Falcon 9 Rocket Lifting Off

SpaceX Planning Doubleheader Today: Koreasat 6A then Starlink 6-69

November 11, 2024Posted inAviation and Space News, Space News, SpaceX

A relatively rare launch double-header may be on offer today, as SpaceX is planning to launch Koreasat-6A from Launch Complex 39A in the early afternoon, and later, the company plans to turn around and launch the Starlink 6-69 mission from Cape Canaveral’s Space Launch Complex 40.

For Koreasat, the launch window opens at 12:07 PM EST and extends to 4:07 PM, and the launch window for Starlink 6-69 opens at 4:02 PM EST and closes again at 7:44 PM the same day.

Flugtag!

Flugtag!

November 9, 2024Posted inFlorida Sports, Things to Do and See in Florida
A fFugtag contestant falls 25 feet to the river below.
Photo: Charles Boyer / FMN

TAMPA, FL (Nov. 9, 2024) – Anyone who has ever flown into Tampa or visited there knows that the airspace there can be a pretty busy place. On Saturday, the “airspace” was even busier than usual at just 25 feet over Tampa’s Hillsborough River. The air was filled with creativity and daring as the Red Bull Flugtag event returned to the city for the first time since 2011.

The first stage of Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket arriving at LC-36 recently. This stage will serve as the first New Glenn launch booster. Photo: Blue Origin

Blue Origin Can Now Legally Use LC-36 Water Deluge System

November 7, 2024Posted inBlue Origin, Cape Canaveral, Space News
A Blue Origin BE-4 engine being test fired. Photo: Blue Origin

A Blue Origin BE-4 engine being test fired.
Photo: Blue Origin
Used as a sound suppression system, a water deluge is necessary to start New Glenn’s engines.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has granted Blue Origin’s application for a water deluge system at Space Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral. It appears that Blue Origin now has no remaining regulatory hurdles prior to the planned static fire of New Glenn’s first stage and its eventual launch at some point in the near future.

The flame plume of a Falcon 9 Photo: Charles Boyer / FMN

SpaceX Planning Starlink 6-67 Late Wednesday Afternoon (Update: Scrubbed)

November 5, 2024Posted inSpace News, SpaceX, Starlink

Late Wednesday afternoon, SpaceX plans to launch Falcon 9 from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral to add to its constantly expanding constellation of Starlink satellites.

This time a Group 6 launch, meaning it is a southeastward launch. It will be into very late afternoon skies on the first day of Standard time and sunsets an hour (by the clock) earlier than the day before. The launch window extends from 4:57 PM EST to 8:03 PM and is expected to be under pleasant skies and an onshore breeze.

NASA/SpaceX Launch Supplies To ISS

NASA/SpaceX Launch Supplies To ISS

November 5, 2024Posted inISS, NASA, Space News, SpaceX
Falcon 9 Carrying the NASA CRS-2 SpX CRS-31 Mission to ISS launches on November 4, 2024. Photo: Charles Boyer / FMN
Falcon 9 Carrying the NASA CRS-2 SpX CRS-31 Mission to ISS launches on November 4, 2024. Photo: Charles Boyer / FMN

SpaceX launched the latest resupply mission for the International Space Station this evening with a Falcon 9 launch from Pad LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center. Liftoff was at 9:29 PM EDT into skies that cleared just in time for the launch.

NASA and SpaceX Planning To Send Supplies To ISS This Evening

NASA and SpaceX Planning To Send Supplies To ISS This Evening

November 4, 2024Posted inISS, NASA, Space News, SpaceX
A Falcon 9 lifting off in 2024 Photo: Charles Boyer / FMN
A Falcon 9 lifting off in 2024
Photo: Charles Boyer / FMN

SpaceX and NASA are planning to launch a Commercial Resupply Services mission to the International Space Station this evening aboard a Falcon 9. Launch is scheduled for 9:29 PM EST from Pad LC-39A, in an instantaneous window. The booster used for the mission will return to Cape Canaveral’s Landing Zone 1, several miles south of the launch site. As such, the Space Coast can expect a sonic boom to reverberate across the area at around 9:37 PM.

The Sharpest Eye On The Sky: Pete Carstens And Max Q Productions

The Sharpest Eye On The Sky: Pete Carstens And Max Q Productions

October 27, 2024Posted inAviation and Space News, Boeing, NASA, Space News, SpaceX, United Launch Alliance
Pete Carstens' photo.
Pete Carstens

Pete Carstens is a man who can see things almost no one else can. Long after launch spectators and even launch photographers have called it a day, Pete continues tracking the launch, watching the streaking rocket sometimes almost all the way to orbit. Fortunately, he shares everything he sees, making space flight journalism all the better for it.

SpaceX, Falcon 9, Starlink 10-8, October 26, 2024. Photo made from The Space Bar in Titusville. Photo: Charles Boyer / FMN

SpaceX Launches Starlink 10-8 From Cape Canaveral

October 26, 2024Posted inSpace News, SpaceX, Starlink

CAPE CANAVERAL SpaceX and Falcon 9 launched another batch of Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral into low Earth orbit late this afternoon. Liftoff was at 5:47 PM EDT under crystal clear skies and a slight breeze.

    Launch spectators enjoyed some food and drinks at The Space Bar before the Starlink 10-8 launch on October 26, Photo: Charles Boyer / FMN
    Launch spectators enjoyed some food and drinks at The Space Bar before the Starlink 10-8 launch on October 26,
    Photo: Charles Boyer / FMN