Covering All Things Florida
The latest team of astronauts preparing for liftoff onboard the NASA SpaceX Crew-7 mission have landed at the Kennedy Space Center, as they commence the final stage of quarantine before their voyage to the International Space Station (ISS). The countdown has officially commenced, with an array of activities and events unfolding throughout the launch week.
By: TJ Waller
Introduction:
Yesterday, August 16, 2023, marked the anniversary of when humanity and I witnessed one more “small step” towards a momentous event that marked a significant leap forward in space exploration: The rollout of Artemis I – NASA’s next historic mission aimed at returning humans to the Moon. This mission, a critical step towards the agency’s broader Artemis program, promised to not only expand our understanding of the Moon but also lay the groundwork for future crewed missions to Mars and beyond.
Artemis I: A Bold Vision Realized:
Artemis I, named after the ancient Greek goddess of the Moon, was the first uncrewed flight of NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the Orion spacecraft. This groundbreaking mission tested the compatibility and performance of these systems, which will eventually carry astronauts on lunar missions.
By: TJ Waller
Introduction
The XSM-64 Navaho missile, a surface-to-surface guided missile developed by North American Aviation, holds a significant place in the history of the U.S. missile and space program. Designed as a supersonic intercontinental cruise missile, the Navaho XSM-64 represented cutting-edge technology and was intended to carry a conventional warhead to a range of 6,325 miles. In this article, we will explore the fascinating story of the Navaho missile, its development, launches, and its impact on subsequent missile programs.
Origins and Development
The Navaho missile project was born out of the post-World War II era, where various nations were exploring advanced missile technologies. In 1947, the U.S. Air Force envisioned the Navaho as a pilotless bomber capable of delivering a weapons payload over a distance of 5,500 miles. The initial design, known as the Navaho X-10, resembled a traditional aircraft and was used for test flights. These early versions of the Navaho were remotely controlled and took off from a runway like an airplane.
By: TJ Waller
The eagerly anticipated NASA SpaceX Crew-7 mission has been pushed once again and is now scheduled to take flight on a new launch date of August 25, 2023; with an instantaneous launch window of 3:49 AM EDT. This mission will mark a significant milestone in the partnership between NASA and SpaceX as they continue their collaboration in transporting astronauts to and from the International Space Station.
Crew-7 is a true testament to international cooperation, with astronauts representing four different space agencies. The mission will be commanded by NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli, while European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Andreas Mogensen will serve as the pilot. Joining them as mission specialists are Satoshi Furukawa from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Konstantin Borisov from the Russian space agency Roscosmos.
By Mark Stone
United Launch Alliance, a private spaceflight contractor, successfully sent a classified government satellite into orbit on Thursday, June 22, 2023. The launch came one day after a delay due to a faulty piece of ground equipment. The mission to deploy the satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office finally lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS) Launch Complex 37 at 5:18 AM EDT.
The mission, NROL-68, carries a crucial national security satellite that will provide vital information from space to America’s government officials, intelligence analysts, and military. The US government says the satellite will also be used to support worldwide humanitarian missions. Even though the exact type and capabilities of the satellite are unknown, some observers believe the launch configuration of the Delta IV rocket suggests an Orion class satellite. Orion spy satellites are the newest class of signal-gathering intelligence satellites and are among the largest in orbit. The main antenna of an Orion-class satellite spans the length of a football field.
After a couple of short delays, SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 last night from Cape Canaveral, Florida, lofting Starlink 6-8 — twenty-two second-generation Starlink satellites to orbit. The launch was picture-perfect, with the rocket clearly visible for several minutes after liftoff and even well past staging. Thunderstorms well off to the north and east-southeast added to the light show, with dozens of lightning strokes clearly visible but far away enough not to violate any range safety rules.
(Cape Canaveral Florida) SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 carrying Intelsat’s Galaxy 37 communications satellite at 1:00 am EDT on August 3, 2023, after short delays due to weather in the area. Liftoff was scheduled initially for 12:15 am, but small rain showers on or near Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s SLC-40 violated launch criteria, leading to two changes in the planned T-0 time.
(Kennedy Space Center) NASA and SpaceX announced today that they are targeting Monday, August 21 at 5:23 am EDT to launch the Crew-7 mission to the International Space Station. The launch was initially scheduled for late July but was shifted to no earlier than August 17 in order to allow for additional launch pad processing at SpaceX’s LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center.
