NASA Archives

Drug Resistant “Superbug” Has Evolved On ISS

By Charles Boyer FMN June 13, 2024Aviation and Space News, ISS, NASA, Space News

A National Institute of Health paper released in March has identified previously unseen and unknown variants of a bacterium known for being multi-drug resistant, have been isolated from the ISS.

Thirteen strains of Enterobacter bugandensis, have mutated and became genetically distinct compared to their Earth counterparts. The study also found that E. bugandensis coexisted with multiple other microorganisms, and in some cases could have helped those organisms survive. So far, NASA, Roscosmos, or any other international partners aboard the ISS have not reported infected astronauts or, worse, transmission of the species from the ISS to Earth.

NASA Astronauts Continue Critical Starliner Tests

By FMN Staff June 11, 2024Boeing, NASA, Space News

June 11, 2024 – Orbiting Earth as part of the nine-person crew of the International Space Station (ISS), NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are actively engaged in testing Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. This mission marks Starliner’s first flight with astronauts and is a critical step in the data collection process for NASA certification, aiming to establish regular crewed missions to the orbital complex.

The Third Time Is The Charm For Starliner

By Mark Stone FMN June 5, 2024Atlas V, Boeing, NASA, Space News, United Launch Alliance

Boeing Starliner finally heads to space. Photo: Chris Leymarie/FMN

For the first time since 1968, astronauts have been launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, marking the first-ever manned mission from a Space Force installation. On June 5, at precisely 10:52 a.m. EDT, NASA astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams lifted off from Space Launch Complex-41 aboard the Atlas V rocket, commencing the eagerly anticipated Boeing Starliner Crew Flight Test (CFT) mission.

Starliner Ready to Try It Again

By Mark Stone FMN June 2, 2024NASA, Space News, United Launch Alliance

NASA Prepares for Third Attempt to Launch Boeing Crewed Flight Test

The Boeing Starliner sits atop an Atlas V booster minutes after Saturday's launch attempt was scrubbed. Photo: Mark Stone/FMN — The Boeing Starliner sits atop an Atlas V booster minutes after Saturday’s launch attempt was scrubbed. Photo: Mark Stone/FMN

NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test mission teams are gearing up for another Starliner launch attempt, currently scheduled for 10:52 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, June 5. With a faulty ground equipment power supply repaired, the launch will take place from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. This mission, lasting approximately one week, will see NASA astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Suni Williams aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft heading to the International Space Station (ISS).

The Starliner Is Going No Place Fast

By Mark Stone FMN June 1, 2024NASA, Space News, United Launch Alliance

The Boeing Starliner sits on the pad on Saturday, June, 1, 2024. The launch was scrubbed for the second time just minutes before liftoff. Photo: Richard Gallagher/FMN

The Boeing Starliner just can’t seem to get off of the pad. The much-publicized second launch attempt of CFT-100 was scrubbed on June 1st when a computer detected an anomaly with less than four minutes left in the countdown. The mission represents Starliner’s first crewed flight test.

Starliner Moves Back To Launch Pad, Is Go For Launch Saturday

By Charles Boyer FMN May 30, 2024Atlas V, Aviation and Space News, Boeing, ISS, NASA, Space News, United Launch Alliance

Starliner arriving at the launch pad at Space Launch Complex 41 on Thursday morning.
Photo: Richard Gallagher, Florida Media Now

After three weeks of analysis and discussion between Boeing, NASA, and United Launch Alliance following the May 6, 2024 scrub, Boeing’s long road to lofting crew aboard Starliner to low-Earth orbit took a step towards launching this morning when it was moved to its launch pad. Liftoff of Atlas V and Starliner is scheduled for 12:25 PM EDT, Saturday, June 1st, from Space Launch Complex 41.

