SpaceX launches giant Starship rocket, but aborts attempt to catch booster with mechanical arms

SpaceX on Tuesday launched another Starship rocket, but passed up catching the booster with giant mechanical arms. Unlike last month’s success, the booster was directed to a splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico. The catch was called off just four minutes into the test flight from Texas...

Trump and Musk solidify their bond with Texas trip for rocket launch

WASHINGTON (AP) — For two weeks, Donald Trump has welcomed Elon Musk into his world. On Tuesday, it was Musk’s turn to play host to the president-elect. Trump flew to South Texas to watch as Musk’s SpaceX launched a Starship rocket near the Mexican border. Trump listened...

SpaceX launches Starship rocket, but skips trying to catch booster

Trump appears to be planning to attend SpaceX 'Starship' launch scheduled for Tuesday in Texas

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump appears to be planning to attend a SpaceX “Starship” rocket launch on Tuesday, in the latest indication of founder Elon Musk 's influence in the Republican's orbit. The Federal Aviation Administration has issued...

The far side of the moon once had erupting volcanoes too

NEW YORK (AP) — Volcanoes were erupting on the mysterious far side of the moon billions of years ago just like on the side that we can see, new research confirms. Researchers analyzed lunar soil brought back by China's Chang'e-6, the first spacecraft to return with a haul of rocks...

Monkeys that escaped a lab are a species used for human research since the 1800s

The 43 rhesus macaque monkeys that escaped a South Carolina medical lab this week are among the most studied animals on the planet. And for more than a century, they have held a mirror to humanity, revealing our strengths and weaknesses through their own clever behaviors, organ systems and genetic...

Russian rocket launches Iranian satellites into orbit as Moscow and Tehran expand ties

MOSCOW (AP) — A Russian rocket on Tuesday blasted off successfully to carry a pair of Iranian satellites into orbit, a launch that reflected growing cooperation between Moscow and Tehran. The Soyuz rocket lifted off as scheduled from Vostochny launchpad in far eastern Russia and...

Japan successfully launches a defense satellite carried by a new flagship H3 rocket

TOKYO (AP) — Japan launched a defense satellite Monday aimed at speedier military operations and communication on a new flagship H3 rocket and successfully placed it into orbit, as the country seeks to build up its military capability amid growing tension in the region. The East...

China's new crew has arrived at space station in sign of growing influence in space field

JIUQUAN, China (AP) — A Chinese space ship carrying a three-person crew docked with its orbiting space station Tuesday as the country seeks to expand its exploration of outer space in competition with the United States, even as it looks for cooperation from other nations. The team...

Satellite photos show Israeli strike likely hit important Iran Revolutionary Guard missile base

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Israel’s attack on Iran likely damaged a base run by the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard that builds ballistic missiles and launches rockets as part of its own space program, satellite images analyzed by The Associated Press on Tuesday showed. ...