September 2023 – Page 3 – Spaceflight Now

Loral O’Hara Interview

September 12, 2023 Spaceflight Now

NASA astronaut Loral O’Hara, a former underwater vehicle researcher, spoke with Spaceflight Now in the run-up to her first launch.

Falcon 9 rocket launches another batch of Starlink satellites from California

September 12, 2023 Spaceflight Now

SpaceX launched another batch of satellites for the company’s Starlink internet service from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 11:57 p.m. PDT Monday (2:57 a.m. EDT / 0657 UTC Tuesday).

Most powerful Atlas 5 rocket launches national security mission

September 10, 2023 Will Robinson-Smith

ULA’s Atlas 5 rocket supporting the NROL-107 mission for the Silentbarker program launched Sunday, Sept. 10 at 8:47 a.m. EDT (1247 UTC) from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

SpaceX launches Falcon 9 rocket with 22 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral

September 8, 2023 Spaceflight Now

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched 22 second-generation Starlink internet satellites at 11:12 p.m. EDT on Sept. 8 (0312 UTC on Sept. 9) from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

FAA concludes Starship mishap investigation, 63 corrective actions needed before second flight

September 8, 2023 Will Robinson-Smith

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced Friday the conclusion its mishap investigation into the first integrated test flight of SpaceX’s reusable Starship launch vehicle. It stressed SpaceX has 63 corrective actions that need to be taken before Starship can make a second test flight.

Atlas 5 rocket returns to pad for spy satellite agency launch from Cape Canaveral

September 8, 2023 Will Robinson-Smith

United Launch Alliance’s Atlas 5 rocket made its way back to the pad at Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Thursday morning for a mission carrying national security mission payloads, collectively codenamed Silentbarker. Liftoff has been rescheduled for at 8:47 a.m. EDT (1247 UTC).

Next-generation X-ray space telescope and lunar lander launches from Japan

September 6, 2023 Spaceflight Now

A next-generation X-ray space telescope and an experimental lunar lander are back on the launch pad Wednesday after a ten-day delay. An H-2A rocket is scheduled to liftoff from the Tanegashima Space Center in Japan at 7:42 p.m. EDT (8:42 a.m. local time / 2342 UTC).

Musk declares Starship is ready for its second test flight, following stacking

September 6, 2023 Will Robinson-Smith

Another SpaceX Starship rocket stands fully integrated against the South Texas horizon and company-founder Elon Musk said from his perspective, they’re ready to launch. However, the Federal Aviation Administration has not yet issued a launch licence.

Crew Dragon safely splashes down east of Jacksonville

September 4, 2023 Spaceflight Now

Blazing like a shooting star as it streaked high above northern Florida, a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft carried four space station fliers back to Earth early Monday, splashing down in the Atlantic Ocean east of Jacksonville to wrap up a six-month stay in orbit.

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches record-breaking 62nd mission of the year

September 3, 2023 Spaceflight Now

A Falcon 9 rocket launched Sunday evening on a record-breaking 62nd orbital launch of the year for SpaceX. The previous record was set in 2022 with 61 launches by the company. Liftoff from pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center, with 21 Starlink satellites aboard, occurred at 10:47 p.m. EDT (0247 UTC).