Valvetech Urges NASA to Stop Second Starliner Launch Attempt

Valvetech Urges NASA to Stop Second Starliner Launch Attempt

Boeing's Starliner sits atop a ULA Atlas V hours before a scrubbed launch attempt on Monday, May 6, 2024. Photo: Mark Stone/FMN
Boeing’s Starliner sits atop a ULA Atlas V booster hours before a scrubbed launch attempt on Monday, May 6, 2024. Photo: Mark Stone/FMN

“As a valued NASA partner and as valve experts, we strongly urge them not to attempt a second launch due to the risk of a disaster occurring on the launchpad”.

Valvetech President Erin Faville – Wednesday March 8th.
Discover the Magic of Central Florida: 20 Essential Attractions You Need to Visit

Discover the Magic of Central Florida: 20 Essential Attractions You Need to Visit

From Tampa to the Space Coast, Central Florida offers an incredible array of attractions. There is something for everyone, ranging from theme parks to serene natural areas and educational museums. Here’s a detailed look at 20 attractions that make Central Florida a must-visit destination for all types of travelers.

Starliner Calypso Poised To Become NASA’s Second Certified Crew Vehicle Design

Starliner Calypso Poised To Become NASA’s Second Certified Crew Vehicle Design

The Crew Access Arm enables the astronauts to board the spacecraft. Photo by United Launch Alliance
The Crew Access Arm enables the astronauts to board the spacecraft. Photo by United Launch Alliance

NASA’s Commercial Crew program will take a big step forward on Monday, May 6th with the launch of the Boeing Starliner Calypso’s Crewed Flight Test (CFT-100). Scheduled for a 10:34 PM EDT liftoff, Starliner Calypso will carry its first-ever crew to the ISS on an important test flight. (The spacecraft was named in honor of the research vessel Calypso, used by famed oceanographer Jacques Cousteau from 1950-1996.)

SpaceX To Launch Critical Navigation Satellites Saturday Night

Timing Suggests Possibility of Jellyfish Phenomenon
Model of a Galileo Navigation Satellite.
Model of Galileo Communications Satellite Photo: Wikipedia

SpaceX is set to launch a pair of long-delayed navigation satellites tomorrow night (April 27) at 8:34PM from Pad 39A at KSC. 

The satellites, FM25 and FM27, are being launched aboard a Falcon 9 booster as part of Europe’s MEO Galileo constellation. They will join 26 other satellites that began launching in 2011 to form part of a high-precision navigation system for the European Union. 

US Watches Closely As China Launches Shenzhou-18 Mission

US Watches Closely As China Launches Shenzhou-18 Mission

Shenzouh 18 on the pad
A Chinese Long March 2F/G stands on its pad during prelaunch testing for the Shenzhou 18 mission. Photo: CNSA

JIUQUAN SATELLITE LAUNCH CENTER, China — In another step toward enhancing its space capabilities, China launched three astronauts to the Chinese Space Station aboard the Shenzhou-18 spacecraft on Thursday evening. The mission, part of China’s rapidly advancing space program, aims to reinforce its position in the global space race with ambitious plans including lunar expeditions.

Next Stop: ISS—Wilmore and Williams Prep for Starliner’s First Crewed Test Flight

Next Stop: ISS—Wilmore and Williams Prep for Starliner’s First Crewed Test Flight

The official crew portrait for NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test. Left is Suni Williams, who will serve as the pilot, and to the right is Barry “Butch” Wilmore, spacecraft commander. Photo credit: NASA
The official crew portrait for NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test. Left is Suni Williams, who will serve as the pilot, and to the right is Barry “Butch” Wilmore, spacecraft commander. Photo credit: NASA

It’s getting real y’all. In less than two weeks, NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will climb aboard the new Boeing Starliner crew capsule for a test flight that will carry them to the International Space Station for a 10-day stay. Launching no earlier than 10:34 PM EDT on May 6th, the flight represents the first crewed flight test of the Starliner.

Scales and Tailwinds: Alligator Mistakes Air Base for Swamp Resort

Scales and Tailwinds: Alligator Mistakes Air Base for Swamp Resort

A large alligator rests near the landing gear of a KC-135 at Macdill AFB, Florida on Monday.
A large alligator rests near the landing gear of a KC-135 at MacDill AFB, Florida on Monday. Photo: MacDill AFB

TAMPA, Fla. – An unexpected visitor found his way onto the tarmac at MacDill Air Force Base yesterday, prompting a swift response from Florida Fish and Wildlife authorities. After crawling out of a nearby marsh, the nearly 10-foot alligator promptly did what gators do…. found a nice cool spot to get out of the hot Florida sun. Unfortunately for the busy airmen at the base, the gator apparently claimed “squatter’s rights” in front of the landing gear of a huge KC-135 tanker aircraft.

FAA Adds New Licensing Requirement for Spacecraft Reentry

FAA Adds New Licensing Requirement for Spacecraft Reentry

Starship reenters the atmosphere following a test flight.
SpaceX’s IFT-3 reenters the atmosphere following a March 2024 test flight. Photo: SpaceX

WASHINGTON, April 19 — The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced a change in its licensing regulations aimed at enhancing the safety of space missions involving reentry vehicles. In an April 17th publication in the Federal Register, the FAA’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation declared that it will no longer approve the launch of spacecraft designed to reenter Earth’s atmosphere unless they already possess a reentry license.

Astranis Omega – Next Year’s Challenger to Starlink?

Astranis Omega – Next Year’s Challenger to Starlink?

Astranis today announced their next-gen satellite OMEGA. Graphic: Astranis
Astranis today announced their next-gen satellite OMEGA. Graphic: Astranis

Based in the United States, Astranis says they have made a significant breakthrough in delivering satellite internet with Omega, dubbing it the “pound-for-pound the most powerful communications satellite”. Omega is destined for higher geostationary orbits approximately 22,000 miles above the planet. This positioning is notably different from the lower Earth orbits utilized by Starlink satellites, which orbit sixty times closer.

“With Omega, our customers simply get more throughput at lower prices” 

Astranis CEO John Gedmark