Looking For The Perfect Gift For The Space Aficionado In The Family?

December 8, 2023Posted inAviation and Space News, Florida News, History, Space News
This Rocketsyne S-3D rocket engine is for sale
1960 Rocketdyne S-3D engine for sale
Photo: Live Auctions

Christmas shopping can often seem like a thankless task for someone looking for that perfect gift for a friend or a loved one. If you have a space lover on your list, that can be even harder — what to buy for someone whose head is above the clouds? Fortunately, the folks at Live Auctioneers have put something up for auction that meets all those criteria: a fully restored Rocketdyne S-3D engine. If you have deep pockets, this might be just what you are looking for!

Commercial Spaceflight Industry Experiences Consolidation in 2023 – Is It A Good Thing?

December 8, 2023Posted inFlorida News, Space News
A Delta IV Heavy Launches from ULA in 2023
A ULA Delta IV launches in 2023. The company is reportedly now up for grabs. Photo: Mark Stone/FMN

Florida is experiencing a significant surge in its capabilities to support the expanding space industry, thanks to an influx of billions of dollars dedicated to enhancing and expanding spaceports. A 2023 trend of consolidation in the commercial spaceflight industry may be helping to support that.

SpaceX Launches 125th Starlink Mission Late Saturday

December 3, 2023Posted inAviation and Space News, Falcon 9, Florida News, Space News, SpaceX
A SpaceX Falcon 9 lofts another batch of Starlink Satellites to Orbit.
Timelapse of Falcon 9 Rising from Cape Canaveral Saturday, December 2, 2023
Photo by: Charles Boyer / FMN

SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket on the company’s 125th Starlink mission Saturday night, and added another group of Starlink satellites into the growing constellation of over 5,500 small satellites that provide internet access globally for its customers.

NASA’s Ambitious Lunar Delivery Schedule: Over 40 Payloads by 2025

December 3, 2023Posted inAviation and Space News, Space News, United Launch Alliance, Vulcan
ULA Launch in December Will Herald New Era in US Space Program
Astrobotic Peregrine Lunar Lander
Artist rendering of Astrobotic’s Peregrine Lunar Lander. Credit: Astrobotic

Kennedy Space Center, FL – NASA’s ambitious plan to deliver over 40 payloads to the moon’s surface through its Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative marks a significant milestone in lunar exploration.

Aerojet Rocketdyne To Boost RL10 Production in West Palm Beach

November 30, 2023Posted inAviation and Space News, Florida News, Space News, United Launch Alliance, Vulcan
An Aerojet Rocketdyne RL10C-X prototype engine undergoes hot-fire testing at Aerojet Rocketdyne’s facility in West Palm Beach, Florida. Credit: Aerojet Rocketdyne, an L3 Harris Technologies company.

Aerojet Rocketdyne, an L3Harris Technologies company, is planning to ramp up production of its latest variant of the venerable RL10 rocket engine at the company’s West Palm Beach, Florida facility. The company also plans to add staff at its South Florida facility to enable the higher pace of manufacturing the engine.

NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope Pauses Science Due to Gyro Issue

November 29, 2023Posted inAviation and Space News, NASA, National News, Space News, SpaceX
Hubble Space Telescope in 2009. Photo: NASA

NASA is working to resume science operations of the agency’s Hubble Space Telescope after it entered safe mode November 23rd due to an ongoing gyroscope issue. The agency is also saying that the venerable spacecraft is stable and that otherwise the instrument is “in good health.”

Space Force Sets X-37B Launch for December 10th

November 29, 2023Posted inAviation and Space News, Space News, SpaceX
US Space Force X-37B. Photo: Boeing Corporation

The US Space Force announced today that the launch of its secretive X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle is now set for December 10. At this time, no specific launch time on that date has been announced. Originally planned for December 7th, the launch was delayed due to “launch delays and pad availability.”