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Musk praises “epic” Super Heavy-Starship launch
The Starship upper stage was equipped with six third-generation Raptor engines and one of three optimized for operating in vacuum shut down early during the climb to space. The flight computer kept the other five engines running longer than originally planned to make up for the shortfall, putting the craft on an acceptable sub-orbital trajectory.
VideoLaunch preview: SpaceX tries again for first launch of its Starship Version 3 rocket
The mission will see the debut of several upgrades to the launch vehicle, including redesigned engines. Liftoff from Pad 2 at Starbase, Texas, is scheduled during a window that opens at 5:30 p.m. CDT (6:30 p.m. EDT / 2230 UTC).
SpaceX targets May 19 for debut of Starship Version 3, Launch Pad 2
The mission will test a host of changes made to both the launch vehicle and the launch infrastructure as SpaceX prepares to support the Artemis 3 mission in 2027.
VideoThird flight of Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket to feature 1st reuse of booster
Blue Origin plans to launch its third New Glenn rocket from Cape Canaveral Sunday during a two-hour window that opens at 6:45 a.m. EDT (1045 UTC). It will carry AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird 7 satellite to provide direct to cell phone services from space.
Blue Origin hot fires its first previously flown booster, prepares for weekend launch
The engine test, called a static fire, saw the company ignite all seven of its BE-4 engines for less than half a minute. Local maritime and aviation hazards suggest a launch could happen as soon as Sunday, April 19.
VideoNASA confident Artemis 2 heat shield will protect crew during re-entry
When the Artemis 2 Orion crew capsule returns to Earth after flying around the moon, it will hit the discernible atmosphere some 75 miles above the Pacific Ocean at a blistering 24,000 mph, fast enough to fly from New York to London in less than 10 minutes.
Artemis astronauts send down Easter message, prep for lunar fly around Monday
Taking time out to send Easter greetings down to Earth, the four Artemis II astronauts closed in on the moon Sunday, already seeing unexpected detail on the surface and giving scientists a taste of things to come during a pass over the lunar far side Monday evening.
Artemis 2 crew blasts off on historic moon mission
A three-man one-woman crew blasted off on a voyage to the moon Wednesday, riding atop the world's most powerful operational rocket as it roared away on a trail-blazing flight to help pave the way for upcoming lunar landings and an American moon base.
VideoLaunch preview: NASA to launch Artemis 2, its first Moon-bound mission with astronauts since 1972
The four astronauts will spend more than nine days onboard their Orion spacecraft and is poised to pass the distance record set by Apollo 13 in 1970. Liftoff from Launch Complex 39B is scheduled for Wednesday, April 1, at 6:24 p.m. EDT (2224 UTC).
VideoArtemis 2 astronauts arrive in Florida ahead of April 1 launch attempt
The crew is expected to land in Florida around 2:30 p.m. EDT (1830 UTC) on Friday. April 1 at 6:24 p.m. EDT (2224 UTC) is the earliest launch opportunity during a six-day window.