Tag: Starlink
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Launch Roundup: Delta IV swan song, Angara test flight from Russia, and three Falcon 9 flights
The second week of April not only has a long-awaited total solar eclipse but also orbital launches from Russia and the United States. Besides the long-awaited NROL-70 Delta IV Heavy finale, there was a test flight of the Russian Angara rocket from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia and a handful of Falcon 9 launches. Delta…
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SpaceX begins commercial Direct to Cell Starlink constellation with Falcon 9 flight from Vandenberg Space Force Base
A Falcon 9 rocket lifts off at sunset from Vandenberg Space Force Base on the Starlink 8-1 mission on April 6, 2024. Image: SpaceX For a second time this year, SpaceX is preparing to launch another batch of Starlink satellites that support its Direct to Cell capability. The six spacecraft are among the 21 total…
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SpaceX begins 2024 with several record-breaking feats
SpaceX has kicked off 2024 breaking records and setting new standards for its operations. The Falcon family of rockets achieved 31 launches in the first quarter of the year putting the company on track to complete 125 launches by the end of 2024. SpaceX also debuted a new crew access tower for Dragon and launched…
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SpaceX launches 23 Starlink satellites onboard Falcon 9 flight from Cape Canaveral
A Falcon 9 rocket streaks across the night sky above Florida on the Starlink 6-45 mission on March 30, 2024. Image: Michael Cain/Spaceflight Now Update: Falcon 9 launched at 9:30 p.m. EDT (0130 UTC). SpaceX followed the successful launch of a European television satellite with the first of a planned pair of its own 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…