All Eyes Turn to the Next Major Launch- ULA’s Vulcan/ Peregrine Mission

December 30, 2023Posted inAviation and Space News, Space News, United Launch Alliance, Vulcan
Astrobotic’s Peregrine lunar lander is encapsulated in the payload fairing, or nose cone, of United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket on Nov. 21, 2023, at Astrotech Space Operations Facility near the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Astrobotic’s Peregrine lunar lander is encapsulated in the payload fairing, or nose cone, of United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket on Nov. 21, 2023, at Astrotech Space Operations Facility near the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Photo: NASA

2023 ended on a high note for NASA with the dual launches of a Falcon Heavy containing the X-37B space plane and a Falcon 9 Starlink mission less than three hours later. That’s a hard act to beat, but now all eyes are turning to another major launch set for January 8th.

Cygnus To Depart ISS Friday

December 21, 2023Posted inNASA, Space News
Cygnus Spacecraft to Depart ISS Friday
Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus cargo craft is pictured moments away from being captured by the Canadarm2 robotic arm controlled by NASA astronaut and Expedition 69 Flight Engineer Woody Hoburg from inside the International Space Station.

Not to be confused with the Crew Dragon scheduled to depart the ISS on Thursday night, NASA has issued a news release on the departure of Cygnus Friday morning.

SpaceX Dragon Undocks from ISS Tonight -UPDATED

December 20, 2023Posted inAviation and Space News, Space News, SpaceX
ICrew Dragon Module of CRS-29 approaches ISS in November.
SpaceX Dragon Approaches ISS after November Launch

UPDATED: Now set for 5:05PM Thursday due to bad weather in the recovery area.

Dragon to Return from ISS with Key Scientific Payload

SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft is set to undock from the International Space Station (ISS) tonight at 9:05 p.m. EST. NASA will provide coverage of the undocking beginning at 8:45PM EST on NASA TV, Youtube, and the agency’s website.

SpaceX Alumni Have Collectively Formed More Than 100 New Startups

December 18, 2023Posted inAviation, Aviation and Space News, General, Space News, SpaceX
Falcon 9 lifiting off from LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center in 2023.
SpaceX Falcon Heavy carrying the NASA Psyche mission to orbit in 2023.
Photo: ©2023 TJ Waller / Florida Media Now.

Innovation is foundational at SpaceX, the California-based company founded by Elon Musk in 2002. Not only has the company written a veritable laundry list of firsts, bests and mosts, it has also served as a cradle for former employees to start their own high-tech firms. Several SpaceX alumni startups are prospering, while others are still developing products and preparing to enter the marketplace.

Launch Alert: Starlink 6-34 Set To Launch Tonight

December 18, 2023Posted inAviation and Space News, Space News, SpaceX, Starlink
A SpaceX Falcon 9 stands on Pad 40 in this File Photo
A SpaceX Falcon 9 stands on Pad 40 before a launch earlier this year. Photo: Richard Gallagher/FMN

Space X’s weather-delayed Starlink mission is set to launch tonight from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Pad 40. Weather may still be a problem.

The Mission At A Glance
  • Launch Window: 11:00 PM – 3:31AM EST
  • Pad: 40, Cape Canaveral SFS
  • Mission: Starlink 6-34
  • Launch Vehicle: SpaceX Falcon 9
  • Booster Return: Drone Ship – A Shortfall of Gravitas
  • Launch Weather Forecast: 60% Go