Will Robinson-Smith – Page 35

As it happened: NASA announces new path options for Mars Sample Return mission

January 7, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

NASA put out a call in 2024 for proposals from industry and NASA centers for how to retrieve samples from the Martian surface in a cheaper way and on a shorter timeline.

SpaceX launches first dedicated Starlink mission of 2025

January 6, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

The mission will be the first dedicated Starlink flight of the year. Liftoff from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station happened on Monday, Jan. 6, at 3:43 p.m. EST (2043 UTC).

SpaceX to attempt first payload deployment, engine reuse during Starship Flight 7

January 4, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

Maritime and aviation warning suggest a launch no earlier than Jan. 10, but SpaceX hasn’t formally announced its target launch date. Flight 7 will also feature the first launch of a Block 2 Starship upper stage.

SpaceX notches first orbital launch of 2025 with mission for UAE-based Space42

January 3, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

The satellite will help offset capabilities lost with the loss of Thuraya 3 in April 2024. Liftoff of the Thuraya 4-NGS mission from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station happened on Friday, Jan. 3 at 8:27 p.m. EST (0127 UTC).

India launches its first on-orbit docking demonstration in 5th and final launch of 2024

January 3, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

The SpaDeX mission will see two spacecraft orbit together before performing a docking demo needed on future missions. Liftoff happened at 10 p.m. IST (11:30 a.m. EST, 1630 UTC).

SpaceX launches 21 Starlink satellites during final orbital launch of 2024

December 29, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The mission was the 134th and final orbital launch from SpaceX in 2024. Liftoff from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center happened at 12:39 a.m. EST (0539 UTC) on Tuesday, Dec. 31.

SpaceX launches 4 Astranis satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral

December 29, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

SpaceX had to swap out the first stage booster used during the previous attempt and replace it with another for this mission. Liftoff from pad 40 happened at 12 a.m. EST (0500 UTC) on Sunday, Dec. 29.

SpaceX launches final 2024 mission from Vandenberg

December 28, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The mission will the final Falcon 9 flight from California before the end of the year. Liftoff from pad 4 East happened at 5:58:30 p.m. PST (8:58:30 p.m. EST, 0158:30 UTC).

FAA grants commercial launch license to Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket

December 27, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The important test is one of final big hurdles for Blue Origin to clear before it’s ready to launch on its inaugural orbital flight. Blue Origin didn’t announce a launch date following the FAA’s announcement of its launch license approval.

Nelson: Decision on Mars Sample Return expected before new administration takes office

December 27, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said teams were meeting at the Kennedy Space Center on Friday, Dec. 20, to make some of the final determinations about how they will return dozens of samples from the Red Planet.