in spaceflight
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Toppled Lunar Landers and More of February’s Best Space Images
It was a topsy-turvy month in spaceflight, with yet another lunar lander falling over and an upsetting new view showing NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter missing a rotor blade, among other memorable moments. February is the shortest month of the year, but it often packs a punch and feels a helluva lot longer than it should. Such…
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The Asteroid Dimorphos Looks Totally Different After NASA’s DART Mission Walloped It
In September 2022, a NASA spacecraft smashed into a tiny asteroid to nudge it off its orbital course. The mission was a success in testing an asteroid deflection method that may come in handy one day, but rather than leaving behind an impact crater, the orbital collision changed the shape of the target asteroid altogether,…
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The Odysseus Lander Is Tipped Over on Its Side on the Moon
Intuitive Machines’ private lander stumbled on its way down to the lunar surface and is possibly leaning over on a rock on the Moon. The vehicle is still operational and flight engineers are working to gather more data on its less than ideal position, the company said. Odysseus landed on the Moon on Thursday, overcoming…
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After an Explosive First Attempt, Japan Will Try Again to Launch the H3 Rocket
The H3 rocket—11 years in the making—is set for its second launch, following a flubbed debut in March 2023. Japan urgently needs the rocket to succeed, with a second failure risking further delays and monumental headaches for Japan’s space program. H3 is ready to fly again after its botched maiden launch last year, with Japan’s…