Mission Reports – Spaceflight Now

October 9, 2024

Breaking News

[ October 7, 2024 ] ESA’s Hera spacecraft launches on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket as Hurricane Milton takes aim at Florida Falcon 9
[ October 4, 2024 ] ULA launches second Vulcan flight, encounters strap-on booster anomaly News
[ October 3, 2024 ] Live coverage: ULA to launch second test flight of its Vulcan rocket from Cape Canaveral Mission Reports
[ October 2, 2024 ] ESA’s Hera mission progresses towards launch pending Falcon 9 readiness Falcon 9
[ September 30, 2024 ] ULA rolls its Vulcan rocket to the launch pad ahead of second test flight Mission Reports

ESA’s Hera spacecraft launches on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket as Hurricane Milton takes aim at Florida

October 7, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The mission is a follow-on from NASA’s planetary defense mission, DART, which succeeded in changing the orbit of an asteroid around its larger neighbor. Liftoff happened at 10:52 a.m. EDT (1452 UTC).

Live coverage: ULA to launch second test flight of its Vulcan rocket from Cape Canaveral

October 3, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The mission, dubbed Cert-2 by United Launch Alliance, is the final mission required before the rocket can begin launching national security missions. Liftoff is set for the beginning of a three-hour window at 6 a.m. EDT (1000 UTC).

ESA’s Hera mission progresses towards launch pending Falcon 9 readiness

October 2, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The journey to the binary asteroid system, Didymos and its moon, Dimorphos, will take place over a roughly two-year period. The launch window lasts from October 7-27.

ULA rolls its Vulcan rocket to the launch pad ahead of second test flight

September 30, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The return of a Vulcan rocket to the pad at Space Launch Complex 41 comes as United Launch Alliance steps closer to being able to launch national security missions for the U.S. Space Force and the National Reconnaissance Office. Launch is set for Friday, Oct. 4, during a three-hour launch window that opens at 6 a.m. EDT (1000 UTC).

SpaceX grounds its Falcon rocket fleet after upper stage misfire

September 29, 2024 Steven Young

SpaceX’s Falcon rocket fleet was grounded for the third time in three months after a second stage problem occurred Saturday following the successful launch of a Dragon Capsule carrying two crew to the International Space Station. The suspension in flights comes as the company prepares to launch two solar system exploration missions in October with narrow launch windows.

SpaceX launches two to space station, giving Starliner astronauts a ride home in February

September 27, 2024 William Harwood

SpaceX launched a reduced two-man crew on a flight to the International Space Station Saturday, along with supplies and a pair of empty seats for two Starliner astronauts waiting to hitch a ride home in February after an unexpected eight-and-a-half-month stay in orbit.

NASA, SpaceX conduct prelaunch activities as Tropical Storm delays Crew-9 mission

September 24, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexandr Gorbunov walked through a launch day simulation as NASA and SpaceX prepared to conduct a static fire test of the Falcon 9 rocket. Ignition happened at 10:05 p.m. EDT (0205 UTC).

SpaceX launches 20 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base

September 24, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The launch came as SpaceX and NASA was also busy preparing fore the next crewed flight the International Space Station. Liftoff happened at 9:01 p.m. PDT (12:01 a.m. EDT, 0401 UTC).

Two-member SpaceX Crew-9 prepares for late week Dragon launch

September 23, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexandr Gorbunov arrived in Florida on Saturday afternoon ahead of their final launch preparations. A flight readiness review occurred on Monday, Sept. 23.

Soyuz brings two cosmonauts, NASA astronaut back to Earth after record-setting mission

September 23, 2024 William Harwood

Cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko, now the world’s most experienced spaceman, first-time flier Nikolai Chub and NASA veteran Tracy Dyson undocked from the International Space Station and returned to Earth Monday, closing out a record-setting mission with a picture-perfect landing in Kazakhstan.