Tag: SpaceX
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Starlink v1.0 L28 mission completes first “shell” of satellites for worldwide coverage
SpaceX’s 16th Falcon 9 launch of the year on Wednesday May 26 lifted off with 60 Starlink satellites to finish the first of five orbital shells for the constellation. Liftoff from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) occurred on time at 2:59 PM EDT (18:59 UTC). The Starlink constellation promises to provide high speed broadband internet…
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Falcon Heavy’s first national security launch slips to October
The second launch of a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket in April 2019. Credit: Walter Scriptunas II / Spaceflight Now The next launch of a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket has been delayed from July to October to await the readiness of its U.S. military payload, and the following Falcon Heavy flight has been rescheduled from late…
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Starship SN15 patiently awaits a decision – The Road to Orbit
Following its successful launch and landing, Starship SN15 has been placed back onto a launch mount for inspections and a potential re-flight. The upcoming test schedule will be focused on providing a green light for an orbital attempt that has already been filed with the FCC (Federal Communications Commission). Starship SN15: SpaceX finds itself in…
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SpaceX outlines plans for Starship orbital test flight
Artist’s concept of a Super Heavy booster and Starship vehicle stacked together during launch. Credit: SpaceX SpaceX has revealed the flight plan for the first orbital test launch of the company’s huge stainless steel Starship rocket, a 90-minute, around-the-world mission that will originate from South Texas and culminate with a controlled re-entry and splashdown in…
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Following Starship SN15’s success, SpaceX evaluating next steps toward orbital goals
SpaceX is considering numerous options for the upcoming Starship test schedule as the goal of reaching orbit by the summer becomes increasingly realistic. Following Starship SN15’s successful test, options include reflying the vehicle to achieve key reusability objectives, launch SN16 to a higher altitude, or push straight through to orbital testing on Super Heavy. Starship…
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SpaceX flies historic 10th mission of a Falcon 9 as Starlink constellation expands
SpaceX conducted the historic 10th flight of a Falcon 9 rocket booster on the Starlink V1.0 L27 mission Sunday. The mission launched from SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on 9 May at 02:42 EDT / 06:42 UTC with an 80% positive launch weather and a “low risk” for recovery weather. This mission marked…
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Upgraded Starship prototype makes first soft landing after test flight
SpaceX launched and landed an upgraded prototype for the company’s next-generation Starship vehicle in South Texas on Wednesday, the company’s first Starship test flight since winning a $2.9 billion NASA contract to use the craft to land astronauts on the Moon. Elon Musk, SpaceX’s founder and CEO tweeted: “Starship landing nominal!” The 164-foot-tall (50-meter)…
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Starship SN15 conducts smooth test flight and nails landing
Starship SN15 proved out a number of upgrades that resulted in a smooth touchdown on the Boca Chica landing pad on Wednesday. The successful test took place amid ongoing groundwork for the push to orbit is taking place both at the Orbital Launch Site and elsewhere in Texas as a new dual-bay Raptor test stand…
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SpaceX resumes parallel pad operations with Starlink v1.0 L25 mission
Both of SpaceX’s Florida launch pads are back into Starlink launch flow as the company continues to deploy the satellite internet constellation with the Starlink v1.0 L25 mission lifting off from LC-39A at the Kennedy Space Center at 15:01 EDT / 19:01 UTC on Tuesday, 4 May. Following a relatively quiet stretch at 39A surrounding…
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Billionaire commander and future space crewmates bond during Mount Rainier trek
Inspiration4 crewmates Christopher Sembroski, Sian Proctor, Jared Isaacman and Hayley Arceneaux revel in their visit to Mount Rainier. (Inspiration4 Photo / John Kraus) The road to space runs through … Mount Rainier? Shift4 Payments CEO Jared Isaacman, who’s paying for a trip to orbit as a fundraiser for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, thinks a…