USSF-124 Launches Amid Emerging Reports of National Security Threat

USSF-124 launch may be answer to national security threat
USSF-124 Launches from Pad 40, CCSFS on February 14, 2024. Photo: Mark Stone FMN

Cape Canaveral FL. – The US Space Force (USSF) launched six satellites from Pad 40 at the CCSFS late Wednesday which will bolster America’s space defense capabilities. Ironically, the 5:30 PM EST launch came within hours of breaking news regarding a potential national security threat involving Russia’s space program.

SpaceX Delays Robotic Moon Lander Launch Due to Technical Issues

“Scrubby” graphic by Charles Boyer/FMN

Late on Tuesday evening, SpaceX, announced the postponement of the planned launch of a robotic moon lander, marking a day’s delay in what in the highly anticipated mission. The launch, initially scheduled for early Wednesday, was scrubbed less than two hours before its set liftoff time due to technical concerns, with the launch now rescheduled for at least a day later.

Romancing The Stars: SpaceX Plans Pair Of Valentines Day Rocket Launches

A SpaceX Falcon9 rocket lifts off from LC40 at CCSFS in Florida.
A SpaceX Falcon9 rocket lifts off from LC40 at CCSFS in Florida. Image by Richard P Gallagher

This Valentines Day, SpaceX is setting hearts aflutter with not one, but two rocket launches. The Falcon 9 rockets are scheduled to take off from Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

Polaris Dawn Flight Delayed to Mid-2024

Polaris Dawn Crew in Zero Gravity Training
Polaris Dawn astronauts, L-R: Scott “Kidd” Poteet, Sarah Gillis, Jared Isaacman and Anna Menon undergoing zero gravity training in 2022.
Photo: John Kraus / Polaris Dawn

Polaris Dawn, the initial flight of a planned series of three private spaceflights led by American entrepreneur and private astronaut Jared Isaacman, has been delayed according to an announcement from the program today. “We are now targeting no earlier than summer 2024 for launch of Polaris Dawn, the first of the Polaris Program’s three human spaceflights,” they said in a post on the X platform.

NASA’s New Missions to the Moon – Far From Routine

Photo of crashed lander on the moon
A landing attempt by India in 2019 resulted in a “smoking hole” on the lunar surface. Photo: NASA/ASU

Most Americans are able to recall that the United States successfully landed astronauts on the Moon during 1969 and into the early 1970s.  What’s not as well known is the number of attempts by various nations to explore the Moon, whether by fly-by or actual landing…..and how many were unsuccessful. 

Sierra Space Sets Sights on IPO

Sierra’s Dream Chaser Space Plane is set to make its first flight this year. Photo: Sierra Space

In what some observers consider a signal of growing confidence and ambition within the commercial space sector, Sierra Space Corp., a leading aerospace company based in Colorado, is intensifying its preparations for an initial public offering.

SpaceX Crew Dragon “Freedom” Splashes Down off of Daytona Beach; Crew Safe

Screen-capture of SpaceX livestream of the AX3 reentry and splashdown. This shot was captured a few minutes after the capsule had landed safely.
Photo: SpaceX
Screen-capture of SpaceX livestream of the AX3 reentry and splashdown. This shot was captured a few minutes after the capsule had landed safely.
Photo: SpaceX

The Axiom 3 mission has ended safely off the Florida coast near Daytona Beach. Michael López-Alegría, Commander of the the AX3 mission, reported a few minutes after the splashdown “flying SpaceX was our pleasure” and that “all four crew members are feeling well.”

PACE Streaks To Orbit

PACE Mission Launches
NASA’s PACE Mission lifts off from Pad 40 at CCFS. Photo: Ed Cordero / FMN

In the early hours of Thursday, NASA’s latest Earth science mission began its journey to space, marking the start of a mission to better our understanding of the planet’s marine life and atmospheric conditions.

Breaking: Big Budget Cuts at NASA JPL Force Layoff of 8% of Workforce

JPL at Caltech, Pasadena, California Photo: NASA

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California announced the imminent layoff of 530 employees on Tuesday in a round of NASA budget cuts. The lab is funded by NASA and managed by CalTech. The layoffs come at a time when federal funding is sketchy, but private industry is ramping up Commercial Spaceflight at a record pace.

“Without an approved federal budget including final allocation for MSR FY24 funding levels, NASA previously directed JPL to plan for an MSR budget of $300M. This is consistent with the low end of congressional markups of NASA’s budget and a 63% decrease over the FY23 level.”

Source: JPL

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

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.

Oh No, One More Delay for Axiom-3 Return from the ISS

               

Ax-3 docked to ISS
Axiom 3’s Crew Dragon docked to the ISS. Photo: NASA TV

NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX are standing down from the Tuesday, Feb. 6, undocking opportunity of Axiom Mission 3 from the International Space Station. Mission teams will continue to review weather conditions off the coast of Florida, which currently are not favorable for return, and set a new target opportunity for space station departure and splashdown of the Dragon spacecraft and Axiom crew members. The newest target date for undocking is Wednesday at 9:05 AM ET . The splashdown time has not yet been announced.

There is no indication that these delays in any way pose risk to the crew of either the Dragon spacecraft or the ISS.