Space Archive

SpaceX inks first Space Force deal for government-focused Starshield satellite network

Jon PorterSep 28, 2023

Chris WelchSep 27, 2023

NASA astronaut returns to Earth after 371 days, breaking records in the process.

What was originally meant to be a six-month visit aboard the International Space Station turned into a record breaking extended stay for NASA’s Frank Rubio.

After 371 days, he has now safely returned to Earth, setting a new record for the longest amount of time spent in space by a US astronaut. Russia’s Valeri Polyakov holds the all-time record at 437 continuous days.

Rubio recently told CNN that if he knew his time in microgravity would be twice as long as initially expected, it’s possible he would’ve declined the mission.

Former Amazon hardware boss Dave Limp will take over as CEO of Blue Origin

Emma RothSep 25, 2023

NASA collected a sample from an asteroid for the first time — here’s why it matters

The OSIRIS-REx mission, launched in 2016, has collected as much as several hundred grams of asteroid material, which could help scientists understand the earliest stages of the Solar System.

Georgina TorbetSep 24, 2023

Wes DavisSep 24, 2023

The OSIRIS-REx capsule is in the bag.

NASA reports that the OSIRIS-REx capsule “has been bagged” and is flying suspended from a helicopter to the space agency’s clean lab to recover samples gathered from the Bennu asteroid in 2020.

When it gets to NASA’s on-site clean room, scientists will remove the canister containing the sample to be opened at Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas on Tuesday.

Check out this gallery of screenshots from NASA’s live coverage. NASA had a photographer on site, so we’ll probably get some much nicer shots of the process soon.

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Wes DavisSep 24, 2023

NASA is now recovering the capsule containing the Bennu asteroid sample.

A team is preparing to take the OSIRIS-REx capsule back to NASA’s portable clean lab to collect the Bennu asteroid sample it gathered three years ago, according to NASA’s live coverage.

Team members have also placed flags in the area to note potentially interesting environmental samples to collect in the area around the capsule for later examination.

A group of four people stand near the OSIRIS-REx capsule.

The NASA recovery team examines the OSIRIS-REx capsule prior to beginning official recovery operations.

Screenshot: Wes Davis / The Verge

Wes DavisSep 24, 2023

OSIRIS-REx is safe for approach.

Lockheed Martin crew checked it for dangerous heat, off-gassing, and unexploded ordinance at the site of the capsule to make sure it poses no danger to the team recovering the OSIRIS-REx samples.

They’ve now declared it safe to approach, so NASA will now prepare to pick it up.

Two people standing near the capsule, examining it for any danger.

Lockheed Martin safety team members check the capsule to ensure it’s safe to approach.

Screenshot: Wes Davis / The Verge

Wes DavisSep 24, 2023

The OSIRIS-REx capsule has been located.

The OSIRIS-REx helicopter team has confirmed the location of the capsule containing the Bennu asteroid sample. The capsule touched down at about 10:52AM ET.

The first helicopter has landed and the team is beginning recovery of the capsule as soon as they can verify there is no danger of injury from unexploded ordinance.

A picture of the OSIRIS-REx capsule at its landing site.

The OSIRIS-REx capsule sitting in the Utah desert.

Screenshot: Wes Davis / The Verge

Wes DavisSep 24, 2023

The OSIRIS-REx capsule has touched down.

The “time capsule to our ancient solar system” from the OSIRIS-REx mission has officially touched down in the Utah desert.

NASA’s live coverage notes it landed about three minutes sooner than expected. The team is now heading to it with helicopters to begin the process of gathering the samples.

Wes DavisSep 24, 2023

The parachute is deployed.

From the NASA TV live coverage, OSIRIS-REx has deployed its parachute about 5,000 feet above the Utah testing training range.

The capsule is now falling slowly to the earth with samples from the Bennu asteroid. It should land in just a few minutes.

Wes DavisSep 24, 2023

What’s next for the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft?

After the Bennu sample capsule’s release, NASA renamed the OSIRIS-REx mission. Now called OSIRIS-APEX, the spacecraft will meet up with a 1,000-foot-wide asteroid called Apophis.

Apophis will miss the Earth by about 20,000 miles in 2029 — that’s closer than our own Moon.

OSIRIS-APEX will study the gravitational effects of the close pass on “the asteroid’s orbit, spin rate, and surface.”

OSIRIS-REx Spacecraft Departs for New Mission – OSIRIS-REx Mission

[blogs.nasa.gov]

Wes DavisSep 24, 2023

Here’s what NASA is actually doing right now with OSIRIS-REx.

NASA put together a rendered preview to show what’s happening during today’s return of a sample scooped up from the asteroid Bennu, showing what the delivery and release of the OSIRIS-REx capsule looks like.

Richard LawlerSep 22, 2023

Listen to NASA talk about the asteroid sample that’s coming back to Earth on Sunday.

We’re a couple of days away from the OSIRIS-REx mission dropping off a capsule containing pieces of the asteroid Bennu that it snatched in 2021.

Right now, a NASA press conference is letting the media ask questions of the project’s leaders about what to expect this weekend.

Wes DavisSep 19, 2023

SpaceX is trying to get the DOJ’s suit over its hiring policies tossed.

Elon Musk’s company is arguing in a Texas federal court that the Justice Department’s lawsuit alleging that the company is illegally disqualifying asylees and refugees from employment is unconstitutional.

Bloomberg noted in a report last week that the company is engaged in “a handful of lawsuits by former employees” over discrimination.

The company’s Texas filing may be to ensure the case funnels through the Fifth Circuit appellate court on appeal since that court tends to push back on federal regulatory action lately, writes Space News.

SpaceX Calls on Federal Court to Toss Out DOJ Suit on Hiring Bias

[Bloomberg]