A True Space Jellyfish Is Rare …But You Might See One Tomorrow

A space jellyfish as seen in May 2022.
A space jellyfish as seen from 110 miles away in the predawn sky. It appears as an expanding tear in the fabric of the night sky. Photo: Mark Stone/FMN

Cape Canaveral, FL– January 2, 2024 .There’s a pretty good chance that tomorrow night’s Falcon 9 launch will produce a beautiful phenomenon known as a “space jellyfish”. Many observers, who believe they have frequently seen the phenomenon called a jellyfish before, actually saw something else instead….

All Eyes Turn to the Next Major Launch- ULA’s Vulcan/ Peregrine Mission

Astrobotic’s Peregrine lunar lander is encapsulated in the payload fairing, or nose cone, of United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket on Nov. 21, 2023, at Astrotech Space Operations Facility near the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Astrobotic’s Peregrine lunar lander is encapsulated in the payload fairing, or nose cone, of United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket on Nov. 21, 2023, at Astrotech Space Operations Facility near the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Photo: NASA

2023 ended on a high note for NASA with the dual launches of a Falcon Heavy containing the X-37B space plane and a Falcon 9 Starlink mission less than three hours later. That’s a hard act to beat, but now all eyes are turning to another major launch set for January 8th.

Launch Alert: Starlink 6-34 Set To Launch Tonight

A SpaceX Falcon 9 stands on Pad 40 in this File Photo
A SpaceX Falcon 9 stands on Pad 40 before a launch earlier this year. Photo: Richard Gallagher/FMN

Space X’s weather-delayed Starlink mission is set to launch tonight from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Pad 40. Weather may still be a problem.

The Mission At A Glance
  • Launch Window: 11:00 PM – 3:31AM EST
  • Pad: 40, Cape Canaveral SFS
  • Mission: Starlink 6-34
  • Launch Vehicle: SpaceX Falcon 9
  • Booster Return: Drone Ship – A Shortfall of Gravitas
  • Launch Weather Forecast: 60% Go

Storms Across Florida This Weekend: Expect Airline,Cruise, Launch Delays

Severe weather in Florida This Weekend will include high winds.
Gusty winds and heavy rain are expected across Florida this weekend. Graphic: Fox Weather

Residents are bracing for severe weather in Florida this weekend, with unusually strong storms. The central Atlantic Coast may receive some of the strongest impacts.The expected weather will likely cause further delays to an already backed up launch schedule at Cape Canaveral, as well as delays at the Port Canaveral Cruise Port.

FCC Upholds Decision to Deny Starlink $900 Million in Rural Broadband Subsidies

SpaceX Starlink Broadband Satellites Launche to orbit
A SpaceX Falcon 9 Launches heads to orbit with a payload of Starlink Satellites on November 3rd. Photo: Richard Gallagher/FMN

Washington, D.C. – The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has reaffirmed its decision to deny SpaceX’s Starlink satellite broadband service nearly $900 million in subsidies for rural broadband deployment under the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF).

On Track for a Double Header – NOT! –Updated Again

FMN Photos by Mark Stone and Charles Boyer

UPDATE #2 : The USSF-52 launch has now been pushed to Wednesday night, the 13th. Weather forecast is not good, so stay on top of this one! Starlink still on for tonight…for now.

UPDATE: after a disappointing “Double Scrub” on the 11th, both launches have been rescheduled for same times tonight, Dec. 12th. Weather for the Falcon Heavy is 80% “go”, and 65% “go” for the Starlink mission, according to the SLD-45 Weather Squadron’s latest forecast.

Commercial Spaceflight Industry Experiences Consolidation in 2023 – Is It A Good Thing?

A Delta IV Heavy Launches from ULA in 2023
A ULA Delta IV launches in 2023. The company is reportedly now up for grabs. Photo: Mark Stone/FMN

Florida is experiencing a significant surge in its capabilities to support the expanding space industry, thanks to an influx of billions of dollars dedicated to enhancing and expanding spaceports. A 2023 trend of consolidation in the commercial spaceflight industry may be helping to support that.