While Crew 8 Waits, SpaceX Launches Starlink 6-40

While Crew 8 Waits, SpaceX Launches Starlink 6-40

With Crew-8’s Falcon 9 sitting on Pad LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center this morning waiting for weather to improve along its launch corridor, SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 carrying 23 more Starlink Version 2 Mini satellites to low-Earth orbit from its other launch pad on the Eastern Range at SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

Weather Concerns Delay Crew 8 Launch

Weather Concerns Delay Crew 8 Launch

New Window May Not Be Much Better
Crew 8 Photo
Members of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 from left to right, NASA astronauts Jeanette Epps, mission specialist; Michael Barratt, pilot; Matthew Dominick, commander; and Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin, mission specialist; are photographed inside the crew access arm at Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida during a dress rehearsal on Monday, Feb. 26, 2024, in preparation for the Crew-8 mission. Photo credit: SpaceX

NASA and SpaceX announced today that they have decided to postpone the launch of the Crew-8 mission to the International Space Station (ISS). Initially set for Friday, the mission is now rescheduled for 11:16 p.m. EST on Saturday, March 2.

Rendering of Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner docked at ISS

NASA’s Steve Stich Gives Quick Starliner Update

Rendering of Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner docked at ISS
Graphic: Boeing Corporation

During the NASA Administrator Briefing from the Kennedy Space Center mainly centered around Crew-8 readiness today, Steve Stich, the Manager of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program gave some insight about the status of the planned first crewed flight of Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner. That launch is currently planned for late April of this year.

Press Briefing: Weather A Concern For Crew 8 Launch

NASA’s Crew 8 Mission is scheduled to launch to the ISS at 12:04 AM Friday. Photo: Richard Gallagher/FMN

With only one day to go before the launch of Crew 8, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson led a press briefing on Wednesday morning February 28, 2024, at Kennedy Space Center.  The 8th Commercial Crew trip to the International Space Station (ISS) remains on schedule for a launch just after midnight (12:04 am EST) early Friday morning March 1. 

Spotlighting Astronaut Jeanette J. Epps, Ph.D.

Breaking Barriers and Soaring to New Heights
Jeanette Epps Portrait
Astronaut Jeanette Epps Photo: NASA

As we celebrate Black History Month, it is only fitting to shine a spotlight on individuals who have not only contributed significantly to their respective fields but have also shattered glass ceilings. Among these trailblazers is astronaut Jeanette J. Epps, a distinguished member of NASA’s Crew-8, scheduled to launch to the ISS this Friday at 12:04 AM.

“Houston, Odysseus has found his new home.”

Odysseus passes over the near side of the Moon following lunar orbit insertion on 21FEB2024.
Odysseus passes over the near side of the Moon following lunar orbit insertion on 21FEB2024.

Intuitive Machines has confirmed that the IM-1 Nova-C class lunar lander “Odysseus” touched down on the surface of the Moon today, sometime around 6:30 PM EST. The exact time of touchdown is not yet known, as the company has not yet downloaded and released data from the spacecraft.

Intuitive Machines IM-1 Now In Lunar Orbit; Preparing For Landing

T-minus one day and counting as America prepares for the historic landing of Intuitive Machines’ Nova-C lander Odysseus near the lunar south pole. The uncrewed mission, which launched from Kennedy Space Center six days ago has so far gone off without a hitch.

Satellite Launched to Connect Indonesia

Successful liftoff of a Falcon9 carrying the HTS-113Bt satellite from LC40. Image by Richard P Gallagher

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is scheduled to deploy the HTS-113BT telecommunications satellite in a geosynchronous orbit this afternoon, marking a big advancement in Indonesia’s telecommunications infrastructure. The mission launched into a beautiful blue Florida sky right on time at 3:11 pm from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.