Friends of NASA

Saturday, July 18, 2026

Launch Day: Menon, Dubrov & Kikina Leave Cosmonaut Hotel in Kazakhstan

Launch Day: Menon, Dubrov & Kikina Leave Cosmonaut Hotel in Kazakhstan

Expedition 75 crewmembers: NASA astronaut Anil Menon, left, Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov, and Anna Kikina of Russia, right, wave as they depart the Cosmonaut Hotel to suit-up for their Russian Soyuz launch in Baikonur

A Russian Orthodox Priest blesses onlookers as the Expedition 75 crew prepares to depart the Cosmonaut Hotel to suit-up for their Russian Soyuz launch, Tuesday, July 14, 2026, in Baikonur

Expedition 75 crew members: NASA astronaut Anil Menon, left, Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov, and Anna Kikina of Russia, right, depart the Cosmonaut Hotel to suit-up for their Russian Soyuz launch, Tuesday, July 14, 2026, in Baikonur

Expedition 75 Roscosmos cosmonaut Pyotr Dubrov of Russia waves as he and fellow crew mates, NASA astronaut Anil Menon, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Anna Kikina of Russia depart the Cosmonaut Hotel to suit-up for their Russian Soyuz launch, Tuesday, July 14, 2026, in Baikonur

Expedition 75 Roscosmos cosmonaut Anna Kikina of Russia holds up a sign as she and fellow crew mates, Roscosmos cosmonaut Pyotr Dubrov of Russia, and NASA astronaut Anil Menon depart the Cosmonaut Hotel to suit-up for their Russian Soyuz launch, Tuesday, July 14, 2026, in Baikonur

Expedition 75 NASA astronaut Anil Menon waves as he and fellow crew mates, Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov, and Anna Kikina of Russia depart the Cosmonaut Hotel to suit-up for their Russian Soyuz launch, Tuesday, July 14, 2026, in Baikonur

A Russian Soyuz rocket was successfully launched to the International Space Station with Expedition 75 crewmembers: NASA astronaut Anil Menon, Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov, and Anna Kikina onboard, Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at 10:47 a.m. EST (7:47 p.m. local time) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The trio will spend about eight months aboard the orbiting laboratory before returning to Earth in spring 2027.

The same day, their Russian Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft docked with the International Space Station’s Prichal module.

The trio joined NASA astronauts Jessica Meir, Jack Hathaway, and Chris Williams, European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov, Sergei Mikaev, and Andrey Fedyaev of Russia.

During his expedition, Menon will conduct scientific investigations and technology demonstrations intended to help humans prepare for future exploration missions to the Moon and Mars, and to provide benefits on Earth. Among the hundreds of experiments planned during his mission, he will participate in studies to better understand astronaut vein structure, blood flow, and blood composition in microgravity. He also will test producing intravenous fluids using the space station’s potable water.

This Soyuz MS-29 mission is his first spaceflight after he was selected as part of NASA’s 2021 astronaut class. A native of Minneapolis, Menon is an emergency medicine physician, mechanical engineer, and colonel in the United States Space Force. He also has served as an expedition flight surgeon supporting the agency’s crew members aboard the space station.

NASA astronaut Anil Menon's Official Biography:

https://www.nasa.gov/people/nasa-astronaut-anil-menon/

https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/menon-anil.pdf

For more than 25 years, people have lived and worked continuously aboard the International Space Station, advancing scientific knowledge and making research breakthroughs not possible on Earth. The space station helps NASA understand and overcome the challenges of human spaceflight, expand commercial opportunities in low Earth orbit, and build on the foundation for long-duration missions to the Moon, as part of the Artemis program, and to Mars.

To learn more about International Space Station research, operations, and its crews, visit:

https://www.nasa.gov/station

An international partnership of space agencies provides and operates the elements of the International Space Station (ISS). The principals are the space agencies of the United States, Russia, Europe, Japan, and Canada.

