Tag: SpaceX
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Astrobotic into testing of Griffin lunar lander for NASA’s Artemis program
Astrobotic, a Pittsburg-based lunar lander company, has fully assembled the test model for its largest lunar lander in development, the Griffin. A medium-class lander, Griffin is designed to deliver up to 625 kilograms to the lunar surface and survive for 14 days while providing communications and power to the payload if required. The fully loaded…
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NASA awards millions to SpaceX and Amazon’s Project Kuiper for satellite communications
An artist’s conception shows a NASA Tracking and Data Relay Satellite in orbit. (NASA Illustration) Six satellite ventures — including SpaceX’s Starlink network and Amazon’s Project Kuiper — are due to receive a total of $278.5 million in NASA funding to demonstrate next-generation space communication services in Earth orbit. The Communications Services Project is intended…
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Falcon 9 launches NROL-85 mission for National Reconnaissance Office
SpaceX launched a pair of ocean surveillance satellites for the National Reconnaissance Office on Sunday for the NROL-85 mission. The satellite lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base at 6:13 AM PDT (13:13 UTC). A flight-proven Falcon 9 was used to deliver the satellites into orbit, while the first stage returned to Vandenberg for a…
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Axiom-1 arrives at ISS for science-packed week on orbit
Crew Dragon Endeavour has successfully docked to the Node-2 zenith port — otherwise called the Harmony space-facing port — at 8:29 am EDT (12:29 UTC) after launching at 11:17 am EDT (15:17 UTC) the previous day. Docking was delayed for nearly 45 minutes due to an issue with a video uplink to the ISS while…
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Axiom-1 launches first ever private crewed mission to ISS
SpaceX and Axiom Space launched the AX-1 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) on Friday, April 8, 2022, at 11:17:11 am EDST / 15:17:11 UTC from LC-39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The first private crewed mission to the station is using the Crew Dragon Endeavour, flying its third mission, and will…
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SpaceX retires old Starship vehicles, puts new ones to the test
SpaceX is continuing to make progress with its prototype Starship vehicles, with Booster 7 undergoing a full cryoproofing test on Monday night. The move to the latest iteration of Super Heavy marks the end of service for Booster 4 and Ship 20, which has conducted numerous ground test objectives. Ship 24 – likely to pair…
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Spaceflight Inc. hails a pair of successful launches as it deals with frictions in SpaceX relationship
Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle lifts off into the skies over New Zealand, sending two BlackSky satellites into orbit. Seattle-based Spaceflight Inc. played a supporting role in the mission. (Joseph Baxter Photo via Rocket Lab) Thanks to its role in handling pre-launch logistics, Seattle-based Spaceflight Inc. can claim a share of the credit for two…
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SpaceX launches Transporter-4, first of six missions for Falcon 9 in April
SpaceX has launched Transporter-4, the fourth dedicated smallsat rideshare mission under their rideshare program. Transporter-4 – with its batch of 40 payloads – launched on a flight-proven Falcon 9 from Space Launch Complex-40 (SLC-40) from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS) on April 1 at 12:24:16 pm EDT (16:24:16 UTC). Transporter-4 was SpaceX’s 12th overall…
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A year after Blue Origin’s big setback, NASA gets set to support a second commercial moon lander
An astronaut looks at the lunar surface through the hatch of a moon lander. (NASA Illustration) NASA has laid out its plan for choosing a second commercial venture to build a landing system capable of carrying astronauts to and from the lunar surface. The venture would provide a competitive alternative to SpaceX’s lunar landing system,…
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SpaceX sets new booster reuse record on Starlink mission
SpaceX launched the Starlink Group 4-12 mission with a Falcon 9 rocket with 53 satellites into Low Earth Orbit. Liftoff occurred at 12:42 AM EDT (04:42 UTC) on Saturday, March 19 from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Saturday’s mission marked the first time a Falcon 9…