Private spaceflight

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the south polar region of earth as seen from a spacecraft in polar orbit

SpaceX Fram2 astronauts see 'pure white' Antarctica from polar orbit: Space photo of the day

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

Fram2 crew was surprised to not see any evidence of human activity at the South Pole from 285 miles above.

Private Spaceflight
Four astronauts in spacesuits are strapped in their seats aboard a space capsule as a plush polar bear doll floats by a window (with an inset showing detail on the doll)

Plush polar bear with penguin art floats as Fram2 zero-g indicator in polar orbit

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

The first astronauts to enter a polar orbit chose the obvious animal to serve as their zero-g indicator: a plush polar bear. The doll also has an emperor penguin embroidered on its chest.

Private Spaceflight
a rocket-shaped patch featuring a rocket logo between six silhouettes and the label "NS 31"

Katy Perry, Gayle King blast off on star-studded all-female Blue Origin rocket launch on April 14

By Brett Tingley published

Blue Origin has announced an April 14 liftoff date for its star-studded, all-female NS-31 mission launching on its New Shepard rocket.

Private Spaceflight
a shower of sparks passes from the bottom of the image to the top, while ceramic sides of a spacecraft capsule can be seen at the left and right edges

Feel the burn with this amazing video of a Varda space capsule's plunge through Earth's atmosphere

By Andrew Jones published

The final two minutes of the video show things really heating up.

Private Spaceflight
A giant silver SpaceX rocket launches on Flight 8 from a Texas seaside launch pad

SpaceX loses Starship rocket stage again, but catches giant Super Heavy booster during Flight 8 launch (video)

By Mike Wall published

SpaceX managed to catch the Super Heavy booster on Starship's eighth test flight today (March 6), but the vehicle's upper stage was lost about nine minutes after liftoff.

Private Spaceflight
a view of spacecraft attached to a spacex rocket, including odin asteroid probe, athena moon lander and more

Hope is all but lost for private asteroid probe in deep space — 'the chance of talking with Odin is minimal'

By Mike Wall published

AstroForge says there's no real hope of reestablishing contact with its Odin probe, the first private spacecraft ever to fly beyond the moon.

Private Spaceflight
a silver winged starship ship is moved to launch pad with SpaceX building in foreground

Watch SpaceX launch its Starship Flight 8 megarocket test flight today

By Mike Wall last updated

SpaceX plans to launch the eighth test flight of its huge Starship rocket on Thursday (March 6), and you can watch the dramatic action live.

Private Spaceflight
looking down the body of a spacecraft on the right to see a cratered, shadowy surface of the moon.

Watch Intuitive Machines land private Athena probe at the lunar south pole

By Josh Dinner published

Intuitive Machines' Athena lander is scheduled to touch down near the moon's south pole today (March 6). Here's how to watch it live.

Private Spaceflight
A giant silver Starship rocket is stacked atop its giant booster atop a seaside launch pad for SpaceX's Flight 5. silver SpaceX Starship rocket as it is hoisted atop its booster.

SpaceX calls off Starship Flight 8 launch test due to rocket issues (video)

By Mike Wall published

SpaceX called off today's (March 3) planned Starship Flight 8 launch after several issues with the vehicle cropped up during the countdown.

Private Spaceflight
A gold and black moon lander approaches the lunar surface with thrusters firing

What time will the private Blue Ghost probe land on the moon today? How to watch live. [Updated]

By Tariq Malik last updated

Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost probe is expected to land no earlier than Sunday, March 2, 2025 in the wee hours before dawn. Here's what we know.

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