April 2024 – Spaceflight Now

SpaceX launches 23 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 flight from Cape Canaveral

April 28, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The addition of these latest satellites will boost the growing constellation to nearly 5,900. Liftoff from Space Launch Complex 40 happened at 6:08 p.m. EDT (2208 UTC).

SpaceX launches European Commission’s Galileo satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Center

April 27, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The mission marked the first time that an American-made rocket launched Europe’s answer to the GPS satellite constellation. Liftoff from Launch Complex 39A happened at 8:34 p.m. EDT (0034 UTC) on Saturday, April 27.

News from the Press Site: Boeing Starliner gets go ahead for Crew Flight Test

April 27, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

In this week’s edition of News from the Press Site, Spaceflight Now’s Will Robinson-Smith is joined by Tariq Malik, editor-in-chief of Space.com, and Passant Rabie, space reporter for Gizmodo.

NASA astronauts arrive at Kennedy Space Center ahead of Boeing Starliner Crew Flight Test

April 25, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams arrived at the Cape in T-38 jets, the first such arrival since the space shuttle era. The mission is aiming to launch on Monday, May 6, at 10:34 p.m. EDT (0234 UTC).

Rocket Lab launches NASA, Korean payloads on Electron flight

April 23, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

NASA’s Advanced Composite Solar Sail System (ACS3) will test materials and a deployable system for a solar sail-style propulsion system. Liftoff from New Zealand happened at 10:32 a.m. NZT on April 24 (6:32 p.m. EDT, 2232 UTC on April 23).

SpaceX completes 300th Falcon booster landing during Starlink mission

April 23, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The mission was the 30th orbital launch from Florida in 2024. Liftoff from Space Launch Complex 40 happened at 6:17 p.m. EDT (2217 UTC).

News from the Press Site: NASA explores new path for Mars Sample Return, Dragonfly mission to Titan gets green light

April 22, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

Joining the video podcast on Friday, April 19, in this episode were Marina Koren, staff writer for The Atlantic, and Jack Kuhr, research editor for Payload Space.

SpaceX completes 40th Falcon 9 launch of the year with Starlink mission

April 18, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The mission comes a day after launching 23 Starlink satellites from Launch Complex 39A. Liftoff of the Starlink 6-52 mission from Space Launch Complex 40 happened at 6:40 p.m. EDT (2240 UTC).

SpaceX launches Falcon 9 rocket on Starlink mission from Kennedy Space Center

April 17, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

With this launch, SpaceX is now one flight shy of tying the total number of Space Shuttle missions from this historic launch pad. This was the 81st flight of a Falcon rocket compared to the 82 total shuttle flights. Liftoff of the Starlink 6-51 mission happened at 5:26 p.m. EDT (2126 UTC).

Boeing, ULA roll Starliner spacecraft out to pad 41 ahead of Crew Flight Test launch in May

April 16, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The rollout operation on Tuesday followed a day of evaluations using Boeing’s weight and center-of-gravity machine to determine the final measurements on the spacecraft. Launch is still targeting May 6 at 10:34 p.m. EDT (0234 UTC).