United Launch Alliance’s CERT-2 rocket on its way to the launch mount at Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral on September 30, 2024. Photo: United Launch Alliance
United Launch Alliance has moved its second Vulcan Rocket from their Vertical Integration Facility at Space Launch Complex 41 to the launch mount. Final preparations can now begin for a launch scheduled for NET (not earlier than) Friday morning. Launch time is unofficially expected to be between 06:00 AM – 009:00 AM EDT, but ULA has not yet announced an official time for T-0.
Crew 9 lifts off from Space Launch Complex 40 on September 28, 2024 Photo: Charles Boyer / FMN
SpaceX successfully launched the Crew 9 mission today from Space Launch Complex 40 in the first crewed launch from that storied pad. Liftoff was at 01:17 PM EDT under broken skies and a building threat of storms.
Tampa Bay Lightning Darren Raddysh Scores | Photo: TJ Waller
The KIA Center, Orlando.
The home of the Orlando Solar Bears – the ECHL affiliate of the NHL team Tampa Bay Lightning – was filled with excited fans from both sides last night as the Lightning took on the Florida Panthers.
NOAA Gulfstream IV “Gonzo” sits on the ramp at Florida’s Kennedy Space Center Photo: Eric Moore/FMN
Lakeland, Florida – As Hurricane Helene barrels towards the Florida coast, a specialized team of hurricane chasers stationed in Lakeland, Florida, are taking to the skies. These experts, part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), play a crucial role in tracking and studying hurricanes to provide real-time data that is crucial to both weather predictions and emergency responses.
They plan to learn more about how satellites break up as they crash back to Earth.
Roughly 200 sensors and four infrared mini-cameras will measure and capture the disintegration process that DRACO will undergo until it self-destructs on re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere – Graphic: ESA
The European Space Agency plans to launch and then let a test satellite return to Earth in an uncontrolled manner. The Destructive Reentry Assessment Container Object (DRACO) will be built by the Spanish company Deimos and is currently planned to fly to space no earlier than 2027.
Infrared Satellite view of Helene as it passes over Cozumel, Mexico Wednesday morning. Photo: National Hurricane Center
Tropical Storm Helene, currently a powerful tropical system, is forecast to rapidly intensify into a major hurricane as it moves toward the Gulf Coast of Florida. As of 6AM EDT this morning, the storm was located near Cozumel, Mexico, with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph.
MS-25 landing via NASA livestream on September 23, 2024.
NASA astronaut Tracy Dyson has returned to Earth from the International Space Station. During her 184 days in space, she orbited Earth 2,944 times and traveled approximately 78 million miles.
Crew 9 members arrive at the KSC Shuttle Landing Strip Saturday afternoon, to prepare for launch to ISS. Image by Richard P Gallagher/FMN
The NASA SpaceX Crew-9 mission, set to launch on September 26, 2024, will see NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov embarking on a six-month scientific mission to the International Space Station (ISS). For the first time, a crewed mission will be launched from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, adding a new dimension to SpaceX’s launch capabilities and enhancing operational flexibility (NASA). This mission will also formularize Starliner astronauts currently aboard the ISS with the Dragon spacecraft operations in preparation for their return flight home after the completion of the Crew 9 mission.
SpaceX’s Starship stands against a South Texas night sky. Photo: Richard Gallagher/FMN
The creators of the popular adult party game Cards Against Humanity on Thursday filed a $15 million lawsuit against SpaceX in Cameron County, Texas. In their filing, the company alleges that SpaceX trespassed on and damaged a piece of property the game maker purchased in 2017 to protest former President Donald Trump’s proposed border wall.
If you follow spaceflight at all, you no doubt have heard a lot talk this year about the FAA “grounding” Space X’s Starship and Falcon 9, mishap investigations, and creating delays with a lot of “red tape.” Yet none of that happened after the flight of the beleaguered Boeing Starliner. What’s up with that? Some say it’s political, and they are “out to get Elon Musk.” In truth, it’s not quite that dramatic.
