Tag: SpaceX
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Axiom-1 arrives at ISS for science-packed week on orbit
Crew Dragon Endeavour has successfully docked to the Node-2 zenith port — otherwise called the Harmony space-facing port — at 8:29 am EDT (12:29 UTC) after launching at 11:17 am EDT (15:17 UTC) the previous day. Docking was delayed for nearly 45 minutes due to an issue with a video uplink to the ISS while…
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Axiom-1 launches first ever private crewed mission to ISS
SpaceX and Axiom Space launched the AX-1 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) on Friday, April 8, 2022, at 11:17:11 am EDST / 15:17:11 UTC from LC-39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The first private crewed mission to the station is using the Crew Dragon Endeavour, flying its third mission, and will…
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SpaceX retires old Starship vehicles, puts new ones to the test
SpaceX is continuing to make progress with its prototype Starship vehicles, with Booster 7 undergoing a full cryoproofing test on Monday night. The move to the latest iteration of Super Heavy marks the end of service for Booster 4 and Ship 20, which has conducted numerous ground test objectives. Ship 24 – likely to pair…
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Spaceflight Inc. hails a pair of successful launches as it deals with frictions in SpaceX relationship
Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle lifts off into the skies over New Zealand, sending two BlackSky satellites into orbit. Seattle-based Spaceflight Inc. played a supporting role in the mission. (Joseph Baxter Photo via Rocket Lab) Thanks to its role in handling pre-launch logistics, Seattle-based Spaceflight Inc. can claim a share of the credit for two…
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SpaceX launches Transporter-4, first of six missions for Falcon 9 in April
SpaceX has launched Transporter-4, the fourth dedicated smallsat rideshare mission under their rideshare program. Transporter-4 – with its batch of 40 payloads – launched on a flight-proven Falcon 9 from Space Launch Complex-40 (SLC-40) from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS) on April 1 at 12:24:16 pm EDT (16:24:16 UTC). Transporter-4 was SpaceX’s 12th overall…
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A year after Blue Origin’s big setback, NASA gets set to support a second commercial moon lander
An astronaut looks at the lunar surface through the hatch of a moon lander. (NASA Illustration) NASA has laid out its plan for choosing a second commercial venture to build a landing system capable of carrying astronauts to and from the lunar surface. The venture would provide a competitive alternative to SpaceX’s lunar landing system,…
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SpaceX sets new booster reuse record on Starlink mission
SpaceX launched the Starlink Group 4-12 mission with a Falcon 9 rocket with 53 satellites into Low Earth Orbit. Liftoff occurred at 12:42 AM EDT (04:42 UTC) on Saturday, March 19 from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Saturday’s mission marked the first time a Falcon 9…
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Starship undergoing full-stack cryoproofing while Florida ramps up
Preparations are underway for the next milestone for the Starship program, following the stacking of Ship 20 atop Booster 4. For the third time, the second using the Mechazilla chopstick system, Starbase has a full-stack at the Orbital Launch Site, this time setting up a cryoproofing test with both the Booster and Ship stacked together.…
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Methalox race likely to be won in 2022, but winner not yet clear
Right now, several methane-fueled rockets are in a race to orbit. With Starship from SpaceX, Vulcan from United Launch Alliance (ULA), and Neutron from Rocket Lab, all of the most active US launch providers are committed to using methalox-methane and oxygen. Upcoming launchers such as New Glenn from Blue Origin and the Terran family from…
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Group 4-10 brings Starlink to over 2,000 operational satellites
SpaceX launched 48 Starlink internet communication satellites to low Earth orbit Wednesday morning from Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Liftoff occurred at 8:45 AM EST (13:45 UTC) on March 9, with the Starlink Group 4-10 mission marking SpaceX’s 10th launch of 2022 – averaging one launch every…