February 2021 – Page 4 – Spaceflight Now

Next SpaceX launch postponed

February 16, 2021 Stephen Clark

SpaceX has postponed its next launch of Starlink internet satellites from Wednesday after a Falcon 9 booster missed a landing attempt on an offshore drone ship during an otherwise successful mission Monday night.

Perseverance Mars rover on course for landing Thursday

February 16, 2021 William Harwood

A week after two space probes from China and United Arab Emirates slipped into orbit around Mars, NASA’s $2.4 billion Perseverance rover, by far the most complex and ambitious of the three, will plunge into the red planet’s atmosphere Thursday for an automated white-knuckle descent.

SpaceX successfully deploys 60 Starlink satellites, but loses booster on descent

February 16, 2021 Stephen Clark

SpaceX successfully launched 60 more Starlink internet satellites Monday night from Cape Canaveral, but lost the Falcon 9 rocket’s reusable first stage booster during a landing attempt on a drone ship parked in the Atlantic Ocean.

Watch a live view of the Falcon 9’s launch pad at Cape Canaveral (members only)

February 16, 2021 Stephen Clark

Spaceflight Now members can watch a live view of the Falcon 9 rocket on pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, counting down to launch with 60 more Starlink internet satellites.

SpaceX planning launch of two Falcon Heavy missions in summer and fall

February 15, 2021 Stephen Clark

SpaceX plans two Falcon Heavy launches this year for the U.S. Space Force in July and October, and United Launch Alliance has four national security space missions on its 2021 schedule, according to a military spokesperson.

Spectacular video released from China’s first Mars mission

February 15, 2021 Stephen Clark

China’s space agency has released a pair of spectacular video clips from “selfie” cameras on-board the country’s Tianwen 1 spacecraft as it braked into orbit around Mars on Feb. 10.

Russia launches cargo ship heading for International Space Station

February 15, 2021 Stephen Clark

Russia launched an unpiloted Progress cargo freighter Sunday from Kazakhstan, on course to deliver 2.7 tons of food, fuel, water, and supplies to the International Space Station before hauling away a no-longer-needed section of the outpost later this year to clear the way for a new laboratory module.

Live coverage: SpaceX launches Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral

February 14, 2021 Stephen Clark

SpaceX launched 60 more Starlink internet satellites at 10:59 p.m. EST Monday (0359 GMT Tuesday) aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The mission successfully placed the Starlink payloads into orbit, but the Falcon 9 booster failed during a landing attempt offshore.

Photos: Falcon 9 test-fired before Starlink launch

February 14, 2021 Stephen Clark

SpaceX test-fired nine Merlin engines Saturday before the company’s next launch from Cape Canaveral, clearing a key readiness test before liftoff as soon as Sunday night with 60 more Starlink internet satellites.

ULA delivers Vulcan test article to Cape Canaveral for ‘pathfinder’ operations

February 13, 2021 Stephen Clark

United Launch Alliance’s first full-scale Vulcan booster with two Blue Origin BE-4 engines arrived at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Saturday, the first time in more than a decade that a core stage from a new family of orbital-class rockets has rolled into the Florida launch facility.