SpaceX Launches Starlink Group 12-14

SpaceX Launches Starlink Group 12-14

February 21, 2025Posted inSpace News
Liftoff of a SpaceX Falcon9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Image by Richard P Gallagher
Liftoff of a SpaceX Falcon9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Image by Richard P Gallagher

Cape Canaveral, FL – February 21, 2025 – SpaceX moved another step closer to completing its ambitious Starlink constellation project today with the successful launch of the Starlink Group 12-14 mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The launch, which occurred at 10:19 a.m. EST (1519 UTC) from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40), deployed 23 Starlink V2 Mini satellites into low Earth orbit (LEO), further expanding the company’s global internet coverage network. This mission underscored SpaceX’s ongoing commitment to reusable rocket technology and its goal of providing high-speed internet access worldwide.

Space Debris Lands In Poland, Probably SpaceX Starlink 11-4 Second Stage

Space Debris Lands In Poland, Probably SpaceX Starlink 11-4 Second Stage

February 19, 2025Posted inAviation and Space News, Space News, SpaceX
Re-entry path posted by Dr. Jonathon McDowell on X.com. Retrieved on January 19, 2025

The second stage from SpaceX’s Falcon 9 used to launch Starlink 11-4 from Vandenberg on February 1st has apparently re-entered Earth’s atmosphere, with parts of the spacecraft’s debris reaching the ground in Poland. Initially entering over the Irish Sea, the reentering body broke apart, and the debris path of the spacecraft continued over the UK, western European countries including Poland and Ukraine.

Parts of the rocket body, including a suspected pressure vessel, were found near Poznan, Poland today, prompting local investigations into the incident and public safety concerns.

At the time of this writing, SpaceX has not confirmed that the debris is theirs, but according to the FAA, the company is investigating the matter.

Canadian Man Charged For Photographing Sensitive Cape Canaveral Installations With His Drone

Canadian Man Charged For Photographing Sensitive Cape Canaveral Installations With His Drone

February 14, 2025Posted inAviation, Florida News
A typical user grade drone is capable of high resolution video and photography. Photo: Mark Stone/FMN
A typical user grade drone is capable of high resolution video and photography. Photo: Mark Stone/FMN

Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced yesterday the filing of a criminal information (indictment) charging 71-year-old Canadian citizen Xiao Guang Pan with three counts of using an unmanned aircraft to photograph vital defense installations and equipment without authorization.

Booster B1067. Image by Richard P Gallagher

Booster B1067 Poised to Surpass Its Own Record in Upcoming Launch 

February 14, 2025Posted inSpaceX
Booster B1067 being towed back into Port Canaveral after completing its 25th landing. Image by Richard P Gallagher

Cape Canaveral, Florida — SpaceX is on the brink of setting a new milestone in spaceflight reusability with its Falcon 9 booster B1067 scheduled to launch for the 26th time on February 15, 2025, during the Starlink Group 12-8 mission. This mission, taking off from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, will further demonstrate SpaceX’s commitment to a sustainable present in space through reliable reuse of its booster fleet. 

Falcon 9

Uncertainty Looms For NASA As DOGE Heads Their Way

February 13, 2025Posted inFlorida News, NASA, Space News
NASA Acting Administrator Janet Petro Photo: Cory Huston/NASA
NASA Acting Administrator Janet Petro Photo: Cory Huston/NASA

NASA is preparing for an evaluation by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a federal oversight body led by Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX. Acting NASA Administrator Janet Petro confirmed this development during a recent space industry conference in Washington, D.C., stating, “We are going to have DOGE come. They’re going to look—similarly to what they’ve done at other agencies—at our payments and what money has gone out.” Already deep in the Artemis Program, NASA has a lot on the line.

Blue Origin Slashes 1400 Jobs To Focus On Launch Operations

Blue Origin Slashes 1400 Jobs To Focus On Launch Operations

February 13, 2025Posted inBlue Origin, Florida News, Space News
Blue Origin manufacturing facility located in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Image by Mark Stone | FMN

February 13, 2025 – Blue Origin, the commercial space company founded by Jeff Bezos, is preparing for significant layoffs as part of a strategic pivot aimed at reducing R&D costs and focusing on ramping up rocket launches. The announcement comes after years of extensive research and development, with the company now looking to streamline operations.

