Space Launch System

By Irene Klotz
NASA is aiming to return the Artemis II Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft to its assembly hangar on Feb. 24, pending weather and rollback preparations.
Launch Vehicles & Propulsion

By Irene Klotz
An issue with the helium pressurization system on the Space Launch System's upper stage will cause NASA to miss Its March window for launching the Artemis II mission.
Launch Vehicles & Propulsion

By Irene Klotz, Mark Carreau
After 20 years of development, NASA’s Orion spacecraft will host astronauts for the first time on a flight test around the Moon.
Space Exploration

By Irene Klotz
NASA learned a lot about managing hydrogen leaks ahead of Artemis I, but another tanking test is needed before the next Space Launch System flies.
Launch Vehicles & Propulsion

By Irene Klotz
Countdown clocks at NASA's Kennedy Space Center began ticking down toward a simulated launch of the Artemis II Moon mission.
Operations & Safety

By Irene Klotz
NASA said it is standing down from a planned Jan. 31 wet dress rehearsal of its second Space Launch System (SLS) rocket.
Space Exploration

By Mark Carreau
An RS-25 engine has passed a follow-up hot fire test, clearing it for installation on the NASA Artemis IV mission’s Space Launch System (SLS).
Space Exploration

By Graham Warwick
Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Irene Klotz
NASA’s second Space Launch System heavy-lift rocket, topped with an Orion deep-space capsule, was rolled out to its Kennedy Space Center launchpad on Jan. 17.
Launch Vehicles & Propulsion

By Irene Klotz
NASA is on track to roll out its second SLS rocket to the launchpad within about 10 days, a key step toward the first crewed flight of an Orion spacecraft.
Launch Vehicles & Propulsion

By Michael Bruno, Irene Klotz
AE Industrial Partners will buy a majority stake in the RL-10 upper-stage rocket and space nuclear propulsion businesses from L3Harris for $507 million.
Launch Vehicles & Propulsion

By Irene Klotz
The defense prime sees new business opportunities for NASA’s deep-space capsule.
Space Exploration

By Mark Carreau
NASA is nearing the Oct. 1 start of fiscal 2026 with continuing uncertainty.
Space Exploration

By Irene Klotz
Congress and the White House are sending NASA mixed messages about the future of the Artemis program to return humans to the Moon.
Budget, Policy & Regulation

By Robert Wall
The European Space Agency has named five companies as participants in its European Launcher Challenge.
Launch Vehicles & Propulsion

By Irene Klotz
NASA's flagship initiative to expand human presence into deep space under the Artemis program continues multibillion-dollar cost overruns, the GAO says.
Budget, Policy & Regulation

By Brian Everstine
Northrop Grumman and NASA on June 26 conducted the first test of its Booster Obsolescence Life Extension solid rocket motor.
Launch Vehicles & Propulsion

By Irene Klotz
The nominated NASA administrator is caught in a political showdown, leaving the agency leaderless during key budget talks.
Budget, Policy & Regulation

By Irene Klotz
It didn’t take long for Elon Musk to back off threats to decommission SpaceX’s Dragon spaceship.
Launch Vehicles & Propulsion

By Mark Carreau
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has proposed a nearly $10 billion supplemental increase to NASA’s current budget as part of a reconciliation measure.
Space Exploration

By Irene Klotz
A leaderless NASA will head into negotiations with Congress over a $6.2 billion cut in its budget.
Budget, Policy & Regulation

By Irene Klotz
A modest hike in NASA’s budget to push human space exploration into deep space would be offset by massive cuts in the rest of the agency’s budget.
Budget, Policy & Regulation

By Joe Anselmo, Guy Norris, Sean Broderick
The CEO talks about his plans for a turnaround, Boeing’s future in space, when it might launch a new airliner and the huge F-47 fighter win.
Manufacturing & Supply Chain

By Brian Everstine
With the Trump administration looking to hit NASA with significant funding cuts, Northrop is now saying it will likely work less with the agency.
Budget, Policy & Regulation

By Irene Klotz
Trump sees SpaceX and the private sector taking over deep-space travel for the U.S. space program.
Budget, Policy & Regulation