November 2023 – Spaceflight Now

ESA Director General: Ariane 6 aiming for summer 2024 debut

November 30, 2023 Will Robinson-Smith

European Space Agency Director General Josef Aschbacher said Thursday the Ariane 6 is expected to launch for the first time between June 15 and July 31, 2024. The determination comes on the heels of what ESA determined to be a successful hot fire test of the rocket’s main engine.

Aerojet Rocketdyne, ULA mark 60th anniversary of RL10 rocket engine

November 28, 2023 Will Robinson-Smith

A rocket engine with a long pedigree marked a big milestone on Monday. It’s 60 years since the hydrogen-fueled RL10 engine debuted onboard a Centaur upper stage launched from Cape Canaveral on Nov. 27, 1963.

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 23 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral

November 27, 2023 Spaceflight Now

The next batch of Starlink satellites for SpaceX’s space-based internet service rode a Falcon 9 rocket into orbit Monday night from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Liftoff occurred at 11:20 p.m. EST (0420 UTC).

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches from Cape Canaveral with 23 Starlink satellites

November 22, 2023 Spaceflight Now

SpaceX lofted its third batch of Starlink satellites in a little more than four days, with a Falcon 9 lifting off from Cape Canaveral at 2:47 a.m. EST (0747 UTC) Wednesday morning.

SpaceX Falcon 9 launches 22 Starlink satellites from California

November 20, 2023 Spaceflight Now

SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 from the West Coast with another batch of 22 Starlink satellites at 2:30 a.m. PST Monday (5:30 a.m. EST / 1030 UTC).

Super Heavy-Starship climbs high but falls short on second test flight

November 18, 2023 William Harwood

SpaceX’s gargantuan Super Heavy-Starship, the most powerful rocket ever built, blasted off on its second test flight Saturday and while the initial stages of the mission went smoothly, the first stage broke apart moments after separation from the Starship upper stage, which then blew itself up as it neared space.

Live Coverage: SpaceX to launch Starship/Super Heavy Booster on second test flight

November 18, 2023 Spaceflight Now

SpaceX is counting down for the second test flight of its mammoth Starship launch vehicle. Liftoff from Starbase in Texas is scheduled for 7 a.m. CST / 8 a.m. EST (1300 UTC). If all goes according to plan the Starship will travel around the world before splashing down in the Pacific near Hawaii.

SpaceX launches Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral with 23 Starlink satellites

November 18, 2023 Spaceflight Now

A Falcon 9 rocket is to launch tonight with another batch of satellites for SpaceX’s Starlink internet service. Liftoff from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station occurred at 11:15 p.m. EDT (0415 UTC).

FAA clears SpaceX for second Super Heavy-Starship test flight

November 16, 2023 William Harwood

SpaceX’s huge Super Heavy-Starship rocket has been cleared for a second test flight in an attempt to boost the unpiloted Starship upper stage into space for the first time, the company announced Wednesday. On Thursday Elon Musk announced the launch has slipped to Saturday to replace a grid fin actuator.

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 3rd pair of O3b mPOWER satellites from Cape Canaveral

November 12, 2023 Will Robinson-Smith

The launch of the SES O3b mPOWER satellites a day after the Transporter-9 rideshare mission from California. The Boeing-built O3b mPOWER 5&6 satellites launched from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at the start of the 89-minute window that opened at 4:08 p.m. EST (2108 UTC).