Tag: SpaceX
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Space companies rally to supply medical equipment amid pandemic
A “bridge ventilator” designed by Virgin Orbit. Credit: Virgin Orbit While production of rockets and satellites continues across much of the space industry amid the coronavirus pandemic, engineers at several space companies — including SpaceX, Virgin Orbit and Blue Origin — have started working on medical devices and protective equipment in response to shortages in…
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Starship SN3 failure due to bad commanding. SN4 already under construction
SpaceX Starship SN3, the latest iteration of Starship test vehicles, was lost during testing at the launch site in Boca Chica, Texas. The incident occurred during proof testing on Friday morning. However, Elon Musk has since clarified the issue was the result of incorrect commanding resulting in the loss of pressure, as opposed to any…
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SpaceX prints out a preview of super-sized Starship’s capabilities in users guide
SpaceX provided details about the expected capabilities of its fully reusable Starship super-heavy-lift launch system in a payload users guide that was issued online today. Starship and its Super Heavy booster are still in their early stages of development — primarily at SpaceX’s Boca Chica launch complex in south Texas, where a new round of…
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Japanese astronaut joins the crew for SpaceX Dragon mission to space station
Veteran Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguchi, seen here in 2010, is joining the crew of a SpaceX Crew Dragon flight to the International Space Station. (NASA Photo) The first non-American to be added to the crew for a SpaceX Dragon flight to the International Space Station is Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguchi. Noguchi first visited the space…
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Dragon XL revealed as NASA ties SpaceX to Lunar Gateway supply contract
NASA has awarded SpaceX with a resupply contract for the Lunar Gateway. Built on the foundations of the successful agreement to resupply the ISS, SpaceX will employ its Falcon Heavy rocket to launch a new spacecraft called the Dragon XL to the lunar outpost under a Gateway Logistics Services (GLS) contract. NASA’s Lunar Gateway is…
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SpaceX wins NASA contract to send cargo to lunar Gateway with new Dragon XL craft
An artist’s conception shows SpaceX’s Dragon XL cargo ship as it is deployed from the Falcon Heavy’s second stage in high Earth orbit, on its way to the Gateway in lunar orbit. (SpaceX Illustration) NASA has tapped a type of SpaceX cargo craft that hasn’t yet been built to deliver supplies to a moon-orbiting outpost…
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COVID-19 grips world space organizations
As world leaders grapple and struggle to control the coronavirus pandemic which leads to the COVID-19 disease, the world’s space organizations are also adopting various policies to help combat the spread of the illness and protect their workforces. While business remains largely “as usual” in the United States arena, Russian authorities are taking added measures…
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SpaceX wins FCC license for up to a million Starlink satellite broadband data terminals
An artist’s conception shows the deployment of SpaceX’s Starlink satellites. (SpaceX Illustration) After months of consideration, the Federal Communications Commission has granted SpaceX a license for up to a million terminals that would work on the ground with the company’s Starlink satellite constellation to deliver global broadband internet service. Word of the 15-year license’s approval…
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SpaceX sends sixth batch of 60 Starlink satellites into orbit and marks milestone for rocket reusability
A Falcon 9 rocket sent SpaceX’s sixth batch of 60 Starlink broadband satellites into orbit and set a record for reusability today, but missed making yet another touchdown. The Falcon 9 lifted off right on time at 8:16 a.m. ET (5:16 a.m. PT) from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. It…
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SpaceX aborts Starlink satellite launch at the last second, due to Falcon 9 rocket engine issue
SpaceX’s planned launch of its sixth batch of 60 Starlink broadband satellites literally fizzled out today, due to an engine power problem on the Falcon 9 rocket. The countdown at Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A in Florida went all the way to zero at 9:22 a.m. ET (6:22 a.m. PT). But the rocket didn’t…