Will Robinson-Smith – Page 20

Launch preview: Blue Origin to launch NASA’s ESCAPADE following scrubs from clouds, space weather

November 13, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

Blue Origin was able to secure permission from the Federal Aviation Administration for a daytime launch attempt while the emergency order constraining commercial launches remains in place even after the end of the government shutdown. Liftoff is scheduled during an 88-minute-long window that opens at 2:57 p.m. EST (1957 UTC).

NASA scrubs ESCAPADE launch due to ‘highly elevated solar activity’

November 11, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

Blue Origin was able to secure permission from the Federal Aviation Administration for a daytime launch attempt while the emergency order constraining commercial launches remains in place during the government shutdown. However, the solar storms are forcing Blue Origin and NASA to find a new launch opportunity.

Rocket Lab delays debut of Neutron rocket to 2026

November 11, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

Sir Peter Beck, Rocket Lab’s CEO, said during an earnings call on Monday that the rocket would arrive at Launch Complex 3 on Wallops Island, Virginia, sometime in the first quarter of 2026, “with first launch thereafter.”

Florida annual launch record broken with late-night Starlink flight

November 10, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

This is the sixth consecutive year of increasing orbital launches from the Sunshine State. Liftoff of the Starlink 6-87 mission from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station is scheduled for 10:21 p.m. EST (0321 UTC).

Poor weather prevents Blue Origin from launching NASA’s Mars-bound ESCAPADE mission

November 8, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

This will be the second launch of a New Glenn rocket and NASA’s first mission to Mars since 2020. Blue Origin is assessing its next launch opportunity.

SpaceX launches Sunday Starlink mission following Saturday scrub

November 7, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

The mission was SpaceX’s 560th Falcon 9 rocket launch to date. SpaceX accomplished liftoff from pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on Nov. 9 at 3:10 a.m. EST (0810 UTC).

SpaceX launches 28 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg SFB

November 6, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

Following deployment, SpaceX will have launched a total of 2,600 Starlink V2 Mini satellites so far this year. Liftoff of the Starlink 11-14 mission from pad 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base occurred at 1:13 p.m. PST (4:13 p.m. EST / 2113 UTC).

Atlas booster valve issue scrubs launch of ViaSat-3 F2 satellite

November 5, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

The mission is the second of three planned spacecraft that Viasat plans to operate in geostationary orbit. United Launch Alliance is targeting liftoff from pad 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station no earlier than Thursday, Nov. 6, at 10:16 p.m. EST (0316 UTC).

SpaceX launches 29 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral

November 5, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

This is the first out of at least eight planned launches supporting the broadband internet satellite constellation in November. Liftoff from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station is scheduled for 8:31 p.m. EST (0131 UTC).

President Trump renominates commercial astronaut Jared Isaacman for NASA administrator

November 4, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

The announcement of his nomination comes more than five months after the President pulled it for largely political reasons.