Covering All Things Florida
Los Angeles, CA — As the devastating wildfires continue to ravage California, leaving swathes of communities in darkness, disarray and without internet, a technological marvel is helping to restore service: Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite internet service.
It’s Musk vs. Bezos in an epic Battle of the Billionaires. The competition between Musk and Bezos has been public and sometimes personal, with both taking jabs at each other’s technologies and strategies. The Musk-Bezos rivalry has not only pushed the boundaries of what’s possible in private spaceflight but has also revitalized public interest in space. Their companies have made space more accessible, reduced costs through reusability, and set ambitious goals for humanity’s future in space. While SpaceX has the lead in terms of operational experience and public visibility, Blue Origin’s methodical approach might yet prove equally impactful in the long term.
SpaceX launched another set of Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit today from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 aboard a Falcon 9. Liftoff was at 3:43 PM ET (2043 UTC) after several pushbacks in the window, presumably due to windy weather from an approaching cold front expected to arrive this evening on the Space Coast.
Elon Musk on X confirms that SpaceX is targeting January 10th for the next launch of Starship. This comes less than two months from flight 6, which occurred on November 19th. The agency was approved for flight 7 by the FAA with a modified launch license back in December.
Boca Chica, Texas – As the dawn of a new year breaks, SpaceX is poised to continue its ambitious journey with the seventh integrated flight test of its Starship and Super Heavy Booster system, scheduled to take flight from its Starbase facility in South Texas on January 10, 2025. This test, designated Integrated Flight Test 7 (IFT-7), brings with it a suite of advancements, new objectives, and cutting-edge technology, setting the stage for what could be a transformative year in rocket innovation and space exploration.
SpaceX launched the Thuraya-4 satellite for Yahsat / Space 42 this evening from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Liftoff was at 8:27 PM EST (0027 UTC) on a cool evening on the Space Coast.
Tonight’s launch was the first from the Eastern Range in 2025 in what is expected to be another record year for launches from the combined facilities of Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and Kennedy Space Center.
After two previous delays, including an abort-at-ignition and a booster swap, SpaceX launched the ‘From One To Many’ payload for Astranis tonight from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral aboard Falcon 9. Liftoff was at 12:00 AM EST (05:00 UTC) under broken skies on the Space Coast.
Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket successfully completed an integrated launch vehicle hotfire test at 7:45PM EST today, the final major milestone on the road to the vehicle’s first flight. NG-1 will carry a Blue Ring Pathfinder as its first manifested payload and will launch from Launch Complex 36 in Cape Canaveral, FL. Blue Origin is currently targeting January 6th as a potential launch date.
Despite no rockets heading to space this weekend from the Eastern Range, it was still quite a busy weekend for both SpaceX and Blue Origin at Cape Canaveral.
A festive holiday drone show in the skies over Orlando’s Lake Eola Park took a frightening turn Saturday night. As spectators were watching a beautiful drone formation of red and green lights, several of the drones fell from the sky, injuring a 7-year-old child.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced an updated launch license for Starship IFT-7. This update could mean that a launch attempt is on the horizon.
Despite recent assurances from NASA that Artemis II will be safe to fly, at least one former astronaut still has his doubts.
