September 2021 – Page 5 – Spaceflight Now

New version of SpaceX’s Starlink internet satellites to begin launching Monday

September 13, 2021 Stephen Clark

A batch of 51 Starlink internet spacecraft, debuting new laser inter-satellite links, is set for liftoff Monday night from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on SpaceX’s first dedicated Starlink mission from the West Coast.

Civilian astronauts practice for launch day at Kennedy Space Center

September 13, 2021 Stephen Clark

The four civilian fliers who will rocket into orbit this week on the privately-managed Inspiration4 mission took their seats inside a SpaceX crew capsule Sunday night in Florida during a dress rehearsal for launch day. Hours later, once the crew members cleared the launch pad, SpaceX test-fired the Falcon 9 rocket set to launch the Inspiration4 mission.

Photos: SpaceX rocket arrives on launch pad for Inspiration4 mission

September 13, 2021 Stephen Clark

The Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spaceship chartered by billionaire Jared Isaacman for a three-day mission in low Earth orbit arrived at historic launch pad 39A in Florida over the weekend, moving into the starting blocks for liftoff Wednesday night with four civilian passengers.

Live coverage: SpaceX test-fires rocket for Inspiration4 crew mission

September 12, 2021 Stephen Clark

It’s launch week at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where SpaceX is gearing up for liftoff of a Falcon 9 rocket with the Inspiration4 mission, the first all-private human spaceflight to low Earth orbit. SpaceX completed a test-firing of the Falcon 9 rocket early Monday.

SpaceX rocket rolls out to pad 39A for Inspiration4 launch

September 12, 2021 Stephen Clark

SpaceX raised a Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon capsule on pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Sunday, kicking off a busy few days before launch of the all-private Inspiration4 crew mission as soon as Wednesday night.

Spacewalking astronauts continue solar array upgrade work

September 12, 2021 William Harwood

Three days after a Russian spacewalk, Japanese space station commander Akihiko Hoshide and Frenchman Thomas Pesquet floated outside for their own excursion Sunday, building a support fixture for a roll-out solar array blanket that will be attached later.

China successfully launches TV broadcasting satellite

September 10, 2021 Stephen Clark

A replacement Chinese communications satellite for a craft launched into the wrong orbit four years ago successfully rocketed into space Thursday, just in time to be ready to support 4K and 8K television broadcasts of the Beijing Winter Olympics next year.

Firefly says early engine shutdown led to launch failure

September 9, 2021 Stephen Clark

Firefly Aerospace says the premature shutdown of one of its Alpha rocket’s four main engines, apparently triggered by an electrical issue, caused the launcher to lose control as it reached supersonic speed during a test flight over California last week. The company emphasized lessons learned from the mission will boost chances the next test flight will reach orbit.

China launches Gaofen environmental monitoring satellite

September 8, 2021 Stephen Clark

China launched an Earth observation satellite on top of a Long March 4C rocket Tuesday to monitor land surfaces, water resources, and air quality.

Russian spacewalkers begin outfitting new lab module

September 3, 2021 William Harwood

Two Russian spacewalkers connected a new laboratory module to the International Space Station’s power grid Friday, routing and plugging in eight cables to tap into electricity generated by NASA’s solar power system.