A Look Ahead: Three “Firsts” of The Polaris Dawn Mission

A Look Ahead: Three “Firsts” of The Polaris Dawn Mission

Official rendering of a Polaris Dawn astronaut egressing from Crew Dragon with the help of the the Skywalker attachment (Zdroj: SpaceX)
Official rendering of a Polaris Dawn astronaut egressing from Crew Dragon with the help of the the Skywalker attachment (Zdroj: SpaceX)

The upcoming Polaris Dawn mission is poised to make history as the first commercial spaceflight to include a spacewalk. Billionaire Jared Isaacman is funding the mission, which is scheduled to launch no earlier than July 31, 2024, from Florida’s Space Coast.

Hurricane Beryl Disrupts Florida-Based Cruise Lines

Hurricane Beryl Disrupts Florida-Based Cruise Lines

Disney Cruise Lines boards passengers in Port Canaveral, FL. Photo: Mark Stone/FMN

Those who plan to cruise over the 4th of July holiday weekend and into next week might not get what they signed up for. Hurricane Beryl, the first major storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, has wreaked havoc on Florida-based cruise lines, forcing significant itinerary changes and posing operational challenges.

Florida Legislature Designates A1A as the Jimmy Buffett Highway

Florida Legislature Designates A1A as the Jimmy Buffett Highway

Jimmy Buffet and Highway A1A sign
Image: BuffetNews.com

The Florida Legislature has officially designated the iconic Florida A1A highway as the “Jimmy Buffett Highway.” The coastal highway runs from Key West to the Georgia border. This decision honors the legendary singer-songwriter, whose music has long embodied the laid-back, coastal lifestyle cherished by Floridians and visitors alike.

Public Comments on SpaceX Starship Launch Facility at LC-39A Highlight Environmental and Safety Concerns

Public Comments on SpaceX Starship Launch Facility at LC-39A Highlight Environmental and Safety Concerns

Kennedy Space Center, Florida — SpaceX’s ambitious plans to repurpose Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at the Kennedy Space Center for its Starship/Super Heavy launch vehicle program have sparked a wide array of concerns from various public and private stakeholders.

Space Debris from Russian Satellite Breakup Forces ISS Astronauts to Take Cover

Space Debris from Russian Satellite Breakup Forces ISS Astronauts to Take Cover

The U.S. Space Command has confirmed the breakup of the decommissioned Russian satellite RESURS-P1. The satellite disintegrated into over 100 trackable pieces of debris on June 26, 2024, at approximately 10:00 a.m. Mountain Time (1600 UTC). This event added to the growing mass of space junk orbiting Earth and forced astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) to take cover.

NOAA Successfully Deploys GOES-U Satellite, Signals Nominal Functioning

NOAA Successfully Deploys GOES-U Satellite, Signals Nominal Functioning

The GOES-U Weather satellite heads to orbit atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy Booster Tuesday. Photo: Mark Stone/FMN
The GOES-U Weather satellite heads to orbit atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy Booster Tuesday. Photo: Mark Stone/FMN

Only 10 minutes into Tuesday’s 2-hour launch window, a SpaceX Falcon heavy lifted off carrying the last of a series of new weather satellites to orbit. The GOES-U weather satellite launch was the last of a series designated GOES-R.

Treasure Hunters Strike it Big in Brevard County: A Haul from the 1715 Fleet

Treasure Hunters Strike it Big in Brevard County: A Haul from the 1715 Fleet

300 year old shell encrusted silver coins and artifacts recovered by divers off the coast of Brevard County in May. Photo: 1715 Fleet Queens Jewels LLC

Adventure awaits beneath the waves of Florida’s coast, where the treasure-hunting season has already yielded an extraordinary find. In Brevard County, a group of dedicated treasure hunters unearthed a bounty of silver coins from a shipwreck that has lain undisturbed for over 300 years.

Apollo 8 Astronaut William Anders Dies in Plane Crash at 90

Apollo 8 Astronaut William Anders Dies in Plane Crash at 90

USAF General (Ret) William "Bill" Anders pilots a T-34 Mentor in 2017 Photo: KOMO News
USAF Maj. General (Ret) William “Bill” Anders pilots a T-34 Mentor in 2017 Photo: KOMO News

Maj. General (Ret.) William Anders, a celebrated NASA astronaut and a pivotal figure in the historic Apollo 8 mission, tragically lost his life on June 7th at the age of 90 in a plane crash off the coast of Jones Island, Washington. The incident, witnessed by several bystanders, brought a somber end to the life of a man who had spent much of it reaching for the skies.