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SpaceX test-fires previously-flown rocket for May 31 launch
The nine Merlin main engines at the base of a recycled Falcon 9 rocket booster ignited Thursday night for several seconds during a pre-flight test-firing on a Cape Canaveral launch pad, clearing a major hurdle ahead of a scheduled May 31 liftoff with a high-power communications satellite for SES.
Video: Falcon 9 rocket ignites for hold-down test at Cape Canaveral
SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket ignited its main engines at Cape Canaveral's Complex 40 launch pad Thursday night, clearing a major hurdle before liftoff May 31 with the SES 12 communications satellite.
Watch a live view of SpaceX’s Cape Canaveral launch pad (members only)
Spaceflight Now members can watch a live view of Cape Canaveral's Complex 40 launch pad, where a Falcon 9 rocket is set to undergo a static fire test Thursday in advance of a commercial satellite launch May 31.
Photos: Blues skies make for spectacular Falcon 9 launch in California
A threatening layer of clouds stayed away from SpaceX's launch pad at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on Tuesday, allowing for clear viewing of a spectacular Falcon 9 launch carrying commercial and scientific satellites into polar orbit.
Live coverage: SpaceX prepares for next Falcon 9 launch
SpaceX has delayed the launch of the SES 12 communications satellite until shortly after midnight Friday at Cape Canaveral, allowing teams additional time to complete pre-launch vehicle checks and wait for improved weather conditions. The launch, which was previously set for Thursday, is expected around 12:29 a.m. EDT (0429 GMT) Friday.
Rideshare launch by SpaceX serves commercial and scientific customers
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket powered by a reused first stage climbed into orbit Tuesday from California's Central Coast, carrying five satellites to upgrade Iridium's global messaging service and two research craft to study Earth's water cycle.
Video: Falcon 9 lifts off with Iridium and GRACE-Follow On satellites
SpaceX's tenth launch of the year took off Tuesday from California's Central Coast on a unique ridehsare mission to add satellites to Iridium's communications network and replace two Earth science satellites which ended their observations last year.
VideoLive coverage: Iridium satellites, climate research craft lift off from California
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off Tuesday with five communications satellites for Iridium's commercial voice, data relay, and tracking network, and a pair of U.S.-German research craft to probe Earth's climate and water cycle. Launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, occurred at 12:47 p.m. PDT (3:47 p.m. EDT; 1947 GMT).
Launch timeline for Falcon 9 mission with Iridium and GRACE-Follow On
Follow the key events of the Falcon 9 rocket's ascent to orbit with five more Iridium Next communications satellite and the U.S.-German GRACE-Follow On climate research mission.
Replacements for GRACE gravity and climate satellites ready for launch
A pair of European-built, NASA-backed research satellites set for launch Tuesday from California will extend 15 years of global gravity field measurements collected by the GRACE mission before it ended last year, supplying scientists with data to help track the melting of Earth's ice sheets and chart the impacts of floods and droughts.