Reusability – Page 71 – Spaceflight Now

Falcon 9’s return-to-flight launch delayed 24 hours

December 20, 2015 Stephen Clark

SpaceX called off a try Sunday to launch a package of Orbcomm communications satellites from Cape Canaveral, eyeing a better chance to land the Falcon 9 rocket’s first stage booster Monday, according to Elon Musk, the company’s billionaire founder.

Photos: Taller, souped-up Falcon 9 on the launch pad

December 20, 2015 Stephen Clark

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, built with extended propellant tanks and engines rated for higher thrust, is poised for liftoff on the company’s first launch since a catastrophic failure in June grounded the commercial booster.

Live coverage: Falcon 9 rocket launches, and lands, at Cape Canaveral

December 20, 2015 Stephen Clark

In a fiery, dramatic comeback for SpaceX, a Falcon 9 rocket took off from Cape Canaveral, streaking into orbit as its booster stage returned to a historic landing on Florida’s Space Coast in a key achievement aimed at slashing the cost of space transportation. Eleven communications satellites for Orbcomm were deployed in orbit in the flight’s prime objective.

SpaceX scheduled to return Falcon 9 rocket to flight Sunday

December 19, 2015 Stephen Clark

SpaceX says Sunday is the target launch date for the first launch of a remodeled version of its Falcon 9 rocket, and the launcher’s first mission since a June failure, after completing a practice countdown and engine ignition test Friday.

Falcon 9’s near-term manifest coming into focus

December 13, 2015 Stephen Clark

SpaceX’s launch of a cluster of communications satellites for Orbcomm, set for as soon as next weekend, holds the headlines, but the company’s Falcon 9 rocket could fly at least four times in the next two months, assuming smooth launch campaigns and no glitches.

SpaceX eyes Dec. 19 for first launch since June

December 10, 2015 Stephen Clark

SpaceX is targeting Dec. 19 for a critical commercial launch that will double as the debut flight of an upgraded Falcon 9 rocket and the company’s return-to-flight mission after a failure six months ago halted SpaceX’s busy launch manifest.

SpaceX aims to resume Falcon 9 flights in mid-December

December 2, 2015 Stephen Clark

SpaceX has shipped to Cape Canaveral the first Falcon 9 booster equipped with upgrades to haul heavier cargoes to orbit, aiming for a mid-December launch in the space transport company’s first mission since a June rocket failure grounded the Falcon 9.

Bezos-backed Blue Origin achieves rocket landing

November 24, 2015 Stephen Clark

A suborbital rocket booster built by Blue Origin, an entrepreneurial space firm founded by Internet tycoon Jeff Bezos, streaked into space in the skies over West Texas and descended to a pinpoint propulsive touchdown on a landing pad, the company announced Tuesday.

Q&A with Jeff Bezos, founder of Blue Origin

November 24, 2015 Stephen Clark

Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos, the Internet pioneer behind Amazon.com, spoke with reporters Nov. 24 after a historic flight of the company’s suborbital New Shepard launch vehicle that ended with a successful vertical rocket-assisted touchdown at a landing pad in West Texas.

Falcon 9 rocket passes last major preflight test

June 26, 2015 Stephen Clark

Ground crews plan to load the final cargo into SpaceX’s Dragon supply ship Saturday after the capsule’s Falcon 9 rocket booster briefly fired up on the launch pad at Cape Canaveral for a flight readiness check.