European spaceplane VORTEX is now confirmed as a crewed vehicle program, with a full astronaut-carrying prototype targeted for 2031 -- if a 2028 hypersonic test validates its heat shield. Dassault ...

The Artemis 2 heat shield undergoing inspections at the Kennedy Space Center before installation on the base of the Orion capsule bringing four astronauts back to Earth Friday after a flight around ...

After a successful flight around the moon, the astronauts are relying on a flawed heat shield to protect them as they re-enter Earth’s atmosphere. By Kenneth Chang Source: NASA AROW. The Artemis II ...

WASHINGTON, DC—This week, NASA’s new administrator, Jared Isaacman, said he has “full confidence” in the space agency’s plans to use the existing heat shield to protect the Orion spacecraft during its ...

Starship Version 3, the biggest and most powerful rocket ever built, had an overall successful second test flight on Friday. Both the rocket and its booster demonstrated key capabilities, including ...

The astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen are preparing to launch into space on a trajectory that will make them the first humans to travel to the Moon in over half ...

Excess charring on Artemis I's heat shield had NASA racing to understand what went wrong—and to ensure the technology was still safe for the current crew's high-speed reentry. The uncrewed Artemis I ...

When four astronauts set off on their historic trip around the moon in NASA’s 16.5-foot-wide Orion spacecraft, they knew they’d be testing a known flaw with their spacecraft — one that had some ...

(CNN) — As four astronauts complete their historic trip around the moon in NASA’s 16.5-foot-wide Orion spacecraft, they’ll be testing a known flaw — one that had some experts urging the space agency ...

Update: The Artemis II crew splashed down to end its mission successfully on Friday, April 10. Follow the latest here. Within seconds, temperatures across its 16.5-foot-wide heat shield will climb to ...