Image Credits: NASA/Bill Ingalls/Victor Zelentsov

Date: July 14, 2026

#NASA #Space #Science #Astronomy #ISS #Earth #SoyuzRocket #SoyuzMS29 #Astronauts #AnilMenon #Cosmonauts #AnnaKikina #PyotrDubrov #Russia #Россия #Roscosmos #Роскосмос #HumanSpaceflight #InternationalCooperation #UnitedStates #MicrogravityLaboratory #Expedition74 #Expedition75 #Baikonur #Kazakhstan #Қазақстан #STEM #Education

Planet Mars Images: July 15-17, 2026 | NASA's Curiosity & Perseverance Rovers

Planet Mars Images: July 15-17, 2026 | NASA's Curiosity & Perseverance Rovers

Mars 2020 - sol 1921

Mars 2020 - sol 1920

MSL - sol 4956

MSL - sol 4951

Mars 2020 - sol 1919

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Celebrating 13+ Years on Mars (2012-2025)

Mission Name: Mars Science Laboratory (MSL)

Rover Name: Curiosity

Main Job: To determine if Mars was ever habitable to microbial life.

Launch: Nov. 6, 2011

Landing Date: Aug. 5, 2012, Gale Crater, Mars

Celebrating 5+ Years on Mars

Mission Name: Mars 2020

Rover Name: Perseverance

Main Job: Seek signs of ancient life and collect samples of rock and regolith (broken rock and soil) for return to Earth.

Launch: July 30, 2020

Landing: Feb. 18, 2021, Jezero Crater, Mars

For more information on NASA's Mars missions, visit: mars.nasa.gov

Image Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS

Processing: Kevin M. Gill

Release Dates: July 15-17, 2026

#NASA #Space #Astronomy #Science #Planets #Mars #Astrobiology #Geology #CuriosityRover #MSL #MountSharp #GaleCrater #PerseveranceRover #Mars2020 #JezeroCrater #Robotics #SpaceTechnology #SpaceEngineering #MSSS #JPL #Caltech #UnitedStates #CitizenScience #KevinGill #SpaceExploration #SolarSystem #STEM #Education

Launch Day: Menon, Dubrov & Kikina Board Russian Soyuz Rocket in Kazakhstan

Launch Day: Menon, Dubrov & Kikina Board Russian Soyuz Rocket in Kazakhstan

Expedition 75 crewmembers: NASA astronaut Anil Menon, left, Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov, and Anna Kikina of Russia, right, depart building 254 for their Russian Soyuz launch

Expedition 75 crewmembers: NASA astronaut Anil Menon, left, Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov, and Anna Kikina of Russia, right, report to Roscosmos leadership as they depart building 254 for their Russian Soyuz launch

Expedition 75 crewmembers: NASA astronaut Anil Menon, left, Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov, and Anna Kikina of Russia, right, arrive at the launch pad to board their Russian Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft for launch

Expedition 75 Roscosmos cosmonaut Anna Kikina of Russia walks to board the Russian Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft for launch with NASA astronaut Anil Menon, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Pyotr Dubrov of Russia, Tuesday, July 14, 2026 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan

Expedition 75 Roscosmos cosmonaut Pyotr Dubrov of Russia walks with Roscosmos Director of Human Spaceflight Programs Sergei Krikalev, left, and Roscosmos Director General Dmitry Bakanov to board the Russian Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft for launch

Expedition 75 NASA astronaut Anil Menon walks with NASA Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson, left, and NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, right, to board the Russian Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft for launch

Expedition 75 crewmembers: NASA astronaut Anil Menon, Roscosmos cosmoanuts Pyotr Dubrov, and Anna Kikina of Russia, get in an elevator to board their Russian Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft for launch

The same day, their Russian Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft docked with the International Space Station’s Prichal module.

NASA astronaut Anil Menon's Official Biography:

https://www.nasa.gov/people/nasa-astronaut-anil-menon/

https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/menon-anil.pdf

To learn more about International Space Station research, operations, and its crews, visit:

https://www.nasa.gov/station

Image Credits: NASA/Bill Ingalls/Victor Zelentsov

Date: July 14, 2026

India's Vikram-1 Commercial Rocket Launch | Satish Dhawan Space Center

India's Vikram-1 Commercial Rocket Launch | Satish Dhawan Space Center

🚀On its first attempt, Skyroot Aerospace successfully launched their Vikram-1 rocket for its Mission Aagaman at 12:05pm India Standard Time (IST) (06:35 UTC) on July 18, 2026, to an Earth orbit of 455 km to deploy four payloads. "The era of commercial spaceflight has begun in India." India is now "the third country in the world with private orbital launch capability."

