flight Over Earth's Poles
SpaceX's Fram2 mission has launched from Kennedy Space Center, marking a major milestone in private spaceflight. Led by billionaire Chun Wang, the crew of four will spend up to five days in orbit conducting 22 scientific experiments. Their research includes studying mushroom growth in microgravity and advanced X-ray imaging of the human body. The m...
-
Private Venus Mission Plans to Retrieve Cloud Samples for Life Research
A privately-led space mission is being developed to retrieve and analyse cloud samples from Venus. Scientists believe the planet’s sulfuric acid clouds might sustain organic molecules necessary for life. The mission, named Morning Star, involves deploying probes to collect mist from Venus' atmosphere. The collected samples would be returned to Ea...
-
Firefly Blue Ghost Moon Lander Successfully Lands on Moon for NASA Mission
Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lander has successfully landed on the Moon, marking a major milestone in private space exploration. Part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, the mission aims to study radiation levels, test lunar sample collection, and capture a total solar eclipse. The spacecraft, which landed in Mare Cris...
-
NASA’s PRIME-1 Mission to Study Lunar Ice and Advance Moon Exploration
NASA’s PRIME-1 mission, set to launch on Intuitive Machines’ Athena lander, will explore lunar ice and subsurface materials at Mons Mouton near the Moon’s South Pole. The mission features the TRIDENT drill, which will extract soil samples up to one meter deep, and the MSOLO spectrometer, which will analyze gases released from these samples to...
-
NASA Looks for Private Partners To Revive VIPER Moon Rover Mission
NASA is inviting private companies to collaborate on deploying the VIPER moon rover, initially halted due to budget constraints. The rover, designed to locate lunar water ice, was previously set to launch aboard Astrobotic’s Griffin lander. Companies must submit proposals by February 20, 2025, with final selections expected mid-year. Chosen firms...
-
SpaceX and Vast Seek Research Ideas for Dragon and Haven-1 Space Station
SpaceX and Vast have called for research proposals for experiments aboard the upcoming Haven-1 space station and SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft. The station is set to launch in August 2024, followed by a Crew Dragon mission carrying astronauts. Research will focus on human physiology in microgravity and autonomous experiments for low-Earth orbit. Sel...
-
NASA Finalises Crew for Axiom Space's Fourth Private Astronaut Mission in 2025
Axiom Space, in collaboration with NASA, has finalised the crew for its fourth private astronaut mission, scheduled for launch in spring 2025. The crew will spend up to 14 days aboard the International Space Station (ISS). This mission will mark a significant milestone, with the first-ever ISRO astronaut onboard, as well as the first Polish and Hun...
-
Indian Astronaut To Pilot Private Spacecraft Axiom-4, Do Yoga In Space
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, set to become the second Indian to go to space after Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma's journey on board the Soyuz T-11 in April 1984, will take on the role of pilot on the Axiom Mission 4, or Ax-4.
-
Two Private Lunar Landers Launch Aboard SpaceX Falcon 9 for Moon Missions
Marking a milestone in space exploration, two private lunar landers, Blue Ghost by Firefly Aerospace and Resilience by ispace, were launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on January 15. Blue Ghost, under NASA's CLPS program, will study lunar regolith and environmental elements, landing in Mare Crisium. Resilienc...
-
Private US, Japanese Lunar Landers Launch On Single Rocket
One rocket, two missions: lunar landers built by US and Japanese companies launched their "rideshare" to the Moon, showcasing the private sector's growing role in space exploration.
-
US, Japanese Lunar Landers Set To Launch On SpaceX Rocket
One rocket, two missions: Lunar landers built by US and Japanese companies are poised to "rideshare" to the Moon, showcasing the private sector's growing role in space exploration.
-
NASA Updates Mars Sample Return Mission, Plans to Lower Costs
NASA will update the public on the Mars Sample Return mission during a press conference on January 7, 2025. The agency aims to reduce costs, risks, and mission complexity, following significant delays and rising costs. Originally estimated at $3 billion in 2020, the mission now carries a price tag of $11 billion, with potential delays extending to ...
-
SpaceX Sends Europe’s First Reentry Capsule into Orbit on Bandwagon-3 Rideshare Mission
SpaceX’s Bandwagon-3 mission carried Phoenix 1, Europe’s first private reentry capsule, into orbit. Built by Germany’s Atmos Space Cargo, the capsule will attempt a full reentry and ocean splashdown after one orbit. The mission marks a turning point for European space logistics and reusable technology tailored for scientific, defence, and com...
-
ISRO-NASA-European Space Agency Partnership For Experiments On Axiom-4
Axiom-4 is a private commercial space flight where India is paying between $60-70 million for the mission.
