Brendan Byrne

Science

SpaceX rocket explodes shortly after test-flight takeoff in Texas

A Martínez

SpaceX's new stainless-steel rocket named Starship exploded Thursday just four minutes after liftoff. In a statement, the company said, "with a test like this, success comes from what we learn."

Business

Southern California startup bets on 3D printing to drive down rocket-building costs

Brendan Byrne

A 3D-printed rocket is set to take its maiden flight Wednesday. If successful, it would be the first to reach orbit. The company behind it hopes to cash in on a booming satellite industry.

In this handout provided by NASA the International Space Station is seen from NASA space shuttle Endeavour after the station and shuttle began their post-undocking relative separation May 29, 2011.

A spacewalk has been canceled after a leak was discovered on a Soyuz capsule

Brendan Byrne

A planned spacewalk by two Russian cosmonauts has been called off after ground teams noticed a significant leak from one of the spacecraft docked at the orbiting International Space Station.

Science

Parachutes for spacecraft are challenging to design and worrisome to engineers

Brendan Byrne

Boeing's Starliner capsule is to return to Earth after a stay at the Space Station as part of a test mission before it flies astronauts. The parachutes are among the systems engineers are monitoring.

The NASA Artemis 1 rocket with the Orion spacecraft aboard moves slowly on an 11 hour journey to a launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on Thursday, March 17, 2022.

Science

NASA's Artemis 1 moon rocket reaches the launch pad

Brendan Byrne

NASA's Artemis 1 rocket, the Space Launch System, reached the Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39B on Friday. The successor to the Apollo program could one day send humans back to the moon.

This composite image created with data from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter shows the far side of the moon. A mysterious piece of space junk is set to crash into the far side Friday morning.

Science

In a first, a mysterious rocket part is about to slam into the moon — by accident

Brendan Byrne

A rocket part set to slam into the far side of the moon Friday morning highlights the growing issue of space junk in orbit around Earth, experts say

Perseverance takes a selfie with its helicopter companion Ingenuity in the background.

Science

NASA's Perseverance rover marks its first year hunting for past life on Mars

Brendan Byrne

Since touching down in Jezero Crater, NASA's Perseverance rover has already cached 6 samples that could one day be brought back to Earth. Astrobiologists hope they hold signs of past microbial life.

This new perspective of Jupiter from the south makes the Great Red Spot appear as though it is in northern territory. This view is unique to Juno.

Science

In Jupiter's swirling Great Red Spot, NASA spacecraft finds hidden depths

Brendan Byrne

NASA's Juno spacecraft sweeps over Jupiter's Great Red Spot and makes a 3D map of the giant storm. The findings could shed light on gas giant exoplanets in distant solar systems.

Before each mission with NASA astronauts, the Shelton family sends a bouquet of roses to the Mission Control Center at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Astronaut launches are returning to the U.S. For each, this family sends NASA roses

Brendan Byrne

For every U.S. mission with NASA astronauts, a family from Texas has sent a bouquet of roses to NASA's Mission Control Center to show support to those who keep the astronauts safe.

Science

The 1st All-Civilian Space Mission Into Orbit Is Preparing For Takeoff

Brendan Byrne

The first all-civilian space mission into orbit is expected to take flight from Kennedy Space Center on Wednesday evening. Private company SpaceX is running the mission — not NASA.