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U.S. Space Force awards $13.7 billion in new national security launch contracts to Blue Origin, SpaceX and ULA
The 54 national security missions will be awarded over the course of five years spanning FY25-FY29. The U.S. Space Force said missions are anticipated to fly from FY27-FY32.
Starship upper stage lost in second mishap in a row
SpaceX launched its huge Starship rocket on the program's eighth test flight Thursday, but a malfunction of some sort triggered multiple upper stage engine shutdowns and for the second flight in a row, the vehicle failed to reach its planned sub-orbital altitude and broke apart in a shower of debris.
VideoLaunch preview: SpaceX to launch Starship Flight 8 following Monday scrub
The eighth launch of SpaceX’s fully integrated Starship rocket will largely repeat the mission objectives of the previous flight, which saw the breakup of the Ship upper stage of the Turks and Caicos Islands. SpaceX is currently targeting Thursday, March 6, at 5:30 p.m. CST (6:30 p.m. EST, 2330 UTC).
VideoSpaceX successfully catches Super Heavy booster, loses Starship upper stage during Flight 7
SpaceX founder Elon Musk said that their initial assessment is that there was "an oxygen/fuel leak in the cavity above the ship engine firewall that was large enough to build pressure in excess of the vent capacity." The company is pursuing a launch in February, assuming the Federal Aviation Administration accepts their mishap investigation report.
VideoLaunch preview: SpaceX to launch its Starship rocket on a 7th suborbital test flight from Starbase
The mission will launch the first big block upgrade to the rocket since its first flight in 2023. Liftoff from SpaceX’s Starbase facilities in southern Texas is set for 4 p.m. CST (5 p.m. EST, 2200 UTC).
VideoSpaceX to attempt first payload deployment, engine reuse during Starship Flight 7
Maritime and aviation warning suggest a launch no earlier than Jan. 10, but SpaceX hasn’t formally announced its target launch date. Flight 7 will also feature the first launch of a Block 2 Starship upper stage.
U.S. Space Force launches expedited GPS mission using Falcon 9 rocket
The U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command (SSC) and the Space Operations Command (SpOC) shifted the GPS 3 Space Vehicle 07 spacecraft to a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from a United Launch Alliance Vulcan rocket due to delays in Vulcan’s certification.
VideoLaunch preview: SpaceX to launch Starship Flight 6 test mission from Starbase in southern Texas
The mission is likely to be the fourth and final Starship flight before the end of 2024. Liftoff from Pad 1 at Starbase at Boca Chica Beach, Texas, is set for 4 p.m. CST (5 p.m. EST, 2200 UTC).
VideoSpaceX targets Starship Flight 6 launch on November 18
This will be the fastest turnaround for the Starship program as SpaceX works towards what needs to become a weekly launch cadence for NASA's Artemis program. Liftoff is set for no earlier than 4 p.m. CST (5 p.m. EST, 2200 UTC) on Nov. 18.
VideoLive coverage: SpaceX to attempt first booster catch during the Starship Flight 5 mission
The launch continues SpaceX’s advancement of the rocket, which is key not only to its ambitions, but also to NASA’s Artemis program. Liftoff from Starbase is set for 7 a.m. CDT (1200 UTC), the start of a 30-minute launch window.