SpaceX Delays NG-20 Launch By One Day

January 27, 2024Posted inFalcon 9, NASA, Space News, SpaceX
Northrup Grumman Cygnus NG-20 inside its launch fairings. Photo: NASA
Northrup Grumman Cygnus NG-20 inside its launch fairings.
Photo: NASA

The launch of Northrup-Grumman’s Cygnus NG-20 has been delayed until Tuesday, January 30th at 12:07 PM EST.

William Gerstenmaier, SpaceX’s vice president of Build and Flight Reliability, said in a news conference on January 26th that, “it’s taken a lot of modifications on our part to get this hardware ready to go fly, and we want to make sure it goes right. We think it is good to delay a little bit and make sure we get all this activity right and we’re ready to get this cargo inserted into Cygnus and get ready to fly on Tuesday.”

How To Take A “Streak Shot” Of A Night Launch in Florida

October 24, 2023Posted inEntertainment / Recreation, General

If you are visiting Florida and want to create a great launch photograph but the launch is at night, take a look at this relatively simple technique that will yield some great results: a launch streak shot.

Launch streaks are not difficult for nearly any photographer to create, and it doesn’t take any specialized equipment other than a wide-angle lens and a relatively inexpensive shutter release cable used to keep the shutter of your camera open for several minutes during the flight of the rocket. Just follow a basic procedure and you too can create a memorable photo that will be one that you keep for years.

SpaceX Launches Starlink 6-12

September 4, 2023Posted inKSC, Space News, SpaceX

(Kennedy Space Center, Florida September 3) SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 from Pad LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 10:47 p.m. EDT on September 3, 2023. This mission carried another batch of Starlink satellites to orbit, and it was a record-breaking 62nd orbital launch of the year for SpaceX, breaking last year’s record of 61 launches. As of this date, there have been 46 launches from Cape Canaveral / Kennedy Space Center this year, with all but two coming from SpaceX.

SpaceX Lofts 22 More Starlink Satellites and Sets Turnaround Record

August 6, 2023Posted inFalcon 9, Space News, SpaceX, Starlink, US Space Force
SpaceX Falcon 9 Booster 1078 Lifts Off on Aug. 6 2023. Photo by Charles Boyer for FMN

After a couple of short delays, SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 last night from Cape Canaveral, Florida, lofting Starlink 6-8 — twenty-two second-generation Starlink satellites to orbit. The launch was picture-perfect, with the rocket clearly visible for several minutes after liftoff and even well past staging. Thunderstorms well off to the north and east-southeast added to the light show, with dozens of lightning strokes clearly visible but far away enough not to violate any range safety rules.

SpaceX Falcon 9, Intelsat Galaxy 37, August 3, 2023

August 3, 2023Posted inFalcon 9, Space News, SpaceX, US Space Force

(Cape Canaveral Florida) SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 carrying Intelsat’s Galaxy 37 communications satellite at 1:00 am EDT on August 3, 2023, after short delays due to weather in the area. Liftoff was scheduled initially for 12:15 am, but small rain showers on or near Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s SLC-40 violated launch criteria, leading to two changes in the planned T-0 time.

NASA Sets New Launch Date For Crew-7 Mission

August 2, 2023Posted inCrewed, Falcon 9, ISS, KSC, NASA, Space News, SpaceX
Crew-5 Lifts Off Carrying Astronauts to the International Space Station on October 5, 2022. Photo by: Charles Boyer

(Kennedy Space Center) NASA and SpaceX announced today that they are targeting Monday, August 21 at 5:23 am EDT to launch the Crew-7 mission to the International Space Station. The launch was initially scheduled for late July but was shifted to no earlier than August 17 in order to allow for additional launch pad processing at SpaceX’s LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center.