Tag: Falcon Heavy
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Falcon Heavy build up begins; SLC-40 pad rebuild progressing well
As SpaceX continues to make excellent progress on rebuilding SLC-40 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, the company has achieved a major milestone toward the debut of its Falcon Heavy rocket. With the first Falcon Heavy side core on the test stand at McGregor, Texas, SpaceX is in final preparation for the all important…
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Musk wants to make Falcon rockets fully reusable
This illustration of a Falcon 9 rocket’s upper stage re-entering the atmosphere is part of an animation released in 2011. SpaceX officials have not discussed technical details of how the company would recover upper stages under founder Elon Musk’s latest emphasis on the project. Credit: SpaceX SpaceX chief Elon Musk said last week he is…
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Musk previews busy year ahead for SpaceX
Elon Musk speaks with reporters after Thursday’s launch of SES 10. Credit: Walter Scriptunas II / Spaceflight Now There’s a lot on SpaceX’s agenda this year if the company can maintain its pace, including refinements of the Falcon 9 rocket to hasten refurbishment between flights and the debut of the long-delayed Falcon Heavy launch vehicle…
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SpaceX Static Fires Falcon 9 for EchoStar 23 launch as SLC-40 targets return
SpaceX is preparing to launch its second mission from KSC’s Pad 39A, with the expendable Falcon 9 tasked with the EchoStar 23 mission conducting a Static Fire test on Thursday following an issue during Tuesday’s attempt – ultimately slipping the launch date to March 14. Meanwhile, SLC-40 is preparing for a return to operations in…
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SpaceX to fly two private individuals on a Dragon 2 lunar mission
In a hastily arranged announcement, Elon Musk has revealed a plan to launch a Dragon 2 spacecraft on a circumlunar mission, with two paying customers. The launch, which will be conducted by a Falcon Heavy rocket in late 2018, is being seen as a major statement of intent by SpaceX, especially when NASA is conducting a…
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SpaceX to send two private citizens around the moon and back
Updated at 6:15 p.m. EST (2315 GMT) with details. An Apollo astronaut took this image of the Earth above the lunar horizon. Credit: NASA SpaceX founder and chief executive Elon Musk announced Monday plans to send two paying “private individuals” on a week-long flight around the moon and back to Earth by the end of…
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SpaceX, Air Force assess more landing pads, Dragon processing at LZ-1
As SpaceX continues its efforts to press forward with Return To Flight later this month, a draft Supplemental Environmental Assessment report for Launch Complex 13 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station for construction of two additional landing pads to accommodate the simultaneous return of three core stages of a Falcon Heavy rocket has been…
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Citing SpaceX delays, Inmarsat moves satellite launch from Falcon Heavy to Ariane 5
File photo of an Ariane 5 launch in August 2015. Credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace – Photo Optique Video du CSG – P. Piron The launch next year of a commercial communications craft jointly managed by London-based Inmarsat and the Greek satellite operator Hellas-Sat has been switched from SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy to Arianespace’s Ariane 5 rocket, officials said…
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NASA to have limited role in SpaceX’s planned Mars campaign
Artist’s concept of a Dragon spacecraft at Mars. Credit: SpaceX Expertise, input and advice from seasoned NASA engineers will improve SpaceX’s chances of nailing the first commercial landing on Mars as soon as late 2018, a senior space agency official said Wednesday, but Elon Musk’s space transport company will likely seek more independence from U.S.…
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NASA to have limited role in SpaceX’s planned Mars campaign
Artist’s concept of a Dragon spacecraft at Mars. Credit: SpaceX Expertise, input and advice from seasoned NASA engineers will improve SpaceX’s chances of nailing the first commercial landing on Mars as soon as late 2018, a senior space agency official said Wednesday, but Elon Musk’s space transport company will likely seek more independence from U.S.…