Tag: Falcon 9
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Falcon 9 becomes U.S. rocket leader; Starlink “where are they now” edition
As SpaceX continued its steady march of Starlink internet satellite launches, the company reached a new milestone with the seventh flight of Starlink on Wednesday: Falcon 9 took the mantle of “most flown currently operational U.S. rocket” from Atlas V. Meanwhile, SpaceX is actively making moves on the ground, securing FCC permits for Starlink ground…
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SpaceX test-fires rocket for Starlink launch next week
A plume of exhaust erupts from pad 39A’s flame trench at 12 p.m. EDT (1600 GMT) Friday during SpaceX’s static fire test. Credit: William Harwood/CBS News SpaceX test-fired a Falcon 9 rocket with a previously-flown first stage booster Friday at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, keeping pace for a launch scheduled next Thursday, April…
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NASA, SpaceX set May 27 as target date for first crew launch
The Crew Dragon spacecraft for the Demo-2 mission is at Cape Canaveral being readied for launch. Credit: SpaceX A decade in the making, NASA and SpaceX have set May 27 as the target launch date for the first crewed space mission to launch into orbit from U.S. soil since the retirement of the space shuttle…
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Live coverage: SpaceX launch moved up to Wednesday
Live coverage of SpaceX’s preparations for the next Falcon 9 rocket launch from pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The mission will launch SpaceX’s seventh batch of Starlink broadband satellites. Text updates will appear automatically below. Follow us on Twitter. A Falcon 9 rocket stands vertical on pad 39A Thursday. Credit: Spaceflight Now
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Intuitive Machines announces moon mission’s launch date, landing site
Artist’s concept of the Intuitive Machines Nova-C lander. Credit: Intuitive Machines Intuitive Machines, under contract to carry NASA science instruments to the moon on a privately-developed robotic spacecraft, said this week its first commercial lunar mission will target landing in October 2021 near a deep, narrow valley named Vallis Schröteri. The startup company, based in…
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Florida launch range remains open; Falcon 9 mission postponed
EDITOR’S NOTE: Updated April 15 with new launch date. File photo of a Falcon 9 launch from Cape Canaveral. Credit: SpaceX Range personnel at Cape Canaveral will employ physical distancing, face covers and other cautionary measures to reduce the risk of spreading the coronavirus during launch operations, the commander of the U.S. military’s 45th Space Wing…
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Bridenstine says Crew Dragon could launch with astronauts at end of May
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine speaks at a bipartisan Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues event in September 2019. Credit: NASA/Aubrey Gemignani NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine says he is “fairly confident” that astronauts can fly to the International Space Station aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spaceship at the end of May or early June, pending final parachute tests,…
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SpaceX plans another Starlink launch next week
A view of 60 Starlink satellites stacked before a previous launch. Credit: SpaceX SpaceX is preparing to launch another batch of satellites for the Starlink Internet network from Florida’s Space Coast as soon as April 16, a sign that launch operations at Cape Canaveral could continue at a reduced pace amid the global coronavirus pandemic.…
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Video: Slidewire basket crew egress system tested at pad 39A
EDITOR’S NOTE: Videos like this are made possible with the help of Spaceflight Now Members. If you enjoy our coverage of the space industry, please consider becoming a member. SpaceX tested astronaut slidewire escape baskets and fire suppression capabilities Friday at launch pad 39A in Florida, demonstrating rescue systems that would be activated in the event…
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Photos: Astronauts train to ride a Dragon into space
Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken, two veteran space shuttle fliers, are gearing up to fly a privately-developed SpaceX Dragon capsule into orbit this year. The two astronauts participated in several major training events in March, including long-duration simulations to rehearse procedures they will execute during launch on top of a Falcon 9 rocket, their docking…