Experience Speed and Space at Thunder on Cocoa Beach

A high-speed powerboat zips along the space coast thrilling crowds in Cocoa Beach, Fl this past weekend. Image by Richard P Gallagher

This past weekend, the 15th Annual Thunder on Cocoa Beach powerboat racing event roared into action from May 17-19, drawing in massive crowds and delivering high-octane thrills. Known for its intense racing and scenic Atlantic backdrop, this year’s event did not disappoint.

Nikon Mirrorless Camera Selected to Go to the Moon

Nikon Mirrorless Camera Selected to Go to the Moon

The next generation cameras used on the moon will be a far cry from the  chest-mounted Hassleblad camera used by the Apollo 11 crew. Photo: NASA
The next-generation cameras used on the moon will be a far cry from the chest-mounted Hasselblad camera used by the Apollo 11 crew. Photo: NASA

Chalk one up for Nikon.

My photographer colleagues at the Kennedy Space Center have an ongoing friendly camera rivalry.  Mostly it’s Canon versus Nikon, as we compare the latest camera gear and features while covering rocket launches, inspections of the latest satellites, and press conferences with NASA and other space company leaders.  So the Nikon users got a pleasant surprise

SpaceX Launches Starlink 6-59, Treats Space Coast To Rare “Jellyfish”

SpaceX Launches Starlink 6-59, Treats Space Coast To Rare “Jellyfish”

Booster B1062 Sets New Record For Reusability: 21 Flights

In perhaps the most vivid launch for spectators so far in 2024, SpaceX launched another twenty-three Starlink Mini V2 satellites to orbit after successfully launching the Starlink 6-59 mission from Space Launch Complex 40 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station this evening.

Liftoff was at 08:32 PM EDT. Around 8.3 minutes after liftoff, the first-stage booster used for the mission, tail number B1062, touched down safely on ASDS ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas’, stationed downrange in the Atlantic Ocean. After landing, B1062 has now flown to space for a record-setting twenty-one times.

NASA, Boeing, and ULA Again Delay Boeing Crew Flight Test

NASA, Boeing, and ULA Again Delay Boeing Crew Flight Test

The Boeing Starliner sits on the pad atop an Atlas V Booster on the original launch date of May 6th. The launch has now been delayed until May 25th.
The Boeing Starliner sits on the pad atop an Atlas V Booster on the original launch date of May 6th. The launch has now been delayed until May 25th. Photo: Mark Stone/FMN

NASA, Boeing, and United Launch Alliance (ULA) have announced yet another delay in the launch of the Boeing Crew Flight Test to allow additional time for comprehensive spacecraft closeout processes and “flight rationale assessments.” The launch, which aims to send NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to the International Space Station (ISS), is now targeted for no earlier than 3:09 p.m. EDT on Saturday, May 25.

One of The World’s Largest Cruise Ships Conducts Sea Trials

One of The World’s Largest Cruise Ships Conducts Sea Trials

Utopia of the Seas
Photo: Royal Caribbean
Utopia of the Seas
Photo: Royal Caribbean
Utopia of the Seas is set to carry passengers for the first time July 19 from Port Canaveral, Florida

When you think of a big ship, the first thing that comes to mind for many people is one of the US Navy’s massive aircraft carriers. Truly a floating air base with a full-length flight deck for aircraft to take off and land, aircraft carriers are indeed huge. Typically 1,092 feet (332.85 meters) long and with a beam of 134 feet (40.84 meters) , they are formidable symbols of naval power worldwide. At the same time, they’re not the only huge ships on the ocean, and in a few weeks, one of the largest afloat will call Port Canaveral home.

Royal Caribbean’s newest ship, Utopia of the Seas, is roughly the same size, and even a bit longer from bow to stern than an aircraft carrier: at 1,188 feet (362 meters) long, 211 feet (64 meters), it is also a huge ship, one devoted to giving its passengers the ultimate vacation experience. While the Utopia is huge, she is edged out slightly by RC’s Icon of the Seas, which, only 8 feet longer, carries the title of “World’s largest”.

