Tag: SpaceX
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Falcon 9 with Dragon 2 rolls out for DM-1 dry dress rehearsal at 39A
The SpaceX Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon capsule which will execute the Demonstration Mission-1 (DM-1) test flight have rolled out to Pad 39A for fit checks ahead of launch. The rollout is a strong indicator that SpaceX is nearly ready to perform the much anticipated DM-1 mission – an uncrewed certification flight for NASA’s Commercial…
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After four delays, SpaceX launches Air Force’s first next-gen GPS III satellite
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. (SpaceX via YouTube) SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket sent a next-generation GPS satellite into orbit today for the U.S. Air Force, marking a couple of firsts — as well as a “last.” It’s the first GPS III spacecraft to reach space, marking the…
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SpaceX close out 2018 with GPS III launch
SpaceX capped an impressive 21 launch year campaign with the company’s long-sought first U.S. National Security mission. Following technical and weather challenges, Falcon 9’s latest attempt to launch was successfully conducted on Sunday, with lift off occurring at 08:51 Eastern (13:51 UTC). Launch of the GPS III-SV01 spacecraft marked SpaceX’s first competitively awarded EELV, Evolved Expendable…
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SpaceX wins $28.7M contract from Air Force for data connectivity research
SpaceX’s plan for global broadband satellite coverage calls for using sets of satellites orbiting at different altitudes. (PatentYogi via YouTube) SpaceX has won a $28.7 million fixed-price contract from the Air Force Research Laboratory for experiments in data connectivity involving ground sites, aircraft and space assets — a project that could give a boost to the…
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Report: SpaceX raising $500M to get Starlink satellite service off the ground
SpaceX’s two prototype Starlink satellites are seen on either side of their carrier in advance of their launch in February. (SpaceX via YouTube) SpaceX is set to raise $500 million in new investment to boost the development of its Starlink internet satellite service, The Wall Street Journal reported today. The funding round sets the California-based…
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SpaceX sends cargo ship to space station, and then Falcon 9 booster spins and swims
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, sending a Dragon cargo ship into orbit. (NASA Photo) SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket sent a robotic Dragon cargo capsule into orbit today from Florida to deliver 5,600 pounds of supplies and experiments to the International Space Station, just two days…
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Third time’s the charm: SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket launches a record 64 satellites for Spaceflight
SpaceX’s first triple-launched Falcon 9 booster lights up to send 64 satellites into space. (SpaceX Photo) SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket launched Seattle-based Spaceflight’s first-ever dedicated rideshare mission, a satellite extravaganza aimed at placing 64 spacecraft in low Earth orbit. Today’s liftoff from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California came off at 10:34 a.m. PT, sending…
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SpaceX Falcon 9 launches SSO-A multi-sat mission
SpaceX will for the first time launch a Falcon 9 booster on its third flight on Monday, as part of a mission to deliver a cluster of small satellites to low Earth orbit. Liftoff is scheduled for a twenty-eight minute launch window that opens at 10:31 Pacific Time (18:31 UTC). T-0 occurred at 34 minutes…
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Spaceflight’s 64-satellite extravaganza inches closer to SpaceX launch
A twice-flown SpaceX Falcon booster is readied for its third mission, set for launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Scorch marks give the first-stage booster a “sooty” appearance. (SpaceX Photo via Twitter) Seattle-based Spaceflight Industries is closing in on what’s shaping up as a grand convergence in commercial space. Spaceflight, which handles launch logistics…
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Elon Musk says there’s a 70 percent chance he’ll move to Mars (and possibly die there)
Axios’ Jim VandeHei and Mike Allen interview SpaceX CEO Elon Musk. (Axios / HBO via YouTube) As NASA prepares for its next Mars landing on Monday, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is giving himself a 70 percent chance of moving to Mars. But in an Axios interview airing tonight on HBO, he emphasizes that it won’t…