Live views of launch pad 39A (members only)

A novel communications experiment developed by NASA and the Naval Research Laboratory has arrived at the International Space Station to prove data can be transmitted in space using X-ray signals, a breakthrough that could have uses in deep space exploration and military technology on Earth.

The batch of 21 Starlink satellites includes another 13 with the Direct to Cell capability. Liftoff from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station happened at 8:50 a.m. EDT (1250 UTC) Saturday.

Investigators believe a leak of propellant inside the Crew Dragon spacecraft’s propulsion system led to the capsule’s explosion April 20 during a ground test at Cape Canaveral, and a senior SpaceX official said Monday that delays are making it “increasingly difficult” to fly astronauts on the commercial spaceship before the end of the year.