Vikram-1's first stage was named for Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam (1931-2015). He was an Indian aerospace scientist, visionary educator, and the 11th President of India from 2002 to 2007.

The four payloads were:
1) a self-developed experimental payload, the SCOPE satellite
2) robotic arm technology demonstrator Embrace
3) an ultra-compact satellite SOLARAS S3
4) a German in-orbit technology demonstration payload

Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) (formerly Sriharikota Range – SHAR) is the primary spaceport of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), located in Sriharikota, an island in Tirupati district of Andhra Pradesh, India. The spaceport is located on an island off the east coast of India, surrounded by Pulicat Lake and the Bay of Bengal.

Video Credit: Skyroot Aerospace
Duration: 25 seconds
Release Date: July 18, 2026

#NASA #Space #Science #Engineering #Satellites #CommercialSatellites #India #BhāratGaṇarājya #Skyroot #SkyrootAerospace #Vikram1 #Vikram1Rocket #RocketLaunch #MissionAagaman #CommercialSpace #SDSC #Spaceport #Sriharikota #AndhraPradesh #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Friday, July 17, 2026

Planet Mars Images: July 5-16, 2026 | NASA's Curiosity & Perseverance Rovers

Planet Mars Images: July 5-16, 2026 | NASA's Curiosity & Perseverance Rovers

MSL - sol 4954

MSL - sol 4947

MSL - sol 4951

MSL - sol 4944

MSL - sol 4909

MSL - sol 4938

Become a monthly Friends of NASA supporter on our website:
https://www.friendsofnasa.org/p/friends-of-nasa.html

Celebrating 13+ Years on Mars (2012-2025)

Mission Name: Mars Science Laboratory (MSL)

Rover Name: Curiosity

Main Job: To determine if Mars was ever habitable to microbial life.

Launch: Nov. 6, 2011

Landing Date: Aug. 5, 2012, Gale Crater, Mars

Celebrating 5+ Years on Mars

Mission Name: Mars 2020

Rover Name: Perseverance

Main Job: Seek signs of ancient life and collect samples of rock and regolith (broken rock and soil) for return to Earth.

Launch: July 30, 2020

Landing: Feb. 18, 2021, Jezero Crater, Mars

For more information on NASA's Mars missions, visit: mars.nasa.gov

Image Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS

Processing: Kevin M. Gill

Release Dates: July 5-16, 2026

Menon, Dubrov & Kikina Sokol Suit Checks on Launch Day in Kazakhstan

Menon, Dubrov & Kikina Sokol Suit Checks on Launch Day in Kazakhstan

Expedition 75 prime crewmembers: NASA astronaut Anil Menon, seated left, Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov, and Anna Kikina, seated of Russia right, joined by backup crew members, Deniz Burnham of NASA, standing left, Roscosmos cosmonauts Dmitry Petelin, and Konstantin Borisov of Russia, standing right, pose for a group photograph as the prime crew prepares for their Russian Soyuz 2.1a rocket launch

Expedition 75 Roscosmos cosmonaut Anna Kikina has her Russian Sokol suit pressure checked as she and fellow crew mates, Roscosmos cosmonaut Pyotr Dubrov of Russia, and NASA astronaut Anil Menon, prepare for their Russian Soyuz 2.1a rocket launch to the International Space Station Tuesday, July 14, 2026 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan.

NASA astronaut Anil Menon gestures to family and friends while waiting to have his Russian Sokol Suit pressure checked, as he and fellow crewmates, Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov, and Anna Kikina, prepare for their Russian Soyuz 2.1a rocket launch

Expedition 75 Roscosmos cosmonaut Pyotr Dubrov has his Russian Sokol suit pressure checked as he and fellow crewmates, Roscosmos cosmonaut Anna Kikina, and NASA astronaut Anil Menon, prepare for their Russian Soyuz 2.1a rocket launch

Roscosmos cosmonaut Anna Kikina waves while waiting to have her Russian Sokol Suit pressure checked, as she and fellow crewmates, Roscosmos cosmonaut Pyotr Dubrov, and NASA astronaut Anil Menon, prepare for their Soyuz 2.1a rocket launch

Expedition 75 NASA astronaut Anil Menon is helped into his Russian Sokol suit as he and fellow crew mates, Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov, and Anna Kikina, prepare for their Soyuz 2.1a rocket launch

Expedition 75 Roscosmos cosmonaut Anna Kikina is helped into her Russian Sokol suit as she and fellow crew mates, Roscosmos cosmonaut Pyotr Dubrov of Russia, and NASA astronaut Anil Menon, prepare for their Russian Soyuz 2.1a rocket launch

Russian Sokol Suit gloves are seen inside building 254 of the Baikonur Cosmodrome where Expedition 75 crew members: NASA astronaut Anil Menon, Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov, and Anna Kikina of Russia, will suit up ahead of their Russian Soyuz 2.1a launch

The same day, their Russian Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft docked with the International Space Station’s Prichal module.

