Tag: SpaceX
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SpaceX launches Nilesat-301 on first GTO mission of 2022
SpaceX launched its workhorse Falcon 9 rocket with the Nilesat-301 satellite into a geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) on Wednesday. Lifting off from Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Falcon 9 embarked on its first GTO mission of the year at 5:04 PM EDT (21:04 UTC). Flying this mission was first…
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May on the station: Starliner’s ISS debut, research, and spacesuit troubleshooting
May 2022 was an eventful and important month for the future of the International Space Station as well as the Commercial Crew program designed to support it. The astronauts of the SpaceX Crew-3 mission returned to Earth aboard Crew Dragon Endurance after handing over operations to the recently arrived Crew-4 members. Also, the Boeing Starliner…
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KARI names KPLO as it begins communication testing
The Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) is preparing to launch its Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter (KPLO), recently named Danuri. Danuri is South Korea’s first of many planned lunar missions in the coming future. This mission is developed and operated by KARI with contributions from NASA. A SpaceX Falcon 9 will launch Danuri on August 2,…
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Ship 24 rolls out for testing while Booster 7 receives Raptors
The recent focus at Starbase has been Booster 7 and Ship 24. Booster 7 appears to have completed its series of cryogenic proof testing and is now being prepared for static fire tests. Ship 24, meanwhile, has rolled out to the launch site for its own cryogenic tests ahead of engine install, static fires, and…
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SpaceX launches 59 payloads, including Spaceflight’s latest breed of orbital tug
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket rises from its Florida launch pad. (SpaceX via YouTube) A new type of controllable orbital transfer vehicle built by Seattle-based Spaceflight Inc. made its debut today when SpaceX sent dozens of satellites into orbit on a Falcon 9 rocket. SpaceX’s Transporter-5 mission, which is part of the company’s rideshare program, lifted…
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SpaceX launches Falcon 9 on Transporter-5 Rideshare Mission
At 18:35 UTC (2:35 p.m. EDT) on May 25, SpaceX has launched yet another Falcon 9 rocket. Lifting off from Space Launch Complex-40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Falcon 9 is carrying several dozen payloads to a sun-synchronous orbit for the Transporter-5 rideshare mission. The flight featured a somewhat rare return to launch…
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SpaceX launches Starlink 4-18, third Starlink mission in five days
SpaceX launched its 47th Starlink mission with the latest Starlink mission. Starlink Group 4-18 set sail on a flight-proven Falcon 9 from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC), at 6:59 am EDT during a single-second instantaneous launch window. Starlink Group 4-18 is the 21st SpaceX launch and 14th Starlink mission of…
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SpaceX launches Starlink 4-15 mission, expands booster fleet
SpaceX has launched its twentieth Falcon 9 rocket of the year with a batch of Starlink satellites to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) on the Starlink Group 4-15 mission. Liftoff occurred on Saturday, May 14 at 4:40:50pm EDT (20:40:50 UTC) from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS) in Florida. The…
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SpaceX launches morning Starlink mission from Kennedy Space Center
SpaceX launched 53 internet communication satellites to low Earth orbit on the Starlink Group 4-17 mission. With liftoff scheduled for 09:42 UTC (5:42 AM EDT), the Falcon 9 launched from historic Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A). This mission marked SpaceX’s 18th mission of 2022, making a pace of one Falcon 9 launch every seven days. In…
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One year since SN15, Starbase lays groundwork for orbital attempt
It’s been a whole year since the last launch out of Starbase, Texas – as SpaceX continues to lay the groundwork for the orbital launch attempt. Somewhat a victim of their own success, the achievement of SN15’s test flight removed the need for additional “hops,” with Chief Designer Elon Musk opting to go all-in on…