Tag: Starship
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Starship and other launch site preparations in Florida moving into a higher gear
The long-awaited Starship ramp-up in Florida has begun, with work increasing at Pad 39A on the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) grounds. NSF obtained pictures of these preparations during a Cape flight, and companies like Stoke Space and Relativity are also proceeding with construction for flights scheduled for 2025 or 2026. Starship SpaceX started preparations for…
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NASA’s boss-to-be proclaims we’re about to enter an “age of experimentation”
ORLANDO, Florida—On Wednesday, Jared Isaacman made his first public appearance since his nomination earlier this month to become NASA’s next administrator. Although his remarks were short on specifics, Isaacman endorsed a vision that would signal radical departures from the way NASA does business. He talked of commercial investment, a thriving space economy, and going fast…
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Ship 33 prepares for engine testing, Booster 14 Completes Static Fire
Three weeks after Flight 6, SpaceX has static fired Booster 14 and rolled Ship 33 to Masseys to complete its own engine testing. Once both vehicles are tested, SpaceX will begin the final drive to Flight 7, potentially launching in January. Booster 14 On Dec. 5, just over two weeks after Flight 6, SpaceX rolled…
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Jared Isaacman nominated as next NASA administrator
Jared Isaacman has been nominated by President-Elect Donald Trump of the United States of America to become the next NASA Administrator after Senator Bill Nelson’s term ends. Isaacman is expected to be sworn in on Jan. 20, 2025, the first day of Trump’s upcoming term. Isaacman has a long history in the aerospace industry. He…
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Starbase continues its rapid pace of advancement after Starship Flight 6
With a successful test of Starship Flight 6, SpaceX has continued building on its many projects around Starbase. Repair work has begun around the launch site, with damage found in different areas of the tower from prior launches. A proposed Gigabay could be coming to the Starbase production site shortly, and Ship 26 has finally…
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The key moment came 38 minutes after Starship roared off the launch pad
SpaceX launched its sixth Starship rocket Tuesday, proving for the first time that the stainless steel ship can maneuver in space and paving the way for an even larger, upgraded vehicle slated to debut on the next test flight. The only hiccup was an abortive attempt to catch the rocket’s Super Heavy booster back at…
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Launch preview: SpaceX to launch Starship Flight 6 test mission from Starbase in southern Texas
SpaceX fueled its fully integrated Starship rocket at its Starbase facilities on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in preparation for the Flight 6 suborbital test mission. Image: SpaceX After launching three Falcon 9 rockets in less than 20 hours, SpaceX is preparing to use its fourth and final active launchpad in the United States to launch…
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SpaceX will try some new tricks on Starship’s sixth test flight
The sixth flight of SpaceX’s giant Starship rocket, set for takeoff on Tuesday from South Texas, will test the vehicle’s limits in new ways. Most importantly, SpaceX will attempt to briefly reignite one of Starship’s six Raptor engines in space. SpaceX tried this on Starship’s third launch in March but aborted the engine restart after…
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SpaceX lands Ship 31 in the Indian Ocean but miss the Booster Catch
Another Starship flight is in the books after a flawless countdown and waiting through the road closure which started at 8am CST, Starship Flight 6 composed of Ship 31 and Booster 13 lifted off right at the top of the window at 4 pm CST. NSF, with around 27 camera views, was live on X…
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New study reveals Starship’s true sound levels; shows differences between SLS and Falcon 9
When SpaceX launched Starship and Super Heavy for its first flight test in April 2023, the rocket became the most powerful ever flown, mostly due in part to Super Heavy’s 33 Raptor engines. As such, Starship is loud — extremely loud, and scientists and government agencies have long discussed the potential environmental impacts from a…