STS-135 mission coverage


m i s s i o n   n e w s   s u m m a r i e s
m i s s i o n   a r t i c l e s
FAA restricts hours for commercial launches during shutdown
Posted: Sun, Nov 9 9:05 AM ET (1405 GMT)
Falcon 9 launch of Starlink satellites, 2025 April 3 (SpaceX) The FAA is temporarily limiting the hours commercial launches can take place because of the effects of the government shutdown. In an order Thursday, the FAA said that, effective Monday morning, commercial launches can only take place between the hours of 10 pm and 6 am local time. The restriction is intended to reduce strain on the air traffic control system as controllers, unpaid since early October, fail to report for work. The order also requires airlines to reduce flight operations at 40 major airports nationwide by 10%. The order could affect several Falcon 9 launches next week, as well as Blue Origin’s second New Glenn launch if it slips from Sunday.


EchoStar sells more spectrum to SpaceX
Posted: Sun, Nov 9 9:01 AM ET (1401 GMT)
EchoStar is selling more spectrum to SpaceX for $2.6 billion. EchoStar announced Thursday it would sell 15 megahertz of nationwide, unpaired AWS-3 uplink spectrum licenses to SpaceX. The spectrum would improve SpaceX direct-to-device services in the United States. EchoStar sold a larger block of spectrum to SpaceX in September for $17 billion in cash and stock; SpaceX will pay for the new spectrum in stock. EchoStar announced a new division Thursday called EchoStar Capital, which will hold its equity in SpaceX and be responsible for investing in complementary growth opportunities as an “asset-light” company.


China postpones Shenzhou-20 return on orbital debris concerns
Posted: Sun, Nov 9 8:58 AM ET (1358 GMT)
China is postponing the return of a Shenzhou spacecraft from its Tiangong space station after concerns the spacecraft was damaged by orbital debris. The Shenzhou-...


White House renominates Jared Isaacman to be NASA administrator
Posted: Sun, Nov 9 8:56 AM ET (1356 GMT)
The White House is renominating Jared Isaacman to be NASA administrator. President Trump said in a social media post late Tuesday that he was picking...


Intuitive Machines to acquire Lanteris Space Systems
Posted: Sun, Nov 9 8:53 AM ET (1353 GMT)
Intuitive Machines is acquiring satellite manufacturer Lanteris Space Systems, the former Maxar Space Systems. Intuitive Machines said it reached an agreement with Advent International, the...





Wednesday, November 12
Starlink, OneWeb speed up South Korea service rollout
Chosun Ilbo — 6:32 am ET (1132 GMT)
Take two for Mars-bound mission launched by Blue Origin
WMFE-FM Orlando — 6:27 am ET (1127 GMT)
Space law – Influencing policy for low Earth orbit and beyond
Univ. of Colorado — 6:23 am ET (1123 GMT)
Blue Origin back today for New Glenn launch attempt for NASA
Orlando Sentinel — 6:15 am ET (1115 GMT)
Shenzhou-20 Crew Still Aboard Tiangong-3, Return Date Unclear
SpacePolicyOnline.com — 6:14 am ET (1114 GMT)
What a martian ice age left behind
ESA — 6:13 am ET (1113 GMT)
The “Seven Sisters” Just Found Thousands of Long-Lost Siblings
Univ. of North Carolina — 6:10 am ET (1110 GMT)
How to spot life in the clouds on other worlds
Cornell Univ. — 6:09 am ET (1109 GMT)
Astronomers discover a superheated star factory in the early universe
Chalmers Univ. of Technology — 6:09 am ET (1109 GMT)
Northern Lights Dazzle U.S. Skies as Far South as Alabama
New York Times — 5:55 am ET (1055 GMT)





Return to the spacetoday.net home page