April 2022 – Spaceflight Now

SpaceX launches Falcon 9 booster for second time in three weeks

April 29, 2022 Stephen Clark

SpaceX continued throttling up its launch rate with another Starlink mission from Cape Canaveral Friday, completing a rapid recycle with a Falcon 9 first stage booster flying for the second time in 21 days.

Live coverage: SpaceX launches 53 more Starlink satellites

April 29, 2022 Stephen Clark

SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket at 5:27 p.m. EDT (2127 GMT) Friday from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. A booster that previously flew just 21 days ago powered 53 more Starlink internet satellites into space.

Rocket Lab waiting for ‘ideal’ weather before launch and recovery attempt

April 29, 2022 Stephen Clark

Rocket Lab called off the planned launch and recovery of an Electron booster Friday, preferring to wait for better wind and cloud cover conditions a few days from now. The next opportunity to launch the mission from New Zealand is Monday.

Cosmonauts activate European Robotic Arm on 250th space station spacewalk

April 28, 2022 Stephen Clark

Two Russian cosmonauts unlocked the European Robotic Arm from its launch moorings on a spacewalk Thursday, allowing the manipulator to move around outside the International Space Station for the first time.

SpaceX shooting for rocket turnaround record with next Starlink launch

April 28, 2022 Stephen Clark

With a mission Friday to deploy more Starlink internet satellites, SpaceX will try to shave nearly a week off the company’s previous record for the shortest time between two launches of the same Falcon 9 booster. The first stage on Friday’s mission is scheduled to fly just 21 days after its previous launch and landing.

Four astronauts arrive at space station for long-term stay

April 28, 2022 Stephen Clark

Three Americans and one Italian astronaut floated into the International Space Station late Wednesday after a nearly 16-hour commute aboard a SpaceX crew capsule from a launch pad in Florida, ready for a multi-month expedition performing experiments, maintenance, and upgrades.

Live coverage: Dragon crew docks at International Space Station

April 27, 2022 Stephen Clark

SpaceX’s Dragon Freedom spacecraft docked with the International Space Station at 7:37 p.m. EDT (2337 GMT) Wednesday, delivering four astronauts for a long-duration research mission. Astronauts Kjell Lindgren, Bob Hines, Samantha Cristoforetti, and Jessica Watkins launched early Wednesday from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Ingenuity helicopter flies over leftover wreckage from Mars landing last year

April 27, 2022 Stephen Clark

NASA’s flying drone on Mars has recorded aerial views of debris left behind from the landing of the Perseverance rover last year, showing remarkable details of the craft’s supersonic parachute and part of its aeroshell.

Three Americans, one Italian launch on SpaceX’s new “Freedom” spacecraft

April 27, 2022 Stephen Clark

Four astronauts rocketed into a clear predawn sky early Wednesday from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, riding SpaceX’s newest Dragon spacecraft — named “Freedom” — to kick off a planned four-and-a-half month science expedition at the International Space Station.

Live coverage: Four astronauts launch from Kennedy Space Center

April 27, 2022 Stephen Clark

Four astronauts strapped into their seats on SpaceX’s Dragon Freedom spacecraft and rode a Falcon 9 rocket into orbit early Wednesday from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, beginning a 16-hour chase of the International Space Station. Liftoff from pad 39A occurred at 3:52 a.m. EDT (0752 GMT).