NASASpaceflight.com
Detailed reporting on launch vehicles, testing, and global space programs
Booster 19 Completes Static Fire as Ship 39 Prepares for Rollout
SpaceX successfully performed a full‑duration, full‑thrust static fire of Booster 19’s 33 Raptor 3 engines on May 7, 2026, marking the first liftoff‑level test on the new Pad 2. The test demonstrated the upgraded deluge system’s ability to manage the immense energy release, while visual upgrades such as full factory paint and added protective covers were noted. With Ship 39 slated for rollout, the team is preparing for the first full‑stack Wet Dress Rehearsal at Pad 2 this weekend. The milestone advances the Block 3 hardware and paves the way for Starship’s 12th integrated flight test.
Vast and Axiom Awarded New Private Missions to ISS, Continue Work on Commercial Space Stations
NASA has awarded Private Astronaut Missions to Vast Space and Axiom Space for 2027, extending crewed flights to the International Space Station while both firms develop their own commercial stations. Vast will fly its first 14‑day ISS mission and launch...
Launch Previews: Worldwide Launch Manifest Quiet as 2026 Begins
The global launch calendar eases into 2026 with only four missions slated for the coming week. China will fire a Chang Zheng 4B carrying the cartography‑focused Tianhui 7 satellite and a Chang Zheng 7A with an undisclosed payload. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 will deliver...