Mission: Lunar Ice – Athena Set To Launch Wednesday

Mission: Lunar Ice – Athena Set To Launch Wednesday

IM-2 was loaded into a payload fairing on February 2oth, and is "Go For Launch"  launch on Wednesday, February 26th. Image: SpaceX via Intuitive Machines
IM-2 was loaded into a payload fairing on February 2oth, and is “Go For Launch” launch on Wednesday, February 26th. Image: SpaceX via Intuitive Machines

Intuitive Machines is set to launch its second lunar mission, IM-2, this Wednesday from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A. Carried on a Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket for NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, the mission will deploy the Nova‑C lunar lander—affectionately named Athena—near the Moon’s south pole.

SpaceX Launches Starlink Group 12-14

SpaceX Launches Starlink Group 12-14

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

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.

Booster B1067. Image by Richard P Gallagher

Booster B1067 Poised to Surpass Its Own Record in Upcoming Launch 

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. 

Uncertainty Looms For NASA As DOGE Heads Their Way

Uncertainty Looms For NASA As DOGE Heads Their Way

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

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

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).