Tag: SpaceX
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SpaceX launches 500th orbital Falcon rocket on 15th anniversary of the Falcon 9
A Falcon 9 rocket liftoff off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on June 4, 2025, carrying 27 Starlink satellites. It was the 500th orbital launch of a rocket in SpaceX’s Falcon family. Image: SpaceX. Update June 4, 8:00 p.m. EDT: SpaceX landed on the droneship. SpaceX was back at the launch pad for…
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Jacobs Wins $4 Bln U.S. Space Force Contract to Support Launch Ranges Through 2035
The U.S. Space Force has awarded Jacobs Technology a contract worth up to $4 billion over 10 years to provide engineering and technical services across the nation’s primary space launch ranges, the military said. The “Space Force Range Contract,” awarded by the Space Systems Command on May 31, will support operations at the Eastern Range,…
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SpaceX Falcon 9 Launches U.S. Military’s Latest GPS Satellite
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched the U.S. military’s newest Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite on May 30, marking another step in modernizing the GPS constellation. The rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 1:37 p.m. Eastern Time, carrying the GPS III SV-08 satellite, the eighth spacecraft in the U.S. Space…
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China’s Astronstone Secures $14 Million to Develop Stainless Steel Reusable Rocket Modeled on SpaceX Starship
Astronstone, one of China’s newest commercial space startups, announced it has raised over 100 million yuan ($13.9 million) in early-stage funding to develop a stainless steel, reusable rocket inspired by SpaceX’s Starship system. Founded in mid-2024, Astronstone is developing its AS-1 launch vehicle, a 70-meter tall, 4.2-meter diameter rocket powered by a customized version of…
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SpaceX Starship Loses Attitude Control During Test Flight, Marking Third Consecutive Uncontrolled Reentry
SpaceX’s Starship vehicle experienced a loss of attitude control after reaching space during its May 27 test flight, resulting in an uncontrolled reentry and the third consecutive failure to achieve a controlled splashdown. The vehicle lifted off from SpaceX’s Starbase facility in Texas at 7:36 p.m. Eastern time. The launch was briefly delayed due to…
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SpaceX to Launch Advanced GPS Satellite as U.S. Military Accelerates Security Upgrades
SpaceX is preparing to launch the U.S. military’s latest Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite, GPS III SV-08, on May 30 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, after the mission was reassigned from United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) Vulcan rocket due to ongoing delays. The satellite, built by Lockheed Martin, will be the eighth in the…
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Launch Roundup: Rocket Lab launches 65th Electron, SpaceX launches four missions
SpaceX continued to dominate the launch manifest with four missions this week, including SXM-10, and three Starlink launches from various locations around the globe. Additionally, Rocket Lab conducted its 65th Electron flight, transporting the BlackSky Gen-3 satellite to orbit on the “Full Stream Ahead” mission. Meanwhile, China launched a Chang Zheng 6A to a polar…
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SpaceX launches midnight hour Starlink mission from Florida
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station to begin the Starlink 12-19 mission on Tuesday, June 3, 2025. Image: Adam Bernstein/Spaceflight Now Update June 3, 3:12 p.m. EDT: The first stage booster successfully landed on the droneship. SpaceX managed to launch its latest…
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SpaceX scrubs Monday morning launch of 23 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral
File: A Falcon 9 stands ready to launch the Starlink 12-5 mission from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Image: Spaceflight Now. Update June 2, 12:14 p.m. EDT: SpaceX scrubbed the Monday morning launch attempt and is now targeting Tuesday, June 3. SpaceX decided to scrub its plans to…
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West Coast Falcon 9 launches 27 satellites for SpaceX’s Starlink internet service
A Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Vandenberg Space Force Base on May 31, 2025, on the Starlink 11-18 mission. Image: SpaceX. SpaceX closed out May with its 16th Falcon 9 launch of the month. The Saturday afternoon launch from the company’s West Coast launch pad carried 27 Starlink V2 Mini satellites to a low…