Chicago's Independent Space News Outlet
6/3/24 Update: Teams have announced a new launch time for Boeing’s Starliner Crew Flight Test of 9:52 am CDT on June 5th, 2024. New dates and times are reflected below. 5/31/24 Update: The launch of Boeing’s Starliner CFT is now scheduled for NET Saturday, June 1st at 11:25 am CDT. New dates and times are…
In preparation for Boeing’s Crew Flight Test of the Starliner spacecraft, ULA rolled its Atlas V rocket to SLC-41 at Cape Canaveral on Saturday, May 4th. NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore are scheduled to launch to the International Space Station in the spacecraft, named Calypso, on Monday, May 6th at 9:34 pm CST.…
The much anticipated SpaceX Dragon Spacecraft that arrived at the Museum of Science and Industry in December of 2022 is finally on exhibit and opening to the public. Today, MSI Chicago announced that the exhibit will open later this month, on May 19th. The Henry Crown Space Center, where Dragon Spacecraft will be displayed, has…
On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse passed over North America and the path of totality swept over a portion of southern Illinois. For four minutes and two seconds, darkness fell over the Land of Lincoln and thousands of people collectively looked up at the rare astronomical event. Because the city of Chicago would…
Roscosmos is preparing to launch a new crew to the Space Station aboard Soyuz MS-25 on March 21st, 2024, at 8:21 am CDT from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. NASA will provide coverage of launch activities on its website, NASA+, NASA TV, and the NASA YouTube channel beginning at 7:20 am CDT. The international crew…
UPDATE: Wednesday’s launch attempt has scrubbed due to “off-nominal methane temperatures prior to stepping into methane load“. SpaceX is now targeting launch on Thursday, February 15th at 1:05 a.m. ET. Live broadcast will begin about 45 minutes prior to launch at 12:20 a.m. ET. Intuitive Machines is ready to launch its lunar lander to the…
Northrop Grumman is ready to launch the NG-20 Cygnus spacecraft to the International Space Station for NASA. Launch is targeted for no earlier than 11:07 a.m. CST on Tuesday, January 30th aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. NASA will provide prelaunch activities and launch coverage live on its website, NASA+, NASA TV, and the NASA…
On Friday, a new HERA crew began a 45-day simulated mission to Mars inside NASA’s ground-based habitat. The four-person crew is designated as Campaign 7, Mission 1, and will live together for their analog mission as part of the agency’s Human Research Program, HRP. NASA selected and trained the four-person crew to participate in the…
Following his return to Earth, NASA Astronaut Frank Rubio sat down with media to discuss details about his mission to the Space Station. Almost by accident, NASA Astronaut Frank Rubio set the record for the longest mission to space for an American astronaut. Meant to carry out a six month long mission, Rubio and his…
NASA revealed the contents of the OSIRIS-REx sample return capsule today at the agency’s Johnson Space Center. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, JSC Director Vanessa Wyche, and scientists from the OSIRIS-REx team were on hand to share initial details about the asteroid material collected. The OSIRIS-REx mission launched to the asteroid Bennu in 2016, reached the…