Static Fire – Spaceflight Now

SpaceX test-fires rocket for crew launch

April 17, 2021

SpaceX test-fired the Falcon 9 rocket early Saturday ahead of launch with the next four astronauts heading to the International Space Station. The static fire test before sunrise Saturday in Florida was a major step toward liftoff Thursday.

Watch a live view of the Falcon 9 rocket on the launch pad

April 15, 2021

Bad weather offshore has forced SpaceX and NASA to delay Thursday’s planned launch of the Crew Dragon by a day. Better conditions are expected on Friday for a 5:49 a.m. EDT (0949 GMT) liftoff from the Kennedy Space Center.

Watch a 4K video replay of the Falcon 9 static fire (members only)

March 9, 2021

SpaceX test-fired a Falcon 9 rocket Monday evening at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, paving the way for launch of 60 more Starlink internet satellites Tuesday night.

Live coverage: SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket fires into orbit from Cape Canaveral

March 8, 2021

SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket with the next batch of 60 Starlink internet satellites at 3:13 a.m. EST (0813 GMT) Thursday from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The reusable first stage successfully landed on a drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean.

SpaceX eyes mobile connectivity market on eve of launching 60 more Starlink satellites

March 8, 2021

The next 60 Starlink internet satellites are awaiting a ride from Cape Canaveral into space aboard a Falcon 9 rocket Tuesday night as SpaceX seeks regulatory authority to expand the network’s services from homes and offices to airplanes, ships, and trucks.

SpaceX says “heat damage” caused landing failure on recent Falcon 9 mission

February 25, 2021

A senior SpaceX official said this week that “heat damage” led to the failure of a Falcon 9 booster during a landing attempt Feb. 15, but the company will press on with more launches and will likely surpass the 10-flight threshold on one of its reusable rockets soon. The next Falcon 9 launch, using a booster flying on its eighth mission, is scheduled for liftoff from Florida with 60 more Starlink internet satellites Sunday night.

Falcon 9 rocket arrives on pad 39A for sunrise Starlink launch this weekend

January 28, 2021

SpaceX plans to deploy the next group of Starlink internet relay spacecraft Sunday with a liftoff on top of a Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, the company’s fourth satellite launch of the month.

Falcon 9 rocket fires up in crucial test before weekend crew launch

November 11, 2020

SpaceX test-fired a Falcon 9 rocket Wednesday afternoon at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, clearing a major hurdle before it launches Saturday night — weather permitting — with a four-person crew heading for the International Space Station.

Crew Dragon astronauts arrive in Florida for launch preparations

November 8, 2020

With eyes on Tropical Storm Eta approaching South Florida, the four astronauts set to launch next Saturday on a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft arrived at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on Sunday after flying from their home base in Houston.

Live coverage: Crew launch delayed to Sunday

November 8, 2020

NASA and SpaceX have delayed the launch of the Crew Dragon “Resilience” spacecraft from the Kennedy Space Center until 7:27 p.m. EST Sunday (0027 GMT Monday) to wait for improved downrange weather and sea conditions, and better onshore winds at the launch site.