Starliner Ready to Try It Again

Starliner Ready to Try It Again

June 2, 2024Posted inNASA, Space News, United Launch Alliance

NASA Prepares for Third Attempt to Launch Boeing Crewed Flight Test

The Boeing Starliner sits atop an Atlas V booster minutes after Saturday's launch attempt was scrubbed. Photo: Mark Stone/FMN
The Boeing Starliner sits atop an Atlas V booster minutes after Saturday’s launch attempt was scrubbed. Photo: Mark Stone/FMN

NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test mission teams are gearing up for another Starliner launch attempt, currently scheduled for 10:52 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, June 5. With a faulty ground equipment power supply repaired, the launch will take place from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. This mission, lasting approximately one week, will see NASA astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Suni Williams aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft heading to the International Space Station (ISS).

The Starliner Is Going No Place Fast

The Starliner Is Going No Place Fast

June 1, 2024Posted inNASA, Space News, United Launch Alliance
The Boeing Starliner sits on the pad on Saturday, June, 1, 2024. The launch was scrubbed for the second time just minutes before liftoff. Photo: Richard Gallagher/FMN
The Boeing Starliner sits on the pad on Saturday, June, 1, 2024. The launch was scrubbed for the second time just minutes before liftoff. Photo: Richard Gallagher/FMN

The Boeing Starliner just can’t seem to get off of the pad. The much-publicized second launch attempt of CFT-100 was scrubbed on June 1st when a computer detected an anomaly with less than four minutes left in the countdown. The mission represents Starliner’s first crewed flight test.

Starliner Moves Back To Launch Pad, Is Go For Launch Saturday

Starliner Moves Back To Launch Pad, Is Go For Launch Saturday

May 30, 2024Posted inAtlas V, Aviation and Space News, Boeing, ISS, NASA, Space News, United Launch Alliance
Starliner arriving at the launch pad at Space Launch Complex 41 on Thursday morning. Photo: Richard Gallagher, Florida Media Now
Starliner arriving at the launch pad at Space Launch Complex 41 on Thursday morning.
Photo: Richard Gallagher, Florida Media Now

After three weeks of analysis and discussion between Boeing, NASA, and United Launch Alliance following the May 6, 2024 scrub, Boeing’s long road to lofting crew aboard Starliner to low-Earth orbit took a step towards launching this morning when it was moved to its launch pad. Liftoff of Atlas V and Starliner is scheduled for 12:25 PM EDT, Saturday, June 1st, from Space Launch Complex 41.

Lightning Touches Off Wildfire In Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge, Space Center Is Safe (So Far)

Lightning Touches Off Wildfire In Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge, Space Center Is Safe (So Far)

May 26, 2024Posted inFlorida News, NASA
Smoke from a wildfire at Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge obscures NASA’s iconic VAB facility. Photo: Charles Boyer/FMN

A lightning strike from a severe thunderstorm started a conflagration in Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge this afternoon. It is north of Kennedy Space Center, and is currently no threat to property or human endeavor — in other words, the facilities at Kennedy Space Center.

NASA Announces New Starliner Launch Date

NASA Announces New Starliner Launch Date

May 22, 2024Posted inNASA, Space News, United Launch Alliance

In a media release this evening, NASA announced June 1st at 12:25 PM as the next targeted date for a Starliner launch attempt.

A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket with Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft aboard is seen on the launch pad at Space Launch Complex 41 ahead of the NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test, Sunday, May 5, 2024 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Photo credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky
A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket with Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft aboard is seen on the launch pad at Space Launch Complex 41 ahead of the NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test, Sunday, May 5, 2024 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Photo credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky
 

Mission managers from NASA, Boeing, and ULA (United Launch Alliance) continue to evaluate a path forward toward launching the agency’s Boeing Crew Flight Test to the International Space Station. The teams are now working toward a launch opportunity at 12:25 p.m. ET on Saturday, June 1, with additional opportunities on Sunday, June 2, Wednesday, June 5, and Thursday, June 6.

