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SpaceX launches GPS satellite for Air Force with expended Falcon 9
Early this morning at 9:21am EST at Cape Canaveral, Florida, SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket carried the Air Force's GPS III space vehicle into orbit around Earth. Due to the requirements for this mission, the first stage of the Falcon 9 was expended and not recovered. The payload needs the extra performance to ensure it gets into the correct inclination for its orbit. The GPS III satellite is the Air Force's first Global Positioning System III vehicle and will deliver positioning, navigations, and t
Possible parts for SpaceX's Starship hopping test article show up at Boca Chica launch site
Earlier today, photos were posted on Twitter of what looks like possible parts for the upcoming Starship test article that'll be used to "hop" to analyze the control and stability of the craft on landing. Following these, images, Elon did confirm that the pieces are made out of stainless steel, but are a very different material than the old Atlas rockets.Elon did confirm that these were parts for the Starship test article, as well as giving a lot of new information about it. He mentioned that t
Possible parts for SpaceX's Starship hopping test article show up at Boca Chica launch site
Earlier today, photos were posted on Twitter of what looks like possible parts for the upcoming Starship test article that'll be used to "hop" to analyze the control and stability of the craft on landing. Following these, images, Elon did confirm that the pieces are made out of stainless steel, but are a very different material than the old Atlas rockets.Elon did confirm that these were parts for the Starship test article, as well as giving a lot of new information about it. He mentioned that t
First satellite for the French Military's surveillance network launched on Soyuz rocket
Today at 11:37am EST, a Russian Soyuz rocket launched from Arianespace's French Guiana launchpad in South America. This also marks the last launch of the year for Arianespace.The Soyuz carried the CSO-1 satellite, or the Composante Spatiale Optique satellite, which is the first of the French Military's new series of reconnaissance satellites. This is the new space-based surveillance network that will collect day and night imagery in visible and infrared bands.CSO-1 weighed about 7,850 pounds (3
First satellite for the French Military's surveillance network launched on Soyuz rocket
Today at 11:37am EST, a Russian Soyuz rocket launched from Arianespace's French Guiana launchpad in South America. This also marks the last launch of the year for Arianespace.The Soyuz carried the CSO-1 satellite, or the Composante Spatiale Optique satellite, which is the first of the French Military's new series of reconnaissance satellites. This is the new space-based surveillance network that will collect day and night imagery in visible and infrared bands.CSO-1 weighed about 7,850 pounds (3
Indian Air Force satellite successfully launched atop GLSV Mk.2 rocket
Today, December 19th, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) successfully launched the GSAT 7A Spacecraft into a Geostationary Transfer Orbit atop their Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mk. 2 (GSLV Mk.2). This launch vehicle produces about 1.8 million pounds of thrust to lift the rocket and the payload off the launch pad. This is the seventh launch of the GSLV rocket and the last launch of the year for the Indian Space Program. Liftoff occurred at 5:40am EST from the Second Launch
Indian Air Force satellite successfully launched atop GLSV Mk.2 rocket
Today, December 19th, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) successfully launched the GSAT 7A Spacecraft into a Geostationary Transfer Orbit atop their Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mk. 2 (GSLV Mk.2). This launch vehicle produces about 1.8 million pounds of thrust to lift the rocket and the payload off the launch pad. This is the seventh launch of the GSLV rocket and the last launch of the year for the Indian Space Program. Liftoff occurred at 5:40am EST from the Second Launch
Rocket Lab successfully launches NASA's ElaNa-19 mission
At 1:16am EST, Rocket Lab launched their Electron rocket carrying a NASA mission for the very first time from the Mahia Peninsula in New Zealand. Electron was carrying 13 CubeSats, weighing 172 pounds, into a 500km x 500km orbit using the kick stage. This was the first time that NASA CubeSats got a dedicated ride to orbit on a commercial launch vehicle.This launch was made possible by NASA's Venture Class Launch Services (VCLS) initiative. Before now, CubeSats were limited to ride share arrange
Rocket Lab successfully launches NASA's ElaNa-19 mission
At 1:16am EST, Rocket Lab launched their Electron rocket carrying a NASA mission for the very first time from the Mahia Peninsula in New Zealand. Electron was carrying 13 CubeSats, weighing 172 pounds, into a 500km x 500km orbit using the kick stage. This was the first time that NASA CubeSats got a dedicated ride to orbit on a commercial launch vehicle.This launch was made possible by NASA's Venture Class Launch Services (VCLS) initiative. Before now, CubeSats were limited to ride share arrange
SpaceX successfully delivers Dragon to the ISS, but has a mishap during landing
Yesterday at 1:16pm EST, SpaceX launched their Dragon spacecraft on top of a brand new block 5 Falcon 9 to send it up to the International Space Station carrying cargo and experiments for astronauts onboard. The Falcon 9 lifted off from Space Launch Complex 40 powered by 9 Merlin engines with a total thrust of 1,710,000 pounds. About 2.5 minutes into flight, the first stage main engines shutdown and the two stages separated, sending the second stage on its own to carrying Dragon the rest of the
SpaceX successfully delivers Dragon to the ISS, but has a mishap during landing
Yesterday at 1:16pm EST, SpaceX launched their Dragon spacecraft on top of a brand new block 5 Falcon 9 to send it up to the International Space Station carrying cargo and experiments for astronauts onboard. The Falcon 9 lifted off from Space Launch Complex 40 powered by 9 Merlin engines with a total thrust of 1,710,000 pounds. About 2.5 minutes into flight, the first stage main engines shutdown and the two stages separated, sending the second stage on its own to carrying Dragon the rest of the
SpaceX successfully launches 64 satellites and lands same booster for the third time
Yesterday afternoon at 1:34pm EST, SpaceX launched their Falcon 9 rocket carrying the SSO-A mission with SHERPA from Space Launch Complex 4 at the Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. This mission was a big deal for SpaceX, such as reusing a first stage booster for a third time for the first time, the first booster to launch from all three SpaceX pads (SLC-40, LC-39A, SLC-4), and the most launches in a year with 19 and 22 by the end of the year. Lastly, it's the largest ride share on a US
SpaceX successfully launches 64 satellites and lands same booster for the third time
Yesterday afternoon at 1:34pm EST, SpaceX launched their Falcon 9 rocket carrying the SSO-A mission with SHERPA from Space Launch Complex 4 at the Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. This mission was a big deal for SpaceX, such as reusing a first stage booster for a third time for the first time, the first booster to launch from all three SpaceX pads (SLC-40, LC-39A, SLC-4), and the most launches in a year with 19 and 22 by the end of the year. Lastly, it's the largest ride share on a US
OSIRIS-REx arrives at Bennu
After two years of coasting through deep space, doing course corrections, and flying by Earth, OSIRIS-REx has arrived at the asteroid Bennu. Today at about 12:30pm EST, OSIRIS-REx officially reached the asteroid. The spacecraft will be retrieving a sample from the surface of the asteroid before leaving and returning to Earth. Alongside collecting a sample, it will be analyzing and mapping the surface of the asteroid and obtaining data that we can use to learn about the creation of our planet a
OSIRIS-REx arrives at Bennu
After two years of coasting through deep space, doing course corrections, and flying by Earth, OSIRIS-REx has arrived at the asteroid Bennu. Today at about 12:30pm EST, OSIRIS-REx officially reached the asteroid. The spacecraft will be retrieving a sample from the surface of the asteroid before leaving and returning to Earth. Alongside collecting a sample, it will be analyzing and mapping the surface of the asteroid and obtaining data that we can use to learn about the creation of our planet a