NASA astronaut Anil Menon's Official Biography:

https://www.nasa.gov/people/nasa-astronaut-anil-menon/

https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/menon-anil.pdf

To learn more about International Space Station research, operations, and its crews, visit:

https://www.nasa.gov/station

Image Credits: Roscosmos/GCTC/Pavel Shvets/NASA/Bill Ingalls

Date: July 14, 2026

NASA Astronaut Anil Menon's Russian Soyuz Launch | International Space Station

NASA Astronaut Anil Menon's Russian Soyuz Launch | International Space Station

NASA astronaut candidate Anna Menon and her children watch as a Russian Soyuz rocket launches to the International Space Station with NASA astronaut Anil Menon and Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina of Russia, Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The trio lifted off for their Russian Soyuz MS-29 mission at 7:47 p.m. local time to begin their long-duration stay aboard the orbital outpost.

During his stay on the station, Menon will conduct scientific research and technology demonstrations aimed at advancing human space exploration and benefiting life on Earth.

Image Description: An adult and two children watch a rocket launch. The adult woman carries one child on her shoulder and holds hands with the other child. Their backs are to the camera, so we can see the text on the back of their t-shirts, which reads "Team Menon" in white and yellow writing.

This Soyuz MS-29 mission is Menon's first spaceflight after he was selected as part of NASA’s 2021 astronaut class. A native of Minneapolis, Menon is an emergency medicine physician, mechanical engineer, and colonel in the United States Space Force. He also has served as an expedition flight surgeon supporting the agency’s crew members aboard the space station.

NASA astronaut Anil Menon's Official Biography:

https://www.nasa.gov/people/nasa-astronaut-anil-menon/

https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/menon-anil.pdf

To learn more about International Space Station research, operations, and its crews, visit:

https://www.nasa.gov/station

Image Credit: NASA/John Kraus
Release Date: July 15, 2026

NASA's Psyche Spacecraft Performs Mars Gravity Assist Manuever: Image Timelapse

NASA's Psyche Spacecraft Performs Mars Gravity Assist Manuever: Image Timelapse

This timelapse uses images captured by NASA’s Psyche spacecraft between May 2 and May 31, 2026, during the spacecraft’s approach, close approach, and departure while the mission performed a Mars gravity assist.

Created from thousands of images, the sequence begins with Mars as a small crescent in the distance. During close approach on May 15, the Red Planet’s cratered surface fills the imager instrument’s field of view. As the spacecraft departs Mars, the changing perspective reveals the planet’s icy south pole.

Launched in October 2023, NASA's Psyche spacecraft is on a journey of more than 2 billion miles (3.6 billion kilometers) to explore the metal-rich asteroid Psyche. The mission is expected to arrive in 2029 to study what scientists believe is the exposed metal-rich core of an ancient planet. The Mars flyby provided the gravity assist needed to continue that journey.

Beyond creating this time-lapse, by capturing thousands of observations of Mars with the spacecraft’s multispectral imager, engineers can now hone the precise imaging and navigation techniques required to orbit the asteroid Psyche.

For more information, go to https://science.nasa.gov/mission/psyche/

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU
Produced by True Story Films
Duration: 1 minute, 15 seconds
Release Date: July 17, 2026

#NASA #Space #Astronomy #Science #PsycheAsteroid #16Psyche #Asteroids #PsycheMission #PsycheSpacecraft #Planets #Mars #MarsFlyby #Jupiter #AsteroidBelt #SolarSystem #SpaceExploration #KevinGill #JPL #Caltech #ASU #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Canadian Wildfires Affect Air Quality | Europe's Copernicus Sentinel-3 Earth Satellite

Canadian Wildfires Affect Air Quality | Europe's Copernicus Sentinel-3 Earth Satellite

Captured by Copernicus Sentinel-3 on July 14, 2026, this image shows smoke plumes from wildfires burning in Ontario, Canada, affecting air quality across parts of Canada and the northeastern US.

