Getting a second chance after a 2009 launch failure, environmental researchers are eagerly awaiting launch early Tuesday of a $468 million mission designed to precisely measure carbon dioxide levels in Earth's atmosphere.
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Despite the failure of a huge supersonic parachute to fully inflate during a test flight at the edge of space Saturday, engineers said Sunday they were elated with the otherwise near-flawless performance of a research craft built to study improved aerobraking for Mars landers. Read More...

A huge high-altitude balloon took off from Hawaii Saturday, gracefully lifting a 3.5-ton flying saucer-shaped Mars research vehicle on a ride to the edge of space for a dramatic rocket-powered test of an inflatable doughnut-like braking system and a huge supersonic parachute. Read More...

A third attempt to launch a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying six ORBCOMM data relay satellites was called off Sunday because of an unspecified technical problem. The company announced Monday a fourth launch try would be delayed to early July. (UPDATED) Read More...

Running a day late because of a technical glitch, bad weather Saturday forced SpaceX to call off a second attempt to launch a Falcon 9 rocket on a commercial mission to deploy six Orbcomm data relay satellites.
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Launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying six Orbcomm commercial data relay satellites was delayed Friday for at least 24 hours because of telemetry indicating a possible pressurization problem in the rocket's second stage. Read More...

Realtime coverage of Russian EVA-38 (antenna installation; experiment relocation) Read More...

United Launch Alliance, criticized by competitor SpaceX for high costs and use of Russian rocket engines, ratcheted up its counter offensive Wednesday, detailing a new initiative to explore U.S. engine replacement options and unveiling new ads to counter 'misinformation.' (UPDATED) Read More...

Without a substantial increase in funding, sustained political support and extensive international participation, the United States will not be able to send humans to Mars before the middle of the century and possibly not even then, according to a National Research Council report. Read More...