Tag: Starlink
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SpaceX pulls off Starlink 7-18 mission on fourth day of launch attempts
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off at sunset from Vandenberg Space Force Base on April 1, 2024. Image: SpaceX Following three unsuccessful launch attempts at the end of March, SpaceX was able to pull off an April Fool’s Day Starlink launch. The Starlink 7-18 mission launched at 7:30 p.m. PDT (10:30 EDT, 0230 UTC)…
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Launch Roundup: Delta IV Heavy swan song, Falcon 9 and Soyuz launches on tap for last week of March
A trio of Falcon 9 Starlink launches, a Falcon 9 non-Starlink launch involving an Eutelsat communications satellite, a Chinese launch, and a Russian Soyuz launch with a Resurs Earth observation satellite were scheduled for this week. However, the launch that will likely get the most attention is the final launch ever of a Delta family…
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SpaceX reaches 19 flights with a Falcon 9 booster for a third time with Starlink mission
For a third time, a SpaceX Falcon 9 first stage booster achieves its 19th flight, tying it as a launch leader. Liftoff on the Starlink 6-42 mission came following a weather scrub on Friday, March 22. Image: Adam Bernstein/Spaceflight Now Update 11:45 p.m. ET: SpaceX launched the Starlink 6-42 mission close to the end of…
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SpaceX launches Starlink mission on third attempt from Kennedy Space Center
On its third launch attempt, SpaceX was able to launch a Falcon 9 rocket on the Starlink 6-44 mission on March 15, 2024. Image: Pete Carstens/Spaceflight Now The third time proved to be the charm for SpaceX as it was able to launch a Falcon 9 rocket on the Starlink 6-44 mission Friday night from…
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Launch Roundup: SpaceX launches three Falcon 9 rockets in just over 20 hours
Three missions have now launched this week, starting with Crew-8, which is sending a new crew to the International Space Station for a six-month tour of duty after successfully launching from Florida. Starlink 6-41 from Cape Canaveral and Transporter 10 from Vandenberg Space Force Base have also flown, and the debut of a new small…
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Launch Roundup: SpaceX launches two Starlink missions; China launches Chang Zheng 5
A brand new week of spaceflight is approaching with SpaceX preparing to launch three Starlink missions, China getting ready to send two payloads to orbit, including one on the powerful Chang Zheng 5 (CZ-5) rocket, and Roscosmos preparing to launch Russian-built satellites to orbit atop Soyuz. Late on Feb. 22, Starlink Group 7-15 took 22…
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Chinese Launch Startup Orienspace Secures $83.5 Million in Funding Round
Chinese launch company Orienspace has announced a successful Series B funding round worth nearly 600 million yuan ($83.5 million) shortly after its maiden launch, underscoring China’s efforts to bolster its burgeoning commercial space sector. The funding round, disclosed on January 24, attracted investment from notable entities including Liangxi Science and Technology Innovation Industry Fund of…
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Rakuten Mobile and AST SpaceMobile Plan Satellite-to-Mobile Service in Japan by 2026
Rakuten Mobile, in collaboration with U.S. satellite designer AST SpaceMobile, has unveiled its ambitious plan to introduce a commercial satellite-to-mobile service in Japan by 2026. This innovative broadband service will enable video and voice calls directly accessible by regular smartphones, eliminating the need for a terminal connection. The rollout timeline remains uncertain, but the coverage…
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SpaceX takes a proactive step toward responsible behavior in orbit
SpaceX announced this week that it will voluntarily bring down about 100 of its first-generation Starlink satellites, which provide broadband Internet from low-Earth orbit, as part of its commitment to “space sustainability.” The satellites are presently operational and serving Internet customers. However, in a statement, the company said, “The Starlink team identified a common issue…
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Launch Roundup: SpaceX to launch next ISS crew rotation; Electron launches debris removal demonstration
Despite multiple scrubs and delays due to weather violations, SpaceX broke its own cadence record in January with 10 launches and landings in a calendar month. Those weather challenges have prevailed into February. Between these and the pad logistics related to launching the Intuitive Machines IM-1 mission, PACE satellite, USSF-124, and an upcoming crewed mission,…