Falcon 9 booster 1080 returns to Port Canaveral //Photo: Ryan Bale When a Falcon 9 lifts off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station or Kennedy Space Center, the mission does not end once the payload reaches orbit. For SpaceX, the recovery of the first stage booster is an integral part of the launch architecture. The Falcon 9 system was designed from the beginning to support rapid reuse. Recovering and refurbishing the booster dramatically lowers launch costs while enabling h

First rollout of SLS for Artemis II // Photo: Ryan Bale NASA has announced a significant restructuring of its Artemis program, introducing a new mission and refining the overall architecture intended to return astronauts to the Moon. The changes are designed to increase mission cadence, reduce technical risk, and better prepare for sustained human exploration beyond Earth orbit. The updated strategy comes as the agency prepares for the launch of Artemis II, the first crewed m

SLS Rolls out of the VAB ahead of Artemis II - Photo // Ryan Bale NASA has announced that its next-generation Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, destined to carry four astronauts around the Moon on the Artemis II mission, will likely be rolled back to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at Kennedy Space Center following a newly discovered technical issue — even after a hard-won success in its most recent full-scale test. In a post on X, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman con

Artemis II SLS at LC-39B the day after rollout // Photo: Ryan Bale NASA is advancing toward a pivotal milestone in preparations for Artemis II, the first crewed lunar mission in over half a century, as engineers at Kennedy Space Center methodically ready the Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion spacecraft for a crucial fueling test ahead of the mission’s launch window. The test, officially known as a wet dress rehearsal, simulates a full fueling sequence and rocket countdown w