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.
Peregrine Mission launches on a ULA Vulcan rocket at 2:18 AM January 8th. Photo: Mark Stone/FMN
Several hours following the picture perfect launch of Astrobotic’s Lunar Lander aboard ULA’s new Vulcan rocket, reports began surfacing of power issues aboard the spacecraft.
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….
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.
A SpaceX Falcon Heavy was the first of two launches from the space coast last night. Photo: Richard Gallagher/FMN
SpaceX marked the end of the year with a launch record on December 28th. The commercial spaceflight company ended the year with 98 launches, including 91 Falcon 9, 5 Falcon Heavy, and two Starship launches.
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.
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).
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.
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.