Lightning Touches Off Wildfire In Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge, Space Center Is Safe (So Far)

By Charles Boyer FMN May 26, 2024Florida News, NASA

Smoke from a wildfire at Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge obscures NASA’s iconic VAB facility. Photo: Charles Boyer/FMN

A lightning strike from a severe thunderstorm started a conflagration in Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge this afternoon. It is north of Kennedy Space Center, and is currently no threat to property or human endeavor — in other words, the facilities at Kennedy Space Center.

NASA Announces New Starliner Launch Date

By FMN Staff May 22, 2024NASA, Space News, United Launch Alliance

In a media release this evening, NASA announced June 1st at 12:25 PM as the next targeted date for a Starliner launch attempt.

A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket with Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft aboard is seen on the launch pad at Space Launch Complex 41 ahead of the NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test, Sunday, May 5, 2024 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Photo credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky

Mission managers from NASA, Boeing, and ULA (United Launch Alliance) continue to evaluate a path forward toward launching the agency’s Boeing Crew Flight Test to the International Space Station. The teams are now working toward a launch opportunity at 12:25 p.m. ET on Saturday, June 1, with additional opportunities on Sunday, June 2, Wednesday, June 5, and Thursday, June 6.

What Exactly Is The Problem With Starliner?

By Mark Stone FMN May 22, 2024NASA, Space News, United Launch Alliance

Boeing's Starliner remains grounded. Photo: FMN/Mark Stone — Boeing’s Starliner remains grounded. Photo: FMN/Mark Stone

Less than a month ago, Starliner seemed like it was ready to go. With a launch date for the first crewed flight test set for May 6th, NASA officials expressed confidence that Starliner was “go for launch”. Following a Flight Readiness Review held just days before the May 6th launch date, NASA Associate Administrator Jim Free said he was satisfied that the Readiness Review was thorough, and that Starliner, Atlas V and ISS were prepared properly for the test flight.

Valvetech Urges NASA to Stop Second Starliner Launch Attempt

By Mark Stone FMN May 9, 2024NASA, Space News, United Launch Alliance

This Story Was Updated at 4:38 PM On 5/9/24 to include a response from NASA.

Boeing's Starliner sits atop a ULA Atlas V hours before a scrubbed launch attempt on Monday, May 6, 2024. Photo: Mark Stone/FMN — Boeing’s Starliner sits atop a ULA Atlas V booster hours before a scrubbed launch attempt on Monday, May 6, 2024. Photo: Mark Stone/FMN

“As a valued NASA partner and as valve experts, we strongly urge them not to attempt a second launch due to the risk of a disaster occurring on the launchpad”.
Valvetech President Erin Faville – Wednesday March 8th.

Atlas V Valve Issue Scrubs Starliner; Launch Date Now NET May 17

By Charles Boyer FMN May 7, 2024Atlas V, Aviation and Space News, ISS, NASA, Space News, United Launch Alliance

Atlas V and Starliner sits on Launch Complex 41 Monday night.
Photo: United Launch Alliance

UPDATE: Several sources are now reporting that Starliner will have to be rolled back from the pad with a new launch date NET May 17th.

Cape Canaveral It was all going well until it wasn’t. That’s often the story with launch attempts: tens of thousands of things must work perfectly, perform as planned, and operate normally, and only one thing has to go wrong for the attempt to be called off.

Starliner Calypso Poised To Become NASA’s Second Certified Crew Vehicle Design

By Mark Stone FMN May 3, 2024NASA, Space News, United Launch Alliance

The Crew Access Arm enables the astronauts to board the spacecraft. Photo by United Launch Alliance

NASA’s Commercial Crew program will take a big step forward on Monday, May 6th with the launch of the Boeing Starliner Calypso’s Crewed Flight Test (CFT-100). Scheduled for a 10:34 PM EDT liftoff, Starliner Calypso will carry its first-ever crew to the ISS on an important test flight. (The spacecraft was named in honor of the research vessel Calypso, used by famed oceanographer Jacques Cousteau from 1950-1996.)