SpaceX

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.

SpaceX requests public safety determination for early return to flight for its Falcon 9 rocket

July 16, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The FAA ordered an investigation following a second stage failure during the Starlink 9-3 mission on July 11.

SpaceX Falcon 9 second stage fails leaving Starlink satellites in wrong orbit

July 11, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

It was the first failure of a Falcon 9 rocket in flight since 2015. Liftoff occurred at 7:35 p.m. PDT (10:35 p.m. EDT, 0235 UTC) from pad 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

SpaceX launches Türksat 6A satellite, Turkey’s first domestically-built satellite

July 8, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The spacecraft is Turkey’s first home-grown communications satellite. Liftoff from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station happened at 7:30 p.m. EDT (2330 UTC).

SpaceX launches 100th Direct to Cell Starlink satellite on Falcon 9 flight from Cape Canaveral

July 2, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The overnight mission saw the return of Falcon 9 booster, tail number B1073, which experienced an abort as its engine began firing during the June 14 launch attempt of the Starlink 10-2 mission. Liftoff from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station was at 4:55 a.m. EDT (0855 UTC).