Tag: SpaceX
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SpaceX launches first batch of satellites for the NRO’s reconnaissance satellite constellation
A Falcon 9 heads to orbit with a payload for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office. Image: SpaceX. Update 11:09 p.m. EDT: Adding additional information from the NRO. The National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) began building a constellation of unknown size with a middle-of-the-night launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The mission, dubbed NROL-146, featured…
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Launch Roundup: 100th launch of the year, Starliner delays, NASA’s PREFIRE-1 mission
There are two launches from China to start this week, the first of which will be the 95th launch attempt of the year worldwide. If all goes to plan, this week should see the 100th launch of 2024, although the schedule is rather fluid at present. SpaceX has already passed 50 launches this year and…
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We take a stab at decoding SpaceX’s ever-changing plans for Starship in Florida
There are a couple of ways to read the announcement from the Federal Aviation Administration that it’s kicking off a new environmental review of SpaceX’s plan to launch the most powerful rocket in the world from Florida. The FAA said on May 10 that it plans to develop an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for SpaceX’s…
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SpaceX launches Falcon 9 booster on record-breaking 21st flight
A SpaceX Falcon 9 second stage creates a so-called ‘jellyfish’ effect as it streaks across the sky over the Atlantic Ocean and a cruise ship out on the horizon. The Starlink 6-59 mission launched on May 17, 2024. Image: Michael Cain/Spaceflight Now SpaceX reached a new reusability milestone with its Falcon 9 rocket with a…
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Rocket Report: Starship stacked; Georgia shuts the door on Spaceport Camden
Welcome to Edition 6.44 of the Rocket Report! Kathy Lueders, general manager of SpaceX’s Starbase launch facility, says the company expects to receive an FAA launch license for the next Starship test flight shortly after Memorial Day. It looks like this rocket could fly in late May or early June, about two-and-a-half months after the…
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Starship Flight 4 begins Wet Dress Rehearsal campaign
SpaceX is gearing up for Flight 4. The start of full stack testing on Thursday resulted in a partial load of propellants, which will be followed by a full Wet Dress Rerhasal in the coming days. In tandem with preparation for the next flight, SpaceX is making progress on its future ambitions with a second…
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SpaceX launches 50th Falcon 9 rocket of 2024 on Starlink mission
SpaceX launches its 50th Falcon 9 rocket of 2024 in support of the Starlink 8-7 mission. Image: SpaceX SpaceX continues to expand its Starlink constellation that offer Direct to Cell capability through its Falcon 9 launch on Tuesday. There were 13 Direct to Cell-capable Starlink satellites among the 20 that launched from Vandenberg Space Force…
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SpaceX reaches nearly 6,000 Starlink satellites on orbit following Falcon 9 launch from Cape Canaveral
A Falcon 9 rocket streaks across the night sky over Florida as it lifts off on the Starlink 6-58 mission on May 12, 2024. Image: Adam Bernstein/Spaceflight Now SpaceX launched a batch of 23 Starlink satellites on its Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The mission brings the total number of Starlink…
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Space Coast looks toward the future with port and factory expansions
The space facilities around Cape Canaveral on Florida’s east coast are being prepared for a major ramp-up in flight activity over the coming months, years, and decades. This increase in spaceflight activity not only requires new launch pads and upgrades to processing facilities but also expanded factories and new additions to Port Canaveral. The port…
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SpaceX flies 13 more Direct to Cell Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket launch from Vandenberg SFB
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from SLC-4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base on May 9, 2024. Onboard were 20 Starlink satellites, 13 of which included the Direct to Cell capability. Image: SpaceX Update 12:53 a.m. EDT: SpaceX launched its Falcon 9 rocket. After a 24 hour mission delay, SpaceX was able to launch…