capsule

Astronauts confident Boeing space capsule can return them safely to Earth despite failures

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CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Two astronauts who were supposed to be back on Earth weeks ago said Wednesday they are confident the Boeing space capsule can bring them back safely despite a series of nasty glitches. NASA test pilots Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams boarded Boeing’s new Starliner capsule early last month, the first humans … Read more

Space debris found in North Carolina came from SpaceX capsule, NASA says

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The summary Last month, a large piece of space debris was discovered in North Carolina. NASA has confirmed it came from a SpaceX capsule that traveled to the International Space Station and returned in March. The piece came from a part of the vehicle that was discarded and expected to burn up in the atmosphere. … Read more

A piece of space debris found in North Carolina came from a SpaceX capsule, NASA says

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The trunk, located at the base of the Crew Dragon spacecraft, beneath where the astronauts sit, is typically used to transport cargo. It is covered in solar panels that provide power “during flight and on station,” according to SpaceX’s website. That part of the vehicle is jettisoned shortly before the capsule reenters Earth’s atmosphere. NASA … Read more

After long delays, the Starliner capsule and Boeing crew launch into space

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Boeing’s Starliner capsule lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Wednesday. This is the first time the capsule, powered by a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket, has flown people. Two NASA astronauts are on board for a day trip to the International Space Station. This test flight is years … Read more

Boeing’s Starliner capsule ready for second attempt on first astronaut flight

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Enlarge / Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft sits atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. NASA and Boeing officials are ready for a second attempt to launch the first crew test flight on the Starliner spacecraft from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, on Saturday. Boeing’s Starliner, atop a … Read more

Space debris from the SpaceX Dragon capsule crashed in the mountains of North Carolina. I had to go see it (video)

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a large black piece of fiberglass covered in metal bolts and plates lies on the ground beside a trail leading into a forest. mountains can be seen rolling in the distance

Space flight doesn’t usually come to mind when you think of the serene, green mountains of North Carolina. It’s true that NASA built the (now defunct) Rosman Satellite Tracking and Data Acquisition Facility among the rolling hills of Appalachia in the early 1960s to track Soviet satellites and relay communications for the Gemini and Apollo … Read more

NASA says Boeing’s Starliner crew capsule can fly safely “as is” with a small helium leak

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After nearly three weeks of extensive testing and data analysis, NASA executives said Friday they have confidence in Boeing frequently delayed Starliner crew capsule can launch safely “as is” on June 1, saying a small helium leak in the ship’s propulsion system does not pose a flight safety concern. Steve Stich, manager of NASA’s Commercial … Read more

The first crew launch of Boeing’s Starliner capsule has been postponed indefinitely

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Enlarge / Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft on the eve of the crew’s first launch attempt earlier this month. Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo/AFP via Getty Images The first crewed test flight of Boeing’s long-delayed Starliner spacecraft will not take off Saturday as planned, and could face a longer delay as engineers evaluate a persistent leak of helium … Read more