Crew-10 Launch Fast-Tracked, Crew-9 Return Set to Follow

Crew-10 Launch Fast-Tracked, Crew-9 Return Set to Follow

February 12, 2025Posted inFlorida News, NASA, Space News, SpaceX, Things to Do and See in Florida
The official portrait of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10 members with (from left) Mission Specialist Kirill Peskov of Roscosmos; Pilot Nichole Ayers and Commander Anne McClain, both NASA astronauts; and Mission Specialist Takuya Onishi from JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency). Photo credit: NASA/Bill Stafford/Helen Arase Vargas
The official portrait of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10 members with (from left) Mission Specialist Kirill Peskov of Roscosmos; Pilot Nichole Ayers and Commander Anne McClain, both NASA astronauts; and Mission Specialist Takuya Onishi from JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency). Photo credit: NASA/Bill Stafford/Helen Arase Vargas

In a news release Tuesday, NASA and SpaceX announced they are moving forward with adjusted launch and return timelines for the upcoming crew rotation missions to and from the International Space Station (ISS).

SLS Program Layoffs Loom at Boeing

SLS Program Layoffs Loom at Boeing

February 8, 2025Posted inBoeing, Florida News, NASA, Space News
Aug. 16, 2022: NASA's SLS Artemis 1 rolling towards Pad 39B. Photo by TJ Waller
Aug. 16, 2022: NASA’s SLS Artemis 1 rolling towards Pad 39B. Photo by TJ Waller / FMN

Boeing has warned employees working on NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) program that layoffs could be coming as the company faces reduced funding for the rocket’s future development. The announcement raises concerns about the stability of the program, which serves as the backbone of NASA’s Artemis missions to return humans to the Moon.

SpaceX Second Stage

SpaceX Has Another Second Stage Issue With Falcon 9

February 7, 2025Posted inAviation and Space News, Space News, SpaceX, Starlink
Starlink 11-4 at liftoff from Vandenberg Space Force Base
Photo: from SpaceX livestream

Third Stage-2 Problem In The Last Six Months

SpaceX seems to have experienced an issue with the second stage of the Falcon 9 used for the recent Starlink 11-4 launch. After lifting off on February 1st with no problems, Falcon 9 delivered its payload of Starlink satellites into their intended orbit after a brief circularization burn of the second stage, as planned. What apparently has not gone to plan is the de-orbit burn of the second stage, as it is still in orbit five days after the active part of the mission was completed.

The company has not commented on the matter.

FCC Filing Hints At Possible Starship Flight 8 Launch Date

FCC Filing Hints At Possible Starship Flight 8 Launch Date

February 5, 2025Posted inAviation and Space News, Space News, SpaceX, Starship
Flight 7 lifted off from Orbital Launch Pad A (OLP-A) on January 16, 2025, at 22:37:00 UTC (4:37 pm CST, local time) at the Starbase launch site in Texas. Photo: Richard Gallagher/FMN
Starship Flight 7 lifted off from Orbital Launch Pad A (OLP-A) on January 16, 2025, at 22:37:00 UTC (4:37 pm CST, local time) at the Starbase launch site in Texas. Photo: Richard Gallagher/FMN

Figuring out Starship’s next launch date is never easy, but the are early indicators you can watch, One of them came in the form of an FCC filing late last week.

Butch Wilmore ans Suni Williams head to the launch pad

Trump Calls For Quick Return of Astronauts “Abandoned In Space”

January 29, 2025Posted inBoeing, National News, Politics, SpaceX
Boeing's Starliner heads to the ISS on June 5, 2024 for what was supposed to have been an eight day mission. The two astronauts on board are still on the ISS today, awaiting a ride home. Photo: Chris Leymarie/FMN
Boeing’s Starliner heads to the ISS on June 5, 2024 for what was supposed to have been an eight day mission. The two astronauts on board are still on the ISS today, awaiting a ride home. Photo: Chris Leymarie/FMN

President Donald Trump has called upon SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to expedite the return of NASA astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita “Suni” Williams from the International Space Station (ISS). The astronauts have been aboard the ISS since June 2024, following an extended mission due to technical issues with their original Boeing Starliner spacecraft.