Now On Deck – Nova C: Another Moon Landing Attempt Launches In February

February 7, 2024Posted inAviation and Space News, NASA, Space News, SpaceX
Nova-C Mission Patch
Nova-C Mission Patch

For 10 days in January, the Peregrine Lunar Lander, made by US company Astrobotic, kept spaceflight observers on the edge of their seat. Peregrine, the first US lunar lander in over 50 years was to mark our country’s return to the moon. More importantly, the landing was a major step in sending a manned lander to the moon in 2026 under the Artemis program.  A propellant leak cut that mission short, and eventually scuttled it with the craft making a fiery return to earth.

Axiom Mission 3 Set to Launch with an International Crew from Florida’s Space Coast

January 12, 2024Posted inSpace News
Axiom 2 Mission Crew Dragon
A crew Dragon module sits atop a Falcon 9 booster prior to the launch of Ax-2 Photo: Mark Stone/FMN

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — The countdown has begun for the launch of Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3) to the International Space Station (ISS), scheduled for launch at 5:11 PM January 17th from Florida’s Space Coast. This mission is heralded as the first all-European commercial astronaut mission to the ISS.

Astrobotic Updates Peregrine Status – Lunar Landing Officially Off

January 10, 2024Posted inSpace News
A photo from the Peregrine Lander shows the Pocari “Time capsule” containing messages from children worldwide. To the left is the MLI-covered DHL moon box, which contains small payloads including a sticker launched by 10-year-old FMN youth correspondent Astro Liz. Photo : Astrobotic

We all knew it was coming; we just didn’t want to believe it.

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

January 2, 2024Posted inSpace News
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

December 30, 2023Posted inAviation and Space News, Space News, United Launch Alliance, Vulcan
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

December 18, 2023Posted inAviation and Space News, Space News, SpaceX, Starlink
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

December 15, 2023Posted inFlorida News
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

December 14, 2023Posted inUncategorized
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).