Tag: SpaceX
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Elon Musk explains why SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket is risky – and revolutionary
The Falcon Heavy rocket’s side-booster separation procedure is one of the riskiest parts of the ascent. (SpaceX via YouTube) CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Launching the Falcon Heavy rocket is arguably one of the riskiest operations that SpaceX has ever taken on, but billionaire CEO Elon Musk says he’s made his peace with the risks. “Normally…
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Jeff Bezos wishes SpaceX ‘best of luck’ with Falcon Heavy – and Elon Musk replies with a smooch
Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin venture is getting ready for launch. (Blue Origin Photo) All eyes are on Elon Musk as his company SpaceX gets ready to launch its first Falcon Heavy rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida as early as Tuesday, and fellow wealthy space enthusiast Jeff Bezos is also paying…
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Photos: Falcon Heavy in position for first test launch
SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket stood atop historic launch pad 39A on Monday, one day before 27 kerosene-fueled rocket engines will dispatch the towering rocket into space with nearly 5 million pounds of thrust. Liftoff Tuesday is planned during a two-and-a-half hour launch window opening at 1:30 p.m. EST (1830 GMT). The 229-foot-tall (70-meter) Falcon Heavy…
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SpaceX’s Elon Musk adds a ‘Starman’ to the Tesla Roadster he’s sending into space
A closeup shows the spacesuit-clad figure sitting in a Tesla Roadster that’s destined to be launched into deep space. (SpaceX Photo via Instagram / Elon Musk) CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — When SpaceX launches a Tesla Roadster sports car into deep space atop its very first Falcon Heavy rocket, the driver’s seat won’t be empty. The…
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SpaceX receives commercial launch license for first Falcon Heavy flight
Credit: SpaceX The Federal Aviation Administration has approved a launch license for SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket set for blastoff Tuesday, giving the U.S. government’s regulatory green light for the heavy-lifter to dispatch Elon Musk’s used electric sports car on a one-way trip into deep space. Dated Feb. 2, the FAA launch license clears a final…
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Falcon 9 launches GovSat-1 from SLC-40 – Booster survives water landing
SpaceX launched Luxembourg’s first military spacecraft on Wednesday, with a flight-proven Falcon 9 carrying the GovSat-1 communications satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit. Liftoff from Cape Canaveral’s Space Launch Complex 40 was at the start of a 121-minute window that opened at 16:25 Eastern Time (21:25 UTC). Amazingly, the booster survived a water landing, despite the…
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SpaceX launches GovSat-1 satellite, clearing the way for Falcon Heavy’s debut
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, sending the GovSat-1 satellite to space. (SpaceX via YouTube) SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket sent a telecommunications satellite into orbit today for Luxembourg’s government and the SES satellite venture, setting the stage for next week’s maiden launch of SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket.…
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SpaceX schedules Feb. 6 target date for Falcon Heavy test launch
SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket on Kennedy Space Center’s launch pad 39A. Credit: SpaceX SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket could blast off for the first time as soon as Feb. 6, company founder Elon Musk said Saturday, announcing the first official target launch date for the heavy-lifter’s maiden mission from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Standing…
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Falcon Heavy lowered at launch pad
The SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket was lowered to the horizontal position at launch pad 39A on 27 January 2018 after a successful test firing of its 27 first stage engines. The rocket’s maiden flight is expected to occur soon. This time-lapse video runs at ten times normal speed. This video is made possible by the…
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It’s a date! SpaceX’s Elon Musk sets Falcon Heavy rocket’s huge first launch for Feb. 6
SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy stands tall at Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida during ground testing. (SpaceX Photo) The world’s most powerful rocket finally has a date for its debut: Feb. 6. In a tweet, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk confirmed the target date for the first test launch of his company’s Falcon…