December 2023

Margaritaville at Sea Expands Fleet, Will Sail From Tampa Bay

By FMN Staff December 5, 2023Entertainment / Recreation, Florida News

Margaritaville At Sea's newest ship, the Islander — Margaritaville At Seas’ Newest Ship Will Sail From Tampa Bay Photo: Margaritaville At Sea

TAMPA BAY, Fla. – In an expansion of its cruising operations, Margaritaville at Sea has announced the introduction of a new Margaritaville cruise ship, the Margaritaville at Sea Islander.

Weeki Wachee Springs: A Remarkable Florida Destination

By FMN Staff December 4, 2023Entertainment / Recreation

Weeki Wachee Mermaids Perform Daily — Weeki Wachee’s famous Mermaids perform daily. Photo: Faith Stone/FMN

Weeki Wachee, Florida – Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, located just north of Tampa on the west side of Florida, is a truly remarkable destination.

What Do We Know About The X-37B and Sunday’s Launch?

By Mark Stone FMN December 4, 2023Aviation and Space News, Space News, US Space Force

The secretive X-37B space plane will launch Sunday inside this fairing aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy — The DOD’s X-37B Space Plane will launch Sunday inside this fairing aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy Rocket. Photo: Courtesy Boeing

It’s no secret in the spaceflight community that a secret mission is scheduled to launch from Kennedy Space Center’s Pad 39A on Sunday.

SpaceX Launches 125th Starlink Mission Late Saturday

By Charles Boyer FMN December 3, 2023Aviation and Space News, Falcon 9, Florida News, Space News, SpaceX

A SpaceX Falcon 9 lofts another batch of Starlink Satellites to Orbit. — Timelapse of Falcon 9 Rising from Cape Canaveral Saturday, December 2, 2023
Photo by: Charles Boyer / FMN

SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket on the company’s 125th Starlink mission Saturday night, and added another group of Starlink satellites into the growing constellation of over 5,500 small satellites that provide internet access globally for its customers.

NASA’s Ambitious Lunar Delivery Schedule: Over 40 Payloads by 2025

By Mark Stone FMN December 3, 2023Aviation and Space News, Space News, United Launch Alliance, Vulcan

ULA Launch in December Will Herald New Era in US Space Program

Astrobotic Peregrine Lunar Lander — Artist rendering of Astrobotic’s Peregrine Lunar Lander. Credit: Astrobotic

Kennedy Space Center, FL – NASA’s ambitious plan to deliver over 40 payloads to the moon’s surface through its Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative marks a significant milestone in lunar exploration.

MIA Since WWII, Leesburg Airman Finally Accounted For

By Mark Stone FMN December 2, 2023Florida News

SSgt Franklin P Hall's remains were returned home after being listed as Missing In Action since WWII. — SSgt. Franklin P. Hall of Leesburg, Fl. was listed as Missing In Action when his B-24 Bomber was shot down over France. Photo: Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Washington, D.C. – The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced on November 27th that Staff Sgt. Franklin P. Hall, a 21-year-old serviceman from Leesburg, Florida, has been accounted for.

Amazon Books Launches With SpaceX For Kuiper Internet Project

By Chris Leymarie FMN December 2, 2023Aviation and Space News, Space News, SpaceX

Atlas V launches first two satellites of Project Kuiper — The first two of Amazon’s test satellites launched on a ULA Atlas V in October. Photo: Mark Stone/FMN

SpaceX announced on Friday that Amazon has purchased three launches for their Project Kuiper internet satellite initiative.

Surfing Santas: A Free, Fun Family Christmas Event

By Charles Boyer FMN December 1, 2023Entertainment / Recreation

Surfin' Santa at Cocoa Beach, Florida — A Surfing Santa Out On The Waves.
Photo courtesy surfinsantas.org

Looking for something fun and different to ring in the holidays here in Florida? A free event in Cocoa Beach on Christmas Eve might be what you’re looking for: Surfing Santas Cocoa Beach is an annual that brings hundreds of surfers of all ages dressed up as Santa Claus to the beach and on top of the waves. Admission is free.

SpaceX Aims to Launch Two Rockets Today

By Richard Gallagher FMN December 1, 2023Space News, SpaceX, US Space Force

A SpaceX Falcon 9 Launches from CCSFS — A SpaceX Falcon9 rocket lifts off from CCSFS. Image by Richard P. Gallagher/FMN

SpaceX will attempt two rocket launches from two different locations today.

World’s Largest Cruise Ship Coming To Port Canaveral

By Charles Boyer FMN December 1, 2023Florida News

Artist's rendering of the completed Star of the Seas, the world's largest cruise ship — Artist’s rendering of the Star of the Seas, World’s Largest Cruise Ship. Image courtesy Royal Caribbean

Cape Canaveral is well-known for its rocket launches, but the town is also the site of the world’s busiest cruise ship port — over four million passenger movements per year happen there, which slightly edges out Miami for the top spot. Soon, Port Canaveral will also be the home port of the world’s largest cruise ship — Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas is set to begin service there in July 2025.