SpaceX to build the first commercial vertical launchpad in Texas

(A SpaceX Falcon 9 launch – Photo Credit: SpaceX)

SpaceX are planning to build the world’s first commercial vertical launchpad for orbital rockets and missions near Brownsville, south Texas. The facility is expected to become operational in 2016.

(The full Expedition 40 crew – Photo Credit: Oleg Artemyev/Roscosmos)

With the 3 newest arrivals safely on board the station, the now-complete Expedition 40 crew have a busy couple of months ahead of them. A wide range of science experiments, cargo arrivals and spacewalks (EVAs) are scheduled in the near future. Here is a brief overview of what the astronauts and cosmonauts will be accomplishing during their stay.

SpaceX’s Dragon resupply craft returns to Earth after a month at the International Space Station

(Photo credit – SpaceX/NASA)

SpaceX’s third commercial resupply mission came to a close on 18^th May as the Dragon spacecraft ended its 28-day stay at the International Space Station and parachuted into the Pacific Ocean.

NASA installs new HD cameras on the exterior of the International Space Station

(Photo credit: NASA/Ustream)

As part of a new experiment, NASA have placed four commercial video cameras on the exterior of the International Space Station (ISS).