The main image was captured by the Ocean and Land Color Instrument (OLCI) instrument onboard one of the Copernicus Sentinel-3 satellites on July 14, 2026.

EUMETSAT operates the Sentinel-3 satellites, in cooperation with the European Space Agency (ESA), and delivers the marine and atmospheric data on behalf of the European Union.

The European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) is an intergovernmental organization created through an international convention agreed by a current total of 30 European Member States. EUMETSAT's primary objective is to establish, maintain and exploit European systems of operational meteorological satellites. EUMETSAT is responsible for the launch and operation of the satellites and for delivering satellite data to end-users as well as contributing to the operational monitoring of climate and the detection of global climate changes.

The activities of EUMETSAT contribute to a global meteorological satellite observing system coordinated with other space-faring states.

Sentinel-3:
https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Copernicus/Sentinel-3

The European Space Agency's Copernicus Earth Observation Program:
https://sentinel.esa.int/web/sentinel/copernicus/

Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. Human activities have been the main driver of climate change, primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas.

Learn more:

https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/what-is-climate-change

Image Credit: EUMETSAT
Image Date: July 14, 2026
Release Date: July 17, 2026

#NASA #Space #Science #Satellites #CopernicusProgramme #Sentinel3 #Earth #Meteorology #Weather #Heatwaves #Canada #Wildfires #SmokePlumes #AirQuality #Europe #EuropeanUnion #EU #InternationalCooperation #Environment #Climate #ClimateChange #GlobalHeating #EarthObservation #RemoteSensing #STEM #Education

NASA’s Psyche Mission Just Flew by Mars: Here’s What We Learned | JPL

NASA’s Psyche Mission Just Flew by Mars: Here’s What We Learned | JPL

On May 15, 2026, NASA’s Psyche spacecraft passed about 2,800 miles (4,500 kilometers) from the Martian surface, successfully using the planet’s gravity to give it a critical boost on its journey to the asteroid Psyche.

The flyby provided the mission with an opportunity to calibrate its science instruments as well as to capture images that have been assembled into a stunning timelapse of the spacecraft’s month-long Red Planet encounter.

Not only did the instruments operate precisely as designed, delivering data that matches what NASA already knows about Mars, they also provided a few new insights about the planet along the way.

By capturing thousands of observations of Mars with the multispectral imager, engineers can now hone the precise imaging and navigation techniques required to orbit Psyche.

Launched in October 2023, NASA's Psyche spacecraft is on a journey of more than 2 billion miles (3.6 billion kilometers) to explore the metal-rich asteroid Psyche. The mission is expected to arrive in 2029 to study what scientists believe is the exposed nickel-iron core of an ancient planet. The Mars flyby provided the gravity assist needed to continue that journey.

For more information, go to https://science.nasa.gov/mission/psyche/

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU
Produced by True Story Films
Duration: 3 minutes
Release Date: July 17, 2026

Thursday, July 16, 2026

Russian Soyuz MS-29 Crew Spacecraft Arrival | International Space Station

Russian Soyuz MS-29 Crew Spacecraft Arrival | International Space Station

The Russian Soyuz MS-29 crew spacecraft arrived at the International Space Station’s Prichal module at 1:52 p.m. after launching at 10:47 a.m. (7:47 p.m. local time) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Tuesday, July 14, 2026. At 4:30 p.m. EDT, the hatch opened between the International Space Station and the Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft. NASA astronaut Anil Menon and Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina then entered the station, where they will spend the next eight months living and working before returning to Earth in April 2027.

Follow Expedition 74:

https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/

Expedition 74 Crew
Station Commander: Sergey-Kud Sverchkov (Russia)
Roscosmos (Russia) Flight Engineers: Andrey Fedyaev, Sergei Mikaev

European Space Agency Flight Engineer: Sophie Adenot

NASA Flight Engineers: Jessica Meir, Jack Hathaway, Chris Williams

Credit: NASA's Johnson Space Center
Date: July 14, 2026

#NASA #Space #Science #Astronomy #ISS #Planets #Earth #Astronauts #JessicaMeir #AstronautVideography #Europe #France #ESA #Cosmonauts #Russia #Россия #Roscosmos #Роскосмос #HumanSpaceflight #InternationalCooperation #UnitedStates #STEM #Education

SpaceX Starship Prepared for Flight Test#13 | Starbase Texas

SpaceX Starship Prepared for Flight Test#13 | Starbase Texas

The thirteenth flight test of Starship is preparing to launch today, Thursday, July 16, 2026. The 90-minute launch window will open at 5:45 p.m. CT.

