SpaceX – Page 28 – Spaceflight Now

NASA pushes Crew-9 launch to September amid uncertainty of Starliner’s return timeline

August 6, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The adjustment of the launch manifest is in line with NASA’s desire to have a direct handover between its two long-duration crews on the International Space Station.

Axiom Space’s fourth private astronaut crew named, begins training in Houston

August 5, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

Ax-4 will mark the first time an astronaut from India or Poland visits the International Space Station. The mission will be commanded by former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, making her second trip to the ISS on behalf of Axiom Space.

SpaceX launches 23 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base

August 3, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The launch comes following a scrub for weather of the NG-21 mission at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Liftoff of the Starlink 11-1 mission happened at 12:24 a.m. PDT (3:24 a.m. EDT, 0724 UTC) from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E).

NASA and SpaceX launch a Northrop Grumman Cygnus spacecraft to the International Space Station

August 3, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The mission, dubbed NG-21, was the second out of three planned launches of a Cygnus spacecraft onboard a Falcon 9 rocket. Liftoff happened on Sunday, Aug. 4, at 11:02 a.m. EDT (1502 UTC).

SpaceX launches 23 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Center

August 1, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The launch came as SpaceX is also preparing to launch a Cygnus spacecraft to the International Space Station over the weekend. Liftoff of the Starlink 10-6 mission happened at 1:01 a.m. EDT (0501 UTC).

SpaceX launched 21 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base

July 28, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The mission will complete a back-to-back schedule for SpaceX on Sunday morning. Liftoff from SLC-4E happened at 2:22 a.m. PDT (5:22 a.m. EDT, 0922 UTC).

SpaceX completes 300th booster reflight during first of planned back-to-back Falcon 9 launches

July 28, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The overnight launch marked the second Falcon 9 flight since the July 11 mishap that grounded the rocket. Liftoff happened at 1:09 a.m. EDT (0509 UTC).

SpaceX launches Falcon 9 return to flight mission from the Kennedy Space Center

July 26, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The rocket launched more than 340 times successively and successfully before it encountered an issue with its upper stage on July 11. Liftoff of the Starlink 10-9 mission happened at 1:45 a.m. EDT (0545 UTC).

SpaceX completes Falcon 9 static fire test amid return to flight campaign

July 25, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

An upper stage anomaly during the Starlink 9-3 mission on July 11 grounded the Falcon 9 rocket. The FAA is evaluating SpaceX’s request for a public safety determination to resume launches.

NASA plans for space station’s demise with new SpaceX ‘Deorbit Vehicle’

July 18, 2024 William Harwood

The ISS Deorbit Vehicle, or DV, will be a custom-built, one-of-a-kind spacecraft needed to make sure the space station re-enters the atmosphere at the precise place and in the proper orientation to insure any wreckage that survives the 3,000-degree heat of re-entry will crash harmlessly into the sea.