August 2023 – Page 4 – Spaceflight Now

SpaceX launches 15 Starlink satellites from West Coast

August 8, 2023 Spaceflight Now

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched Monday carrying 15 second-generation Starlink satellites. Liftoff from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California occurred at 8:57 p.m. PDT (11:57 p.m. EDT / 0357 UTC).

First piloted flight of Boeing’s oft-delayed Starliner spacecraft slips to at least March

August 8, 2023 William Harwood

The first piloted launch of Boeing’s oft-delayed Starliner crew capsule is slipping to next March at the earliest because of ongoing work to test and replace the capsule’s parachute system and to resolve issues with a flammable adhesive used in protective electrical tape, officials said Monday.

Amazon to launch first Kuiper satellites on ULA Atlas 5 rocket following Vulcan delays

August 7, 2023 Will Robinson-Smith

The opening salvo in Amazon’s 3,236-satellite Project Kuiper venture is switching its ride to space. An Amazon spokesperson confirmed in a statement to Spaceflight Now on Monday that the first two demonstration satellites for the broadband constellation will launch on a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas 5 rocket as soon as Sept. 26, 2023, instead of the inaugural Vulcan rocket.

Falcon 9 chalks up new launch pad turnaround record on Starlink launch

August 6, 2023 Spaceflight Now

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched from Cape Canaveral Sunday carrying 22 more second-generation Starlink satellites into orbit, breaking a launch pad turnaround record.

SpaceX conducts static test fire of Starship Super Heavy Booster

August 6, 2023 Spaceflight Now

SpaceX fired up its Starship Super Heavy Booster 9 for a static test of its liquid methane-fueled Raptor rocket engines. The test was advertised to last “just under five seconds” but appeared to be cut short at 2.74 seconds. Four of the 33 Raptor engines were reported to have shut down prematurely.

Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket launch scrubbed

August 5, 2023 Spaceflight Now

Rocket Lab has called off Sunday’s attempt to launch its 40th Electron rocket due to “out-of-family sensor data”. No new launch date has been set. The rocket is carrying Acadia 1, the first of four new radar-imaging satellites for Earth observation company, Capella Space.

Cygnus cargo ship berthed at space station

August 4, 2023 William Harwood

An unpiloted Northrop Grumman Cygnus cargo ship carrying four tons of supplies and equipment caught up with the International Space Station early Friday to wrap up a smooth two-and-a-half-day rendezvous.

Intelsat completes refresh of satellites with Falcon 9 launch of Galaxy 37

August 3, 2023 William Harwood

SpaceX launched an Intelsat communications satellite early Thursday, part of a fleet-wide refresh under a Federal Communications Commission push to free up transmission space for 5G cellular networks.

SpaceX Falcon 9 launches Intelsat’s Galaxy 37 communications satellite

August 3, 2023 Spaceflight Now

A SpaceX Falcon 9 launched the Galaxy 37 communications satellite for Intelsat in the early hours of Thursday. Liftoff from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station occurred at 1 a.m. EDT (0500 UTC).

Last Antares rocket using Russian, Ukrainian parts launches space station cargo

August 1, 2023 Will Robinson-Smith

A Northrop Grumman Cygnus cargo ship lifted off from Wallops Island, Virginia, atop an Antares rocket at 8:31 p.m. EDT (0031 UTC on Aug. 2). This mission marks the final flight of this generation of Antares rockets, which uses major components from Russia and Ukraine.