A live webcast of the flight test will begin about 30 minutes before liftoff that you can watch here: https://www.spacex.com/launches/starship-flight-13

The upcoming flight will aim to complete similar objectives targeted on the previous flight test that debuted the Starship and Super Heavy V3 vehicles, while also carrying next-generation Starlink V3 satellites for the first time.

The booster’s primary test objective will be executing a successful launch, ascent, stage separation, boostback burn, and landing burn at an offshore landing point in the Gulf of America. There have been several modifications to hardware and software to address issues seen on the previous flight.

At stage separation on Flight 12, slight differences in engine startup on the ship caused the directional flip of the booster to be off by approximately 90 degrees. The startup sequence has been modified to be more robust to timing variability and more reliably flip in the desired direction, which is done to increase overall performance. After stage separation and the flip, the Super Heavy booster attempted its boostback burn. Five of its 33 engines experienced issues when attempting to re-light causing the boostback burn to end early. The Super Heavy on this upcoming flight has hardware modifications to improve re-light reliability along with updates to engine alarms and aborts to match the conditions seen in the multi-engine flight environment.

The Starship upper stage’s primary objectives include the deployment of 20 Starlink V3 satellites, a relight of a single Raptor engine while in space, and another controlled entry, descent, and splashdown in the Indian Ocean. There have also been several modifications to Starship’s propulsion system to address the engine out issue experienced on the previous flight.

Approximately 40 seconds after stage separation, Starship lost one of its three Raptor vacuum optimized engines. The vehicle was able to demonstrate its engine out capability and reach its planned suborbital trajectory. Several hardware and operational modifications have been made to address the interconnected causes with additional reliability improvements planned in upcoming versions of the Raptor engine.

For the first time, Starship will carry V3 Starlink satellites to space, which aim to greatly expand the network's capacity and user speeds. As part of this initial test, Starship is planned to deploy 20 satellites which will extend solar arrays and antennas and will attempt to connect with the larger Starlink constellation via high-capacity lasers. The Starlink satellites will be on the same suborbital trajectory as Starship and are expected to demise upon reentry approximately 20 minutes after deployment.

Six of the satellites have been modified with a suite of cameras to scan Starship’s heat shield and transmit imagery down to operators to continue testing methods of analyzing Starship’s heat shield readiness for return to launch site on future missions. Several tiles on Starship have been painted white to simulate missing tiles and serve as imaging targets in the test.

Several upgrades and experiments related to Starship’s heatshield will also be tested to continue iteration towards a fully and rapidly reusable design. Multiple tiles will be attached to the metallic side of Starship’s aft flaps along with modified tiles and attachment mechanisms in the heatshield covering the aft skirt to gather flight data on different attachment options. Finally, Starship’s heatshield will have load sensing tiles to take measurements as the vehicle experiences higher dynamic pressure on ascent than previous flights, putting added stress on the tile attachments in exchange for increased payload to orbit capability.

NASA plans to use a lunar lander version of Starship to deliver astronauts and cargo to the Moon during the Artemis IV mission and beyond through the Human Landing System (HLS) Program.

Learn more about Starship:
https://www.spacex.com/vehicles/starship/

Download the Free Starship User Guide (PDF):
https://www.spacex.com/media/starship_users_guide_v1.pdf

Image Credit: Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX)
Release Date: July 16, 2026

#NASA #SpaceX #Space #Earth #Mars #Moon #MoonToMars #ArtemisProgram #ArtemisIII #ArtemisIV #Starship #StarshipV3 #FlightTest13 #ReusableSpacecraft #SuperHeavy #SuperHeavyV3 #ElonMusk #Engineering #SpaceTechnology #HumanSpaceflight #CommercialSpace #SpaceExploration #StarbaseTexas #UnitedStates #STEM #Education

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Saturday, July 18, 2026

Friday, July 17, 2026

Thursday, July 16, 2026