Bezos Moving To Florida – Cites Concentration On Blue Origin
Jeff Bezos, the founder of the global e-commerce giant Amazon, space tech firm Blue Origin, and one of the planet’s richest individuals, is leaving Seattle.
Musk Announces That Starlink Has Reached “Breakeven”Cash Flow
In a recent development that marks a significant fiscal milestone, Space X CEO Elon Musk announced on Thursday that the aerospace company’s internet division, Starlink, has reached a state of breakeven cash flow. This achievement signals a robust stride towards the financial viability of the project, which was previously mired in negative cash flow. Musk, who relayed the announcement via his social media platform X, lauded his team’s exceptional work but did not elaborate on the specifics of the financial marker, including whether it was calculated on an operating basis or over a certain financial period.
NASA X-ray Telescopes Reveal the “Bones” of a Ghostly Cosmic Hand
Credit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/Stanford Univ./R. Romani et al. (Chandra); NASA/MSFC (IXPE); Infared: NASA/JPL-Caltech/DECaPS; Image Processing: NASA/CXC/SAO/J. Schmidt)
Just in time for Halloween, NASA released a ghostly photo taken by it’s newest X-Ray telescope, the Imaging X-Ray Polarimetry Explorer. The telescope has been observing the wind nebula MSH 15-52 for the last 17 days, and captured a image that looks like a “ghostly hand”. The Nebula is about 16,000 light years from earth.
Starship Clears FAA Safety Hurdles, Environmental Review Still Pending
SpaceX’s Starship sits on the pad in Boca Chica, Texas awaiting regulatory hurdles for it’s second orbital test flight. Photo: Richard Gallagher/FMN www.rpgphotography.com
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has given its nod of approval regarding the safety of SpaceX’s Starship and Super Heavy rocket. This decision comes months after the initial orbital launch attempt in April resulted in an explosion over the Gulf of Mexico.
SpaceX’s Second Starship Test Appears Imminent
SpaceX’s Starship stands on the pad in Boca Chica, TX looking ready to fly. Photo: Richard Gallagher/FMN
After a successful rehearsal that put nearly all of SpaceX’s pre-flight systems for the Starship rocket to the test, the long-awaited Starship flight might be just around the corner. Recent developments have stirred excitement and speculation as the pace quickens for the Starship’s apparent upcoming launch.
ULA Announces Date for Vulcan Rocket Test
A Vulcan booster’s engines are test fired in this undated photo. Photo: ULA
In a Tweet ( or should we say “X”) posted on Thursday, United Launch Alliance announced that they are targeting December 24th for the first launch of their new Vulcan booster. The announcement comes after months of delays due to technical issues. The Vulcan booster will replace ULA’s retiring Atlas V and Delta IV boosters.
How To Take A “Streak Shot” Of A Night Launch in Florida
If you are visiting Florida and want to create a great launch photograph but the launch is at night, take a look at this relatively simple technique that will yield some great results: a launch streak shot.
Launch streaks are not difficult for nearly any photographer to create, and it doesn’t take any specialized equipment other than a wide-angle lens and a relatively inexpensive shutter release cable used to keep the shutter of your camera open for several minutes during the flight of the rocket. Just follow a basic procedure and you too can create a memorable photo that will be one that you keep for years.
SpaceX Launches Starlink Group 6-24
(Cape Canaveral, Florida) SpaceX launched another group of Starlink satellites from Space Launch Complex 40 late in the evening on October 21st aboard a Falcon 9 rocket. The launch was the 150th SpaceX launch from SLC-40,…
The Smell of Space?
In a fascinating revelation, astronauts have confirmed that space, despite being known for its emptiness, carries a distinct smell. While most space is devoid of tangible matter, those who have ventured into its depths have reported encountering an unexpected olfactory experience.
Astronaut Bruce McCandless II, mission specialist, participates in a extra-vehicular activity (EVA), a few meters away from the cabin of Space Shuttle Challenger. Photo: NASA
Some astronauts have described space as having a metallic, sweet, and slightly burnt aroma.
Exploring NASA’s Deep Space Optical Communications on the Psyche Mission
By: TJ Waller
In the vast expanse of space exploration, the need for efficient data transmission between spacecraft and Earth has always been a challenge. Traditional radio communications have served us well, but as our ambitions grow, so does the demand for higher data rates. NASA’s Psyche mission aims to push the boundaries of data transmission with the Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) project. In this article, I will explore the fascinating world of DSOC, its significance for future missions, and how it could revolutionize our understanding of the cosmos.
Psyche launches to explore a Metal World
Psyche launches on October 13th aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy booster. Photo: Mark Stone/FMN
In a significant milestone for space exploration, NASA’s Psyche mission has successfully launched, marking a crucial step in our quest to explore a mysterious asteroid. The mission, which was originally scheduled to take place on October 5th, finally lifted off from Kennedy Space Center’s Pad 39A on October 13th at 10:16 AM.
Amazon’s Project Kuiper Takes Flight
A ULA Atlas V sends two test satellites to orbit for Amazon on Friday, October6. 2023. Photo by Mark Stone for FMN
In the quest to bridge the digital divide and provide new global internet connectivity to underserved communities, Amazon has embarked on an ambitious venture known as Project Kuiper. This groundbreaking initiative aims to revolutionize satellite internet connectivity through the deployment of a vast constellation of satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO).
Project Kuiper, spearheaded by Amazon, seeks to address the challenges of delivering broadband access to remote and underserved areas around the world. With the ultimate goal of providing fast, reliable, and affordable internet, Amazon plans to launch a total of 3,236 satellites into LEO. These satellites will form a constellation capable of delivering broadband connectivity to even the most remote corners of our planet.
