July 2024 – Spaceflight Now

ULA launches Atlas 5 rocket on the company’s 100th national security mission

July 29, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The United States Space Force 51 (USSF-51) mission was the 58th and final time an Atlas 5 rocket launches a national security payload. Liftoff happened at Tuesday, July 30, during a three-hour window that opens at 6:45 a.m. EDT (1045 UTC).

SpaceX launched 21 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base

July 28, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The mission will complete a back-to-back schedule for SpaceX on Sunday morning. Liftoff from SLC-4E happened at 2:22 a.m. PDT (5:22 a.m. EDT, 0922 UTC).

SpaceX completes 300th booster reflight during first of planned back-to-back Falcon 9 launches

July 28, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The overnight launch marked the second Falcon 9 flight since the July 11 mishap that grounded the rocket. Liftoff happened at 1:09 a.m. EDT (0509 UTC).

ULA prepares for final Atlas 5 launch supporting a national security payload

July 27, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The mission will mark the 100th national security flight for United Launch Alliance and the 101st Atlas 5 rocket launch. Liftoff is targeting Tuesday, July 30, during a three-hour window that opens at 6:45 a.m. EDT (1045 UTC).

SpaceX launches Falcon 9 return to flight mission from the Kennedy Space Center

July 26, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The rocket launched more than 340 times successively and successfully before it encountered an issue with its upper stage on July 11. Liftoff of the Starlink 10-9 mission happened at 1:45 a.m. EDT (0545 UTC).

As it happened: NASA holds briefings on Crew 9 mission as SpaceX nears return to flight

July 26, 2024 Spaceflight Now

Watch live as NASA holds briefings at the Johnson Space Center in Houston on the upcoming Crew 9 mission and SpaceX rolls out a Falcon 9 as it prepares to return to flight with its workhorse rocket.

Make-or-break tests on tap for Boeing’s Starliner capsule

July 26, 2024 William Harwood

Critical tests are on tap this weekend to confirm Boeing’s Starliner capsule can safety carry its two-person crew back to Earth despite unexpected helium leaks and degraded maneuvering thrusters, officials said Thursday.

As it happened: NASA, Boeing provide update on the Starliner Crew Flight Test mission

July 25, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The update comes after NASA said it and Boeing completed ground hot fire testing of a reaction control system (RCS) to better understand some of the in-flight anomalies seen during the spacecraft’s rendezvous and docking with the International Space Station.

SpaceX completes Falcon 9 static fire test amid return to flight campaign

July 25, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

An upper stage anomaly during the Starlink 9-3 mission on July 11 grounded the Falcon 9 rocket. The FAA is evaluating SpaceX’s request for a public safety determination to resume launches.

NASA prepares to roll Artemis 2 core stage to the Vehicle Assembly Building

July 24, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The massive 212-foot-long core stage of the Space Launch System rocket arrived at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center late Tuesday morning. Rollout to the VAB is set to begin around 9 a.m. EDT on Wednesday.