Turin -  The descent and splashdown test of IXV (Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle), the atmospheric reentry vehicle of the European Space Agency built by Thales Alenia Space, was carried out today with great success at the Salto di Quirra Inter-force Test Range in Sardinia, Italy. The “drop test” was very important for the qualification of IXV and it verified the correct working of the chain of descent and recovery systems envisaged by the mission profile. Transported by a helicop...

Flights VS05 and VA214 The launch campaign for Arianespace’s upcoming medium-lift Soyuz mission with four trailblazing Internet connectivity satellites is ready for final preparation following encapsulation of the O3b Networks spacecraft at the Spaceport in French Guiana and the launcher’s rollout. In parallel, payload checkout for the Spaceport’s subsequent flight – employing a heavy-lift Ariane 5 – has moved into full swing with arrival of the mission&r...

WASHINGTON -  NASA is beginning a preliminary design review for its Space Launch System (SLS). This major program assessment will allow development of the agency's new heavy-lift rocket to move from concept to initial design. The preliminary design review process includes meticulous, detailed analyses of the entire launch vehicle. Representatives from NASA, its contractor partners and experts from across the aerospace industry validate elements of the rocket to ensure they can be safely and success...

Arianespace’s new chairman and CEO today detailed his perspectives for the company’s future – continuing the focus on operational excellence with the Ariane 5, Soyuz and Vega launcher family, while also ensuring maximum of flexibility and agility in responding to changes and trends in the space lift marketplace. Speaking to reporters at the Paris Air Show, Stéphane Israël said Arianespace has earned its position as the world’s no. 1 launch services prov...

PASADENA, Calif. - NASA's Cassini spacecraft, now exploring Saturn, will take a picture of our home planet from a distance of hundreds of millions of miles on July 19. NASA is inviting the public to help acknowledge the historic interplanetary portrait as it is being taken. Earth will appear as a small, pale blue dot between the rings of Saturn in the image, which will be part of a mosaic, or multi-image portrait, of the Saturn system Cassini is composing. "While Earth will b...