What Exactly Is The Problem With Starliner?

May 22, 2024Posted inNASA, Space News, United Launch Alliance
Boeing's Starliner remains grounded. Photo: FMN/Mark Stone
Boeing’s Starliner remains grounded. Photo: FMN/Mark Stone

Less than a month ago, Starliner seemed like it was ready to go. With a launch date for the first crewed flight test set for May 6th, NASA officials expressed confidence that Starliner was “go for launch”. Following a Flight Readiness Review held just days before the May 6th launch date, NASA Associate Administrator Jim Free said he was satisfied that the Readiness Review was thorough, and that Starliner, Atlas V and ISS were prepared properly for the test flight.

Nikon Mirrorless Camera Selected to Go to the Moon

Nikon Mirrorless Camera Selected to Go to the Moon

May 19, 2024Posted inSpace News
The next generation cameras used on the moon will be a far cry from the chest-mounted Hassleblad camera used by the Apollo 11 crew. Photo: NASA
The next-generation cameras used on the moon will be a far cry from the chest-mounted Hasselblad camera used by the Apollo 11 crew. Photo: NASA

Chalk one up for Nikon.

My photographer colleagues at the Kennedy Space Center have an ongoing friendly camera rivalry.  Mostly it’s Canon versus Nikon, as we compare the latest camera gear and features while covering rocket launches, inspections of the latest satellites, and press conferences with NASA and other space company leaders.  So the Nikon users got a pleasant surprise

SpaceX Launches Starlink 6-59, Treats Space Coast To Rare “Jellyfish”

SpaceX Launches Starlink 6-59, Treats Space Coast To Rare “Jellyfish”

May 18, 2024Posted inAviation and Space News, Space News, SpaceX, Starlink
Falcon 9 ascends: the first stage, payload fairings, and second stage were visible in the sky for launch spectators.
Photo: Charles Boyer / Florida Media Now
Booster B1062 Sets New Record For Reusability: 21 Flights

In perhaps the most vivid launch for spectators so far in 2024, SpaceX launched another twenty-three Starlink Mini V2 satellites to orbit after successfully launching the Starlink 6-59 mission from Space Launch Complex 40 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station this evening.

Liftoff was at 08:32 PM EDT. Around 8.3 minutes after liftoff, the first-stage booster used for the mission, tail number B1062, touched down safely on ASDS ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas’, stationed downrange in the Atlantic Ocean. After landing, B1062 has now flown to space for a record-setting twenty-one times.

NASA, Boeing, and ULA Again Delay Boeing Crew Flight Test

NASA, Boeing, and ULA Again Delay Boeing Crew Flight Test

May 17, 2024Posted inSpace News, United Launch Alliance
The Boeing Starliner sits on the pad atop an Atlas V Booster on the original launch date of May 6th. The launch has now been delayed until May 25th.
The Boeing Starliner sits on the pad atop an Atlas V Booster on the original launch date of May 6th. The launch has now been delayed until May 25th. Photo: Mark Stone/FMN

NASA, Boeing, and United Launch Alliance (ULA) have announced yet another delay in the launch of the Boeing Crew Flight Test to allow additional time for comprehensive spacecraft closeout processes and “flight rationale assessments.” The launch, which aims to send NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to the International Space Station (ISS), is now targeted for no earlier than 3:09 p.m. EDT on Saturday, May 25.

Carnival Now Has Starlink Service On All Their Cruise Ships

Carnival Now Has Starlink Service On All Their Cruise Ships

May 14, 2024Posted inAviation and Space News, Cruise Ships, Space News, SpaceX, Starlink, Travel
Carnival  MS Paradise cruise liner. Taken off the coast of Catalina Island, CA, USA.
Photo: Beau Hudspeth, Creative Commons

Carnival Corporation, operator of the world’s largest cruise line, has deployed SpaceX’s Starlink Internet service to all ninety of their ships across all of their brands.