-
SpaceX’s Fram2 Crew Captures First-Ever Views of Earth’s Polar Regions
SpaceX’s Fram2 mission, launched on March 31, has made history as the first astronaut mission to orbit over both poles. The Crew Dragon spacecraft Resilience is carrying four first-time astronauts—Chun Wang, Jannicke Mikkelsen, Rabea Rogge, and Eric Phillips—on a research-driven journey. The crew has captured stunning images of Earth’s Arct...
-
SpaceX Fram2 Mission Lifts Off, First Private Flight Over Earth's Poles
SpaceX's Fram2 mission has launched from Kennedy Space Center, marking a major milestone in private spaceflight. Led by billionaire Chun Wang, the crew of four will spend up to five days in orbit conducting 22 scientific experiments. Their research includes studying mushroom growth in microgravity and advanced X-ray imaging of the human body. The m...
-
Private Venus Mission Plans to Retrieve Cloud Samples for Life Research
A privately-led space mission is being developed to retrieve and analyse cloud samples from Venus. Scientists believe the planet’s sulfuric acid clouds might sustain organic molecules necessary for life. The mission, named Morning Star, involves deploying probes to collect mist from Venus' atmosphere. The collected samples would be returned to Ea...
-
Firefly Blue Ghost Moon Lander Successfully Lands on Moon for NASA Mission
Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lander has successfully landed on the Moon, marking a major milestone in private space exploration. Part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, the mission aims to study radiation levels, test lunar sample collection, and capture a total solar eclipse. The spacecraft, which landed in Mare Cris...
-
NASA’s PRIME-1 Mission to Study Lunar Ice and Advance Moon Exploration
NASA’s PRIME-1 mission, set to launch on Intuitive Machines’ Athena lander, will explore lunar ice and subsurface materials at Mons Mouton near the Moon’s South Pole. The mission features the TRIDENT drill, which will extract soil samples up to one meter deep, and the MSOLO spectrometer, which will analyze gases released from these samples to...
-
NASA Looks for Private Partners To Revive VIPER Moon Rover Mission
NASA is inviting private companies to collaborate on deploying the VIPER moon rover, initially halted due to budget constraints. The rover, designed to locate lunar water ice, was previously set to launch aboard Astrobotic’s Griffin lander. Companies must submit proposals by February 20, 2025, with final selections expected mid-year. Chosen firms...
-
SpaceX and Vast Seek Research Ideas for Dragon and Haven-1 Space Station
SpaceX and Vast have called for research proposals for experiments aboard the upcoming Haven-1 space station and SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft. The station is set to launch in August 2024, followed by a Crew Dragon mission carrying astronauts. Research will focus on human physiology in microgravity and autonomous experiments for low-Earth orbit. Sel...
-
NASA Finalises Crew for Axiom Space's Fourth Private Astronaut Mission in 2025
Axiom Space, in collaboration with NASA, has finalised the crew for its fourth private astronaut mission, scheduled for launch in spring 2025. The crew will spend up to 14 days aboard the International Space Station (ISS). This mission will mark a significant milestone, with the first-ever ISRO astronaut onboard, as well as the first Polish and Hun...
-
Indian Astronaut To Pilot Private Spacecraft Axiom-4, Do Yoga In Space
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, set to become the second Indian to go to space after Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma's journey on board the Soyuz T-11 in April 1984, will take on the role of pilot on the Axiom Mission 4, or Ax-4.
-
Two Private Lunar Landers Launch Aboard SpaceX Falcon 9 for Moon Missions
Marking a milestone in space exploration, two private lunar landers, Blue Ghost by Firefly Aerospace and Resilience by ispace, were launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on January 15. Blue Ghost, under NASA's CLPS program, will study lunar regolith and environmental elements, landing in Mare Crisium. Resilienc...
-
Private US, Japanese Lunar Landers Launch On Single Rocket
One rocket, two missions: lunar landers built by US and Japanese companies launched their "rideshare" to the Moon, showcasing the private sector's growing role in space exploration.
-
US, Japanese Lunar Landers Set To Launch On SpaceX Rocket
One rocket, two missions: Lunar landers built by US and Japanese companies are poised to "rideshare" to the Moon, showcasing the private sector's growing role in space exploration.
-
NASA Updates Mars Sample Return Mission, Plans to Lower Costs
NASA will update the public on the Mars Sample Return mission during a press conference on January 7, 2025. The agency aims to reduce costs, risks, and mission complexity, following significant delays and rising costs. Originally estimated at $3 billion in 2020, the mission now carries a price tag of $11 billion, with potential delays extending to ...
