May 2024 – Spaceflight Now

News from the Press Site: Business of Starlink and Boeing’s Starliner prepares to launch – News from the Press Site

May 31, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

In this week’s edition of News from the Press Site, Spaceflight Now’s Will Robinson-Smith is joined by Mike Wall, Spaceflight and Tech Editor for Space.com; and Caleb Henry, Director of Research at Quilty Space.

SpaceX launches 14th Falcon 9 rocket of May using booster flying for 14th time

May 31, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The mission broke another record for SpaceX, marking the first time the company has achieved 14 launches in a single month. Liftoff happened Friday at 10:37 p.m. EDT (0237 UTC on Saturday).

SpaceX launches ESA’s EarthCARE on a Falcon 9 launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base

May 27, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The Earth observing spacecraft will study clouds and aerosols to further our understanding of climate change. Liftoff happened at 3:20 p.m. PDT (6:20 p.m. EDT, 2220 UTC).

SpaceX completes Tuesday Starlink launch after Memorial Day scrub

May 26, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The mission comes on the heels of SpaceX outlining the next test flight of its Starship rocket in southern Texas. Liftoff of the Starlink 6-60 mission happened at 10:24 a.m. EDT (1424 UTC) on Tuesday.

SpaceX details learnings from Starship Flight 3, sets June 5 as target launch date for Flight 4

May 25, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The mission will focus on proving the reusability of the rocket and not on additional flight objectives, like operating the payload bay door or reigniting the vacuum engines on the Ship upper stage. The June 5 launch window opens at 7 a.m. CDT (8 a.m. EDT (1200 UTC).

Rocket Lab launches first of NASA’s climate-monitoring PREFIRE spacecraft

May 24, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The two missions will be launched within roughly three weeks of one another from New Zealand. Liftoff of the Electron rocket with the PREFIRE-1 satellite occurred at 7:41 p.m. NZST (3:41 a.m. EDT, 0741 UTC) on Saturday.

NASA says Boeing’s Starliner crew capsule can safely fly ‘as is’ with propulsion system helium leak

May 24, 2024 William Harwood

After nearly three weeks of exhaustive tests and data analysis, NASA managers said Friday they are confident Boeing’s oft-delayed Starliner crew capsule can safely launch “as is” June 1, saying a small helium leak in the ship’s propulsion system does not pose a flight safety concern.

Month: May 2024