SpaceX launched another 23 Starlink satellites from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Monday. This batch of Starlinks, Group 6-57, was launched to the Southeast and into a 43-degree orbital inclination. The satellites deployed just over an hour after lift-off. Engines full power and liftoff! Go Falcon 9, go Starlink! pic.twitter.com/F3o8PhcOJP — SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 6, 2024 In a change of pace, this was a relatively early launch for SpaceX, 2:14 pm ET, which had been launching the Group 6 Starlink missions in the middle of the night from Florida beca ..read more

SpaceX successfully launched two next-generation Earth observation satellites from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 11:36 am PT. These two satellites, built by Maxar Technologies, are the first of six currently planned to replace older observation satellites. They were deployed into a Sun-synchronous orbit at around 13 and 16 minutes after lift-off, which was later confirmed by SpaceX once the Falcon 9 second stage came back into range of a ground station. Liftoff! pic.twitter.com/ARDD4KXS63 — SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 2, 2024 SpaceX will also launch the ..read more

After 36 days docked to the International Space Station, a SpaceX Cargo Dragon successfully splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Tampa, Florida. In all, the Cargo Dragon, C209, spent 39 days in space after launching from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on March 21st. Cargo Dragon C209 shortly before undocking from the ISS (Credit NASA) This was the first mission to the Space Station to utilize the new Crew Access Tower at SLC-40 which allows for easier access to the Dragon and late loading of cargo. The Cargo Dragon undocked from the ISS at 11:10 ..read more

Rocket Lab is preparing for back-to-back missions for NASA, which will see them launch twice within three weeks from Launch Complex 1 on the Mahia Peninsula in New Zealand. The first mission is named Ready, Aim, PREFIRE, with PREFIRE standing for Polar Radiant Energy in the Far-InfraRed Experiment. The first launch will take place on May 22nd, and the second will follow three weeks after the successful deployment of the first launch. The second mission is named PREFIRE and Ice. Ready, Aim, PREFIRE Next up on Electron will be the first of two launches for @NASA‘s PREFIRE mission, a climate ch ..read more

SpaceX launched its 12th mission of the month on Sunday, sending 23 Starlink satellites to low Earth orbit. The 23 Starlink satellites started their journey to orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 6:08 pm ET and were successfully deployed just over an hour later. Liftoff and ascent of Falcon 9 pic.twitter.com/bUyObEgTXf — SpaceX (@SpaceX) April 28, 2024 This was the 2nd month in a row that SpaceX was able to launch 12 missions as they continue to fine-tune its turnaround times, with droneships now staying in Port Canaveral for ~12 hours between returnin ..read more

The Falcon 9 launched Saturday, May 27th, to deliver both satellites into the necessary orbit. The 2 European global navigation satellites are now safely in orbit, courtesy of the SpaceX Falcon 9, which launched from Kennedy Space Center at 8:34 p.m. ET. Liftoff! pic.twitter.com/NolsTPxBBU — SpaceX (@SpaceX) April 28, 2024 These were the 12th overall launch of the Galileo constellation and were originally scheduled to launch atop a Russian Soyuz rocket from Kourou, French Guiana, but due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, they were then shifted for what would have been a ride with the Europ ..read more

Relativity Space has made major changes at Space Launch Complex 16 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, where its Terran R rocket will be launched. The launch site last saw the company launch its Terran 1 rocket on its first and only test flight in March 2023. The launch proved the 3D-printed rocket could withstand maximum aerodynamic pressure. While the rocket didn’t make it to orbit due to the second stage not igniting, it gave the company the confidence it needed to move forward to the Terran R. Soarin’ over Launch Complex 16, Cape Canaveral, FL. – making room for something big, #TerranR ..read more

NASA shared updated renders of the SpaceX and Blue Origin cargo landers that will bring rovers and other equipment to the Moon. In addition to landing humans, SpaceX and Blue Origin are providing cargo landers to carry next-generation Moon rovers and other equipment to the Moon under NASA’s Artemis program. These cargo landers will be capable of delivering between 26,000 to 33,000 pounds to the Moon to support future astronauts and are planned to be ready in time for the Artemis VII mission, which is currently planned for no earlier than 2031. A closer look at Blue Origin’s cargo lander (Cred ..read more

Rocket Lab successfully launched the “Beginning of the Swarm” mission, its 47th overall yesterday. Electron took the skies at 10:32 am NZT from Launch Complex 1B on the Mahia Peninsula in New Zealand, sending two small payloads to vastly different orbits. Our 47th Electron launch…and counting pic.twitter.com/yCbaHXukMV — Rocket Lab (@RocketLab) April 24, 2024 The launch was originally scheduled for 10:15 a.m. NZT, just 2 minutes before a Falcon 9 mission from Florida, but it held at t – 12 minutes as the Rocket Lab team worked on a ground support system issue. It didn’t take long for teams t ..read more

During its most recent Starlink mission, which occurred last night, SpaceX landed the 300th Falcon rocket. The 300 mark is split between both Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy but does not count as recovered rockets, as two of these rockets, a Falcon Heavy center core and a Falcon 9, tipped over at sea after successful landings. Engines full power and liftoff! pic.twitter.com/FeW78mZio2 — SpaceX (@SpaceX) April 23, 2024 This is a significant milestone for the company as it continues to push its flight cadence further than what nearly anyone in the industry thought was possible. SpaceX is currently o ..read more