Launch Pad 39A – Page 18 – Spaceflight Now

SpaceX launch aborted in final second before liftoff

March 15, 2020 Stephen Clark

The countdown for a planned launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida automatically aborted in the last second before liftoff Sunday after an on-board computer detected unexpected data during an engine power check.

Timeline for Falcon 9 launch of Starlink satellites

March 15, 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.

SpaceX set to fly Falcon 9 booster for fifth time on Starlink launch Sunday

March 13, 2020 Stephen Clark

The launch of 60 Starlink Internet satellites aboard a Falcon 9 rocket Sunday from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida will mark SpaceX’s first mission to fly a Falcon first stage for a fifth time, and the second to launch with a reused payload fairing.

Video: Falcon 9 rocket test-fired at pad 39A (members only)

March 13, 2020 Stephen Clark

SpaceX test-fired a Falcon 9 rocket Friday in preparation for launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida carrying 60 more Starlink satellites into orbit.

Live coverage: SpaceX delivers Starlink satellites to orbit despite engine failure

March 13, 2020 Stephen Clark

SpaceX successfully deployed 60 more Starlink satellites into orbit Wednesday following launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 8:16 a.m. EDT (1216 GMT). One of the nine Merlin engines on the Falcon 9 rocket’s first stage shut down prematurely during ascent, but the launcher was still able to reach the mission’s targeted orbit.

NASA taps SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket to launch mission to metal asteroid

March 4, 2020 Stephen Clark

NASA has selected SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket to launch a robotic mission in July 2022 to explore Psyche, a metal-rich asteroid located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. The Psyche probe is NASA’s first mission assigned to fly on SpaceX’s heavy-lift launcher.

SpaceX swaps upper stage for next Falcon 9 launch

February 26, 2020 Stephen Clark

SpaceX is targeting launches March 6 and March 11 for its next two missions after swapping an upper stage for its next Falcon 9 rocket with another stage already being readied for liftoff at Cape Canaveral.

Space Adventures announces plans to fly private citizens on SpaceX crew capsule

February 18, 2020 Stephen Clark

Building on development for NASA’s commercial crew program, Space Adventures announced an agreement Tuesday with SpaceX to fly up to four paying space tourists on a standalone mission aboard a Crew Dragon spacecraft in late 2021 or 2022 that could reach an altitude two-to-three times higher than the International Space Station.

SpaceX’s Crew Dragon delivered to Cape Canaveral for first flight with astronauts

February 14, 2020 Stephen Clark

SpaceX’s next Crew Dragon capsule was delivered to Cape Canaveral this week from a California factory for a liftoff as soon as this spring with veteran NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken on a test flight to the International Space Station, officials announced Friday.

SpaceX releases preliminary results from Crew Dragon abort test

January 23, 2020 Stephen Clark

Data from the Jan. 19 in-flight launch escape demonstration of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft indicate the performance of the capsule’s SuperDraco abort engines was “flawless” as the thrusters boosted the ship away from the top of a Falcon 9 rocket with a peak acceleration of about 3.3Gs, officials said Thursday.