June 2024 – Page 2 – Spaceflight Now

SpaceX launches SES’s Astra 1P television satellite following two weather scrubs

June 17, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

SpaceX is preparing Thursday for its third attempt to launch the Astra 1P satellite to geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) on behalf of one of its oldest customers: Luxembourg-based SES. Liftoff from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station is targeting 5:35 p.m. EDT (2135 UTC) on Thursday, June 20.

NASA, Boeing set new undocking, landing date for Starliner spacecraft

June 14, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

More testing will be done on both the thrusters on the spacecraft’s aft section. The Starliner crew will also repeat some previously conducted test activities, like the ‘safe haven’ protocol.

SpaceX experiences a rare mission scrub of its Falcon 9 rocket at the moment engine ignition

June 13, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

SpaceX struck out for a third time in as many days attempting to launch the Starlink 10-2 mission. After pushing back the launch time a few times within their window of availability on Friday, an abort was called just as the Merlin engines at the base of the 70-meter-tall (299 feet) rocket ignited.

FAA, NASA seek public input on SpaceX Starship launches at the Kennedy Space Center

June 12, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The public scoping on Starship missions at Launch Complex 39A offer community input through in-person and virtual information sessions. The open house-style meetings come about a month following the conclusion of an environment review on a 100-acre SpaceX expansion at KSC.

Starliner crew welcomed aboard space station

June 8, 2024 William Harwood

Working around multiple helium leaks and thruster problems, the crew of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft wrapped up a challenging rendezvous and a delayed-but-successful docking with the International Space Station Thursday in a major milestone for the new ship’s first piloted test flight.

SpaceX launches 20 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 flight from Vandenberg Space Force Base

June 8, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The mission, Starlink 8-8, will add another 13 satellites with Direct to Cell capabilities, bringing the total launched to 64. Liftoff happened at 5:58 a.m. PDT (8:58 a.m. EDT, 1258 UTC).

SpaceX launches 22 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 flight from Cape Canaveral

June 7, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station was the first to the 10th shell of the Starlink constellation. Liftoff from pad 40 happened at 9:56 p.m. EDT (0156 UTC).

SpaceX accomplishes first soft splashdown of Starship, Super Heavy Booster on Flight 4 mission

June 6, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The development mission includes fewer additional mission milestones compared to the third flight with a focus on demonstrating the reusability model that Starship promises. Liftoff happened at 7:50 a.m. CDT (8:50 a.m. EDT, 1250 UTC), near the opening of a 120-minute window.

Third time’s the charm for the Boeing Starliner Crew Flight Test

June 5, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The launch of two NASA astronauts dealt with two previous scrubs due to a valve issue on the Atlas 5 rocket and then a ground system issue at the launchpad. Liftoff happened at 10:52 a.m. EDT (1452 UTC) on Wednesday, June 5.

Despite gyro failure, NASA says Hubble Space Telescope still up to world-class science

June 5, 2024 William Harwood

Trouble with one of the Hubble Space Telescope’s three remaining gyroscopes, critical for aiming and locking onto targets, prompted mission managers to switch to a backup control mode that will limit some observations but keep the iconic observatory running well into the 2030s, officials said Tuesday.