Carnival Now Has Starlink Service On All Their Cruise Ships

Carnival Now Has Starlink Service On All Their Cruise Ships

Carnival  MS Paradise cruise liner. Taken off the coast of Catalina Island, CA, USA.
Photo: Beau Hudspeth, Creative Commons

Carnival Corporation, operator of the world’s largest cruise line, has deployed SpaceX’s Starlink Internet service to all ninety of their ships across all of their brands.

Florida Off the Beaten Path – Silver Springs State Park

One of Silver Springs' world famous glass-bottom boats leaves the dock for a tour. Photo: Florida State Parks
One of Silver Springs’ world-famous glass-bottom boats leaves the dock for a tour. Photo: Florida State Parks

Nestled just east of Ocala, this park is a hidden gem filled with natural beauty and myriad activities that make it a perfect getaway from the usual tourist spots. Many list Silver Springs among the most beautiful springs in the entire State of Florida. If you like places “off the beaten path”, you’ll absolutely love it, so let’s dive into all the details.

Want To Get Off “The Beaten Path”? Consider These Florida Beaches

Want To Get Off “The Beaten Path”? Consider These Florida Beaches

Florida offers some beautiful secluded beaches for those who want to “get away from it all”. Photo: Florida State Parks

Florida boasts numerous serene and secluded beaches away from the typical tourist spots. If you want a memorable getaway, consider these five uncrowded beaches in Florida that offer tranquility and beautiful surroundings:

SpaceX Planning To Launch Starlink 6-58 Sunday Evening

SpaceX Planning To Launch Starlink 6-58 Sunday Evening

Another day that ends in “y” and that means SpaceX is planning another Starlink launch from The Cape. Sunday evening, from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, the Starlink 6-58 mission is scheduled to liftoff, with a launch window from 8:11 PM EDT Sunday evening to 12:11 AM EDT on early Monday morning. The first stage will land offshore, meaning there will be no sonic booms in the Space Coast Area.

Axiom Space Plans To Test Orbital-Based Data Center Tech on ISS This Year

Axiom Space Plans To Test Orbital-Based Data Center Tech on ISS This Year

A typical data center on Earth.
Photo: Leonardo Rizzi, Creative Commons

In the modern world, data centers are everywhere. They house the IT infrastructure for building, running, and delivering applications and services over the Internet and also through private networks such as the ones that corporations have for their employees. This website — and almost every other website in existence — resides in a data center somewhere, where it is maintained and monitored by the folks that Florida Media Now has engaged to provide that service. “The cloud” is another term we use for data centers — your email, photo backups, and so forth are all in a data center too. And now, data centers are starting to move to orbit.

Jason Aspiotis, Director of In-Space Infrastructure & Logistics, Axiom Space.
Photo: Spacecom Expo 2024

Jason Aspiotis, Axiom Space’s Director of In-Space Infrastructure & Logistics, says this only makes sense as the space economy grows. “Earth’s orbital economy is evolving with the proliferation of thousands of commercial, U.S. government, and allied satellites addressing needs in Earth observation, next generation communications, positioning, and navigation, space domain awareness, and security.”

New EIS Suggests More Than One Starship Pad Planned For KSC/CCSFS

New EIS Suggests More Than One Starship Pad Planned For KSC/CCSFS

SpaceX Starship lifting off on the IFT-2 test from Boca Chica Texas.
Photo: Chris Leymarie, Florida Media Now
SpaceX Starship lifting off on the IFT-2 test from Boca Chica Texas.
Photo: Chris Leymarie, Florida Media Now

The Federal Aviation Administration, NASA and other parties have published a notice of intent to conduct an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for SpaceX Starship launches from Pad LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center, where it anticipates up to forty-four launches and landing at the facility.