Will Robinson-Smith – Page 54

SpaceX notches 60th launch of the year with Starlink mission, one shy of tying record

August 31, 2023 Will Robinson-Smith

SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket for the company’s 60th orbital launch of the year. The Starlink Group 6-13 mission lifted off at 10:21 p.m. EDT on Thursday, Aug. 31 (0221 UTC on Sept. 1), with a batch of 22 Starlink V2 Mini satellites headed to low Earth orbit.

Tropical Storm Idalia delays national security Atlas 5 launch from Cape Canaveral

August 29, 2023 Will Robinson-Smith

A tropical storm barreling towards the Florida peninsula caused United Launch Alliance (ULA) to stand down from an Atlas 5 launch planned for Tuesday on a mission for the National Reconnaissance Office.

Space Perspective unveils balloon manufacturing facility supporting tourism missions

August 22, 2023 Will Robinson-Smith

An upcoming player in the space tourism game offered a look inside their Florida manufacturing site as they continue to ramp up towards customer flights in 2024. Space Perspective is offering a balloon-based opportunity for customers to experience the overview effect in a manner less jarring than launching aboard a rocket or a space plane.

Crew-7 mission to the Space Station given green light for launch by NASA, partners

August 22, 2023 Will Robinson-Smith

NASA, SpaceX and its international partners met at the Kennedy Space Center on Monday and gave the go ahead for the launch of the seventh operational Crew Dragon mission to the space station.

Russia’s Luna 25 lander crashes on the Moon

August 20, 2023 Will Robinson-Smith

Russia’s first mission to the Moon for nearly 50 years ended in failure when the Luna 25 spacecraft crashed onto the surface, the Russian space agency Roscomos said Sunday.

SpaceX launches Starlink mission from Florida, delays west coast mission

August 16, 2023 Will Robinson-Smith

SpaceX launched one Starlink mission from Florida but plans for a back-to-back overnight mission from the west coast were dashed after the Falcon 9 flying from Vandenberg Space Force Base California was delayed to Friday.

NASA’s moon program mobile launcher rolls back to the launch pad for testing

August 16, 2023 Will Robinson-Smith

The launch tower supporting the first three Artemis missions was back on the move for the first time Wednesday after more than half a year of repairs and upgrades.

Amazon to launch first Kuiper satellites on ULA Atlas 5 rocket following Vulcan delays

August 7, 2023 Will Robinson-Smith

The opening salvo in Amazon’s 3,236-satellite Project Kuiper venture is switching its ride to space. An Amazon spokesperson confirmed in a statement to Spaceflight Now on Monday that the first two demonstration satellites for the broadband constellation will launch on a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas 5 rocket as soon as Sept. 26, 2023, instead of the inaugural Vulcan rocket.

Last Antares rocket using Russian, Ukrainian parts launches space station cargo

August 1, 2023 Will Robinson-Smith

A Northrop Grumman Cygnus cargo ship lifted off from Wallops Island, Virginia, atop an Antares rocket at 8:31 p.m. EDT (0031 UTC on Aug. 2). This mission marks the final flight of this generation of Antares rockets, which uses major components from Russia and Ukraine.

Delayed Falcon Heavy launch pushes back Crew 7 mission

August 1, 2023 Will Robinson-Smith

The next quartet bound for the International Space Station will wait a bit longer before they can punch their ticket to space after Falcon Heavy delays pushed back the launch of the next Crew Dragon mission, NASA said Tuesday.