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SpaceX performs hold-down firing for heavyweight satellite launch Monday
A test-firing of a twice-flown Falcon 9 booster Friday at Cape Canaveral paved the way for SpaceX's next launch, scheduled for Monday night with a heavyweight Boeing-built communications satellite to beam broadband signals to Japan and the Pacific islands.
Video: SpaceX test-fires Falcon 9 rocket at pad 40 (members only)
A hold-down test-firing of a Falcon 9 rocket Friday at Cape Canaveral marked a major step in preparations for SpaceX's 13th mission of the year, scheduled for liftoff Monday with a commercial communications satellite.
Live coverage: Falcon 9 set for launch Monday from Cape Canaveral
SpaceX teams at Cape Canaveral raised a Falcon 9 rocket vertical at the Complex 40 launch pad and performed a static fire test Friday. The Falcon 9 will be used to launch a commercial geostationary communications satellite no earlier than Monday at 7:10 p.m. EST (0010 GMT Tuesday).
SpaceX to experiment with less-reflective satellite coatings on next Starlink launch
SpaceX's next launch of satellites for the company's Starlink broadband network -- planned in the final days of 2019 -- will carry one spacecraft with an experimental coating designed to make it less reflective in orbit, a first step in assuaging concerns from scientists who say the deployment of thousands more Starlink stations would impede some astronomical observations.
Falcon 9 performs extended mission in test for future U.S. military launches
An extended mission for the Falcon 9 rocket's second stage after launch Thursday with a space station cargo ship helped demonstrate SpaceX's ability to perform long-duration flight sequences to inject U.S. military payloads directly into high-altitude geosynchronous orbit.
After redesigns, the finish line is in sight for SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spaceship
Five-and-a-half years ago, SpaceX founder Elon Musk revealed SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft, a sleek-looking human-rated spaceship with 3D-printed engines, a roomy stylized interior and touchscreen controls. Now SpaceX's first ship to ferry astronauts -- with numerous design changes introduced since 2014 -- is about to leave the company's factory for final testing before launching early next year.
Dragon soars on research and resupply flight to International Space Station
A commercial Dragon supply freighter built and owned by SpaceX rocketed into a clear blue sky over Florida's Space Coast Thursday with a menagerie of research experiments and holiday surprises heading for the International Space Station.
Photos: Falcon 9 in the starting blocks for space station resupply run
Ready for a resupply run to the International Space Station, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket was raised vertical at Cape Canaveral's Complex 40 launch pad Wednesday ahead of a planned liftoff with more than 5,700 pounds of science experiments and crew supplies.
VideoLive coverage: Dragon cargo capsule arrives at space station
A SpaceX Dragon cargo ship arrived at the International Space Station Sunday with more than 5,700 pounds of supplies and experiments. The supply ship was captured by the station's Canadian-built robotic arm at 5:05 a.m. EST (1005 GMT).
Long-duration coast experiment on tap after Falcon 9 launch Thursday
SpaceX will perform a multi-hour experiment on the second stage of a Falcon 9 rocket after the launcher deploys a Dragon supply ship on the way to the International Space Station Thursday, gathering thermal data and other information to verify the vehicle's ability to perform long-duration missions and inject payloads into demanding, high-energy orbits.