Broadband – Page 13 – Spaceflight Now

SpaceX rideshare provides new path to orbit for BlackSky

June 26, 2020 Stephen Clark

Despite a growing number of rocket options, the availability of on-time launch services remains a key factor in getting BlackSky’s constellation of Earth-imaging smallsats into orbit. SpaceX’s rideshare launch service will give BlackSky a chance to add two more spacecraft to its fleet on a Falcon 9 rocket with the next batch of Starlink Internet payloads.

Watch the Falcon 9 light its engines for a static test fire (members only)

June 24, 2020 Spaceflight Now

A Falcon 9 rocket ignites its nine Merlin first stage engines on June 24 for a routine static test fire ahead of the planned launch of the tenth batch of Starlink broadband internet satellites.

Live coverage: SpaceX scrubs Starlink launch

June 24, 2020 Stephen Clark

SpaceX scrubbed the planned launch of its next set of Starlink satellites Friday. A Falcon 9 rocket is awaiting liftoff from pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida with 57 Starlink Internet satellites and two commercial Earth-imaging microsatellites for BlackSky.

SpaceX gearing up for another launch of Starlink broadband satellites this week

June 23, 2020 Stephen Clark

For the third time in three weeks, SpaceX is preparing to launch a batch of satellites for the company’s Starlink Internet network from Florida’s Space Coast. Liftoff of a Falcon 9 rocket is set for Thursday afternoon from pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, weather permitting.

Starlink satellite deployments continue with successful Falcon 9 launch

June 13, 2020 Stephen Clark

Breaking a SpaceX record for the shortest span between two missions from the same launch pad, a Falcon 9 rocket lifted off Saturday from Cape Canaveral carrying 58 more Starlink broadband satellites and three Earth-imaging spacecraft for Planet.

Live coverage: Falcon 9 rocket lifts off on first Starlink rideshare mission

June 13, 2020 Stephen Clark

Another batch of Starlink Internet satellites shared a ride into orbit with three of Planet’s SkySat Earth-imaging satellites on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket Saturday. The Falcon 9 lifted off at 5:21 a.m. EDT (0921 GMT) from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

Hitching a ride with SpaceX, Planet poised to complete SkySat fleet

June 12, 2020 Stephen Clark

Three of Planet’s SkySat Earth-imaging satellites are mounted on top of 58 of SpaceX’s Starlink broadband satellites for launch Saturday from Cape Canaveral on top of a Falcon 9 rocket, the first secondary payloads to ride to orbit on SpaceX’s commercial rideshare service.

SpaceX sets new mark in rocket reuse 10 years after first Falcon 9 launch

June 4, 2020 Stephen Clark

On the eve of the 10th anniversary of the Falcon 9 rocket’s debut flight, SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral with a reused first stage Wednesday, then landed the previously-flown booster for a record fifth time after sending 60 more Starlink Internet satellites into space.

Timeline for Falcon 9 launch with Starlink satellites

June 3, 2020 Stephen Clark

Follow the key events of the Falcon 9 rocket’s ascent to orbit with 60 satellites for SpaceX’s Starlink broadband network.

Live coverage: Falcon 9 rocket launches with more Starlink satellites

June 3, 2020 Stephen Clark

SpaceX launched the next group of satellites for the company’s Starlink broadband network Wednesday at 9:25 p.m. EDT (0125 GMT Thursday) from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The satellites rode into orbit on a Falcon 9 rocket with a first stage flown on four previous missions, and the booster made a successful fifth landing on a SpaceX drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean.