Will Robinson-Smith – Page 62

SpaceX’s first Falcon 9 launch of 2024 features first 6 direct-to-cell Starlink satellites

January 2, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket with 21 Starlink satellites on board will launch from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Station. Liftoff is no earlier than 7:44 p.m. PST (10:44 p.m. EST, 0344 UTC).

India kicks off 2024 orbital launch year with X-ray observatory mission

December 31, 2023 Will Robinson-Smith

The orbital launch calendar began just hours into the first day of 2024 based on Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). At 0340 UTC (9:10 a.m. IST or 10:40 p.m. EST on Dec. 31), a PSLV-DL rocket lifted off from India to begin what will likely be another record-breaking global launch year.

SpaceX aces modern-day launch turnaround record with Falcon 9 Starlink mission

December 29, 2023 Will Robinson-Smith

The launch of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket occurred less than three hours after the planned Falcon Heavy launch. Liftoff of the Starlink 6-36 mission happened at 11:01 p.m. EST (0401 UTC).

SpaceX launches Falcon Heavy rocket, X-37B military spaceplane

December 28, 2023 Will Robinson-Smith

SpaceX launched the X-37B military spaceplane onboard its Falcon Heavy rocket late Thursday night. Liftoff of the USSF-52 mission from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center occurred 8:07 p.m. EST (0107 UTC) on Thursday at the opening of a ten-minute launch window.

Historic SpaceX Falcon 9 booster topples over and is lost at sea

December 27, 2023 Will Robinson-Smith

During its return voyage to Port Canaveral in Florida, a SpaceX Falcon 9 first stage booster, tail number B1058, toppled over and broke in half. The booster has made 19 flights including launching NASA astronauts to space for the first time from American soil after the Space Shuttle program ended.

ULA stacks Vulcan rocket for the first time ahead of Jan. 8 debut launch

December 21, 2023 Will Robinson-Smith

The fully-integrated Vulcan rocket stands 202 feet (61.6 meters) tall. ULA is aiming to launch the rocket and its payload, Astrobotic’s Peregrine lunar lander, on Jan. 8, 2024 at 2:18 a.m. EST (0718 UTC).

National Space Council meeting to discuss legislative proposal for new space activities framework

December 20, 2023 Will Robinson-Smith

The furtherance of international space cooperation is expected to be at the heart of the third meeting of the National Space Council under the Biden-Harris Administration. Building on multilateral agreements, like the Artemis Accords, Harris will focus on what’s deemed the U.S. Novel Space Activities Authorization and Supervision Framework.

Articles by Will Robinson-Smith