Tag: SpaceX
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Yahsat Chooses SpaceX for $1.1 Billion Satellite Launch Program
Yahsat, the Emirati satellite operator, announced on Friday that it has selected SpaceX to launch its Al Yah 4 and Al Yah 5 geostationary communications satellites as part of a $1.1 billion program. The Al Yah 4 satellite is scheduled for launch in 2027, followed by Al Yah 5 in 2028, both aboard SpaceX’s Falcon…
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Chinese space firm unintentionally launches its new rocket
One of the most promising Chinese space startups, Space Pioneer, experienced a serious anomaly this weekend while testing the first stage of its Tianlong-3 rocket near the city of Gongyi. The rocket was undergoing a static fire test of the stage, in which a vehicle is clamped to a test stand while its engines are…
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NASA and SpaceX Address Debris Concerns from Dragon Spacecraft
NASA and SpaceX are evaluating modifications to the reentry process of the Dragon spacecraft to mitigate debris from its trunk section reaching the ground, Reuters reported. Recent incidents involving debris from several missions have prompted a reevaluation of existing procedures. Previously, debris from Dragon spacecraft trunks has been found on land, including fragments from missions…
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NASA and Boeing Navigate Extended CST-100 Starliner Mission Amid Technical Hurdles
NASA and Boeing Co said on Tuesday they were delaying the return of a planned two-member crew from the International Space Station (ISS) to conduct additional tests on their CST-100 Starliner spacecraft, aiming to resolve thruster malfunctions and helium leaks. NASA’s commercial crew program manager, Steve Stich, emphasized that astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams…
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NASA and Boeing Navigate Extended CST-100 Starliner Mission Amid Technical Hurdles
NASA and Boeing Co said on Tuesday they were delaying the return of a planned two-member crew from the International Space Station (ISS) to conduct additional tests on their CST-100 Starliner spacecraft, aiming to resolve thruster malfunctions and helium leaks. NASA’s commercial crew program manager, Steve Stich, emphasized that astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams…
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SpaceX’s Falcon 9 Rocket Lifts Indonesian Satellite into Orbit from Cape Canaveral
In a significant stride toward enhancing broadband internet access across Indonesia, the country’s latest communications satellite, Telkomsat HTS 113BT, also known as Merah Putih 2, was successfully launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 3:11 p.m. EST. The launch, conducted amidst challenging windy conditions, saw the Falcon 9…
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SpaceX Falcon 9 Launches NROL-186 Mission for U.S. National Reconnaissance Office
n a night-time spectacle at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched the NROL-186 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) on June 28. The mission, conducted from Space Launch Complex 4 East, involved the deployment of a new batch of satellites for a classified imaging satellite constellation jointly developed…
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NASA Awards SpaceX $843 Million to Build Space Station Deorbit Vehicle
NASA announced on Wednesday that it has selected SpaceX to build a vehicle, dubbed the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle, tasked with safely deorbiting the International Space Station (ISS) by around 2030. This responsibility was originally planned for Russian thrusters. The agreement, valued at $843 million, aims to ensure a controlled retirement of the ISS, minimizing risks…
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SpaceX Set to Launch 20 More Starlink Satellites, Including Direct to Cell Capable Ones
SpaceX is gearing up for another Starlink satellite launch, adding 20 satellites to its low Earth orbit constellation, including 13 with Direct to Cell capabilities. The mission, named Starlink 8-8, is scheduled to lift off from Vandenberg Space Force Base at 5:58 a.m. PDT (8:58 a.m. EDT, 1258 UTC). This launch follows closely on the…
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Eumetsat Shifts Weather Satellite Launch to Falcon 9, Surprising European Space Sector
Eumetsat, the European weather satellite operator, has unexpectedly decided to launch its upcoming Meteosat Third Generation-Sounder 1 (MTG-S1) satellite on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket instead of Europe’s Ariane 6, a move that has stirred frustration among European space officials. Announced late on June 28, Eumetsat attributed the decision to “exceptional circumstances” but did not elaborate…