Posted: Sat, Jul 4 8:14 PM ET (0014 GMT)
A Pegasus XL rocket launched a spacecraft Friday to try to raise the orbit of a NASA astrophysics spacecraft. The Pegasus launched from its L-1011 carrier aircraft, flying out of Kwajalein Atoll in the Pacific, at 4:36 am EDT (0835 GMT). The rocket carried Link, a spacecraft built by Katalyst Space that is designed to attach to NASA's Swift gamma-ray observatory and raise its orbit before Swift reenters in several months. Link will take several weeks to check out its systems and approach Swift before attempts to grapple it. This is the first Pegasus launch in five years and the last flight of the vehicle under contract.

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Posted: Sat, Jul 4 8:11 PM ET (0011 GMT)
Overconfidence and unrealistic schedules played major factors in the ongoing problems with Boeing's CST-100 Starliner commercial crew vehicle. A report released this week by NASA's inspector general found that NASA was overconfident in Boeing's design for the spacecraft based on its use of heritage hardware, and that overconfidence led to unrealistic timelines that created schedule pressure. The report concluded it was unlikely Starliner will be certified for crewed missions to the International Space Station until at least 2027, limiting its use for crew rotation flights before the station is retired in 2030. In a recent interview, Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg said he was confident Starliner would overcome its problems and enter service.

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Atlas 5 launches Amazon Leo satellites
Posted: Sat, Jul 4 8:09 PM ET (0009 GMT)
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NASA awards four more lunar lander missions
Posted: Sat, Jul 4 8:06 PM ET (0006 GMT)
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Blue Origin outlines plans for returning New Glenn to flight
Posted: Sat, Jul 4 8:04 PM ET (0004 GMT)
Blue Origin outlined its new approach to New Glenn launch pad operations as it works to return to flight by the end of the year....