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Astra scrubs 1st Florida launch attempt due to faulty ‘range asset’

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Astra’s first launch of operational satellites will have to wait at least another day. The California company planned to launch the ELaNa 41 mission for NASA today (Feb. 5) from Florida’s Cape Canaveral Space Force Station but was thwarted by an issue at the launch range. “Unfortunately, due to a range asset that has gone … Read more

Astra will launch a rocket from Florida for the 1st time today and you can watch it live

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Astra will launch its first-ever mission from the Lower 48 on Saturday (Feb. 5), and you can watch the action live. The California startup plans to launch the ELaNa 41 mission from Florida’s Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Saturday during a three-hour window that opens at 1 p.m. EST (1800 GMT).  Watch it live here … Read more

Axiom Space’s 1st space station crew approved by NASA, ISS partners

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Axiom Space’s first astronaut crew just got the green light from NASA and the other International Space Station (ISS) partners for a trip to the orbiting lab. Axiom’s first crewed mission to the ISS, known as Ax-1, is scheduled to launch on March 30 aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. Ax-1 will be commanded by … Read more

The 1st poster for ‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ evokes the (final) frontier for new to Paramount Plus spinoff

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Trekkies of all persuasions will rejoice with word of the newly announced premiere date for the new “Star Trek: Discovery” spinoff series “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” coming to the streaming service Paramount Plus. During this week’s TCA Press Tour, the streaming platform presented an atmospheric new key art poster and a May 5 debut … Read more

The James Webb Space Telescope’s 1st target star is in the Big Dipper. Here’s where to see it.

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The James Webb Space Telescope is setting its eyes towards the Big Dipper. Although the spacecraft is still months away from beginning its official scientific observations, one particularly bright star named HD 84406 will soon be the object of JWST’s attention. “Star light, star bright … the first star Webb will see is HD 84406, … Read more

Astra test-fires rocket ahead of 1st Florida launch (video)

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Astra took another step forward in preparing for its first-ever launch of operational satellites. The California company performed a “static fire” test with its Rocket 3.3 vehicle at Florida’s Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Saturday (Jan. 22), briefly igniting the launcher’s first-stage engines while keeping it anchored to the pad. The test is part … Read more

Thomas Pesquet: 1st French astronaut to command the International Space Station

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Thomas Pesquet is a European Space Agency astronaut who was the first person from France to command the International Space Station. While Pesquet’s background is in spacecraft design and control, he is also well-known for engagement activities in space such as playing music or performing regular tours of the International Space Station (ISS). He even … Read more

Researchers detect 1st merger between black holes with eccentric orbits

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Scientists have for the first time confirmed the merger of two highly eccentric black holes.  Egg-shaped eccentric orbits form when two black holes spiral towards each other and collide under each other’s strong gravitational influence. Therefore, highly eccentric orbits may suggest black holes repeatedly snack on other black holes in densely populated areas, like the … Read more

Axiom’s 1st private crew launch to space station delayed to March

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Houston-based Axiom Space now plans to launch its first space mission to the International Space Station on March 31, more than one month later than its initial target. NASA quietly made the announcement Tuesday (Jan. 18) at the bottom of an International Space Station blog post otherwise focused on a recent Russian spacewalk at the … Read more