Despite Vehicle Loss, IFT-3 Checked A Lot Of Boxes for SpaceX

Despite Vehicle Loss, IFT-3 Checked A Lot Of Boxes for SpaceX

Starship OFT Launches From Boca Chica on March 14, 2202
Starship OFT 3 launches on March 14, 2024. Photo: Richard Gallagher/FMN

SpaceX successfully launched the third Integrated Flight Test (IFT) of a Starship this morning from the company’s Starbase test facility in Boca Chica, TX. With the launch, IFT-3 became the first Starship mission to reach orbit. Hopes ran high for the test mission as the countdown to the 8:25 AM CDT launch proceeded flawlessly with no holds.

Falcon 9 launching in 2022

SpaceX Planning To Launch Starlink 6-44 This Evening

Update: New Launch Window opens 3/14/24 7:04 PM EDT

SpaceX plans to launch the Starlink 6-44 mission tonight, Thursday, March 14, aboard a Falcon 9 rocket.

The payload will be another tranche of 23 Starlink satellites that will be ferried low-Earth orbit from pad LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. According to the company, “liftoff is targeted for 7:04 PM EDT, with backup opportunities available until 11:29 PM EDT.

Crew 7 Returns Safely With Early Morning Gulf Splashdown

Crew 7 Returns Safely With Early Morning Gulf Splashdown

A thermal screenshot showing the sucessfully deployed four parachuettes of the Dragon Capsule as it makes its descent on March 12 (Image credit: NASA)
A thermal image screenshot showing the successfully deployed four parachutes of the Dragon Capsule as it makes its descent on March 12 (Image credit: NASA)

The Crew-7 mission to the ISS ended this morning with a splashdown at 5:50 AM EDT this morning in the Gulf of Mexico. The splashdown near Pensacola, Florida marked the end of a six and one half month mission aboard the International Space Station for the crew of four.

Starlink 6-43 Slated for Sunday

Starlink 6-43 Slated for Sunday

SpaceX plans to launch the Starlink 6-43 mission Sunday, March 10 aboard a Falcon 9 rocket.

The payload will be another tranche of 23 Starlink satellites that will be ferried low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. According to the company on Saturday, March 10th, “liftoff is targeted for 7:05 p.m. ET, with backup opportunities available until 11:03 p.m. ET. If needed, additional opportunities are also available on Monday, March 11 starting at 6:40 p.m. ET.”

Starship Environmental Impact Study Public Meetings Wrap Up

SpaceX Starship  Credit: SpaceX
SpaceX Starship Credit: SpaceX

On March 7, 2023, the US Space Force, along with the Department of the Air Force, held the third of three in-person meetings in the Cape Canaveral / Titusville area, The purpose of the meetings was to provide information about a proposed Environmental Impact Study that would ultimately see SpaceX’s Starship Super Heavy rocket launch and land at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

Back to Boca Chica!  SpaceX is Ready To Try It Again

Back to Boca Chica! SpaceX is Ready To Try It Again

Starship streaks into the Texas sky on OFT-2. Photo: Chris Leymarie FMN
Starship streaks into the Texas sky on OFT-2. Photo: Chris Leymarie FMN

Elon Musk is ready to give it another go, with a SpaceX post surfacing on X yesterday, announcing a potential launch date for the third Starship test flight. The company’s Starship and super-heavy booster combo is now expected to launch at 7:30AM CDT on March 14th from SpaceX’s Starbase, in Boca Chica, Texas IF regulatory approval is obtained in time.

Crew 8 Finally Launches To Orbit

Crew 8 lifts off from KSC pad 39A on Sunday, March 3, 2024  Photo: Richard Gallagher, FMN
Crew 8 lifts off from KSC pad 39A on Sunday, March 3, 2024 Photo: Richard Gallagher, FMN

After days of weather delays and last minute concerns about a cracked hatch seal, the SpaceX crew Dragon Endeavour carrying Crew 8 to the ISS launched from the Kennedy Space Center Sunday night. The successful liftoff came at 10:53 p.m. EST from Launch Complex 39A. The mission marked SpaceX’s eighth commercial crew rotation mission on behalf of NASA, and the launch of the 50th human into space by the company since 2020.

While Crew 8 Waits, SpaceX Launches Starlink 6-40

While Crew 8 Waits, SpaceX Launches Starlink 6-40

With Crew-8’s Falcon 9 sitting on Pad LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center this morning waiting for weather to improve along its launch corridor, SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 carrying 23 more Starlink Version 2 Mini satellites to low-Earth orbit from its other launch pad on the Eastern Range at SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

Weather Concerns Delay Crew 8 Launch

Weather Concerns Delay Crew 8 Launch

New Window May Not Be Much Better
Crew 8 Photo
Members of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 from left to right, NASA astronauts Jeanette Epps, mission specialist; Michael Barratt, pilot; Matthew Dominick, commander; and Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin, mission specialist; are photographed inside the crew access arm at Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida during a dress rehearsal on Monday, Feb. 26, 2024, in preparation for the Crew-8 mission. Photo credit: SpaceX

NASA and SpaceX announced today that they have decided to postpone the launch of the Crew-8 mission to the International Space Station (ISS). Initially set for Friday, the mission is now rescheduled for 11:16 p.m. EST on Saturday, March 2.

Press Briefing: Weather A Concern For Crew 8 Launch

NASA’s Crew 8 Mission is scheduled to launch to the ISS at 12:04 AM Friday. Photo: Richard Gallagher/FMN

With only one day to go before the launch of Crew 8, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson led a press briefing on Wednesday morning February 28, 2024, at Kennedy Space Center.  The 8th Commercial Crew trip to the International Space Station (ISS) remains on schedule for a launch just after midnight (12:04 am EST) early Friday morning March 1.