Will We See A Second Starship Launch This Week?

November 13, 2023Posted inAviation and Space News, Space News, SpaceX
Starship 25 sits on the pad in Boca Chica, TX looking ready to go.
Starship25 and Booster9 Aiming for the Stars. Images by Richard P Gallagher/FMN

A second Starship launch soon? All indications suggest–maybe. The closest thing to a tentative date from SpaceX was a tweet that stated, “No Earlier Than” (NET) Friday 11-17-23. Other clues like road closures, NOTAMs and maritime restriction have tantalize space enthusiast and photographers but each has come and gone with a series of expiration dates. Maybe the strongest indication of an impending launch was an email to press and photographers to apply for remote camera setup on Thursday 11-16-23. But even this has to be taken with a grain of salt because of still pending regulatory approvals by the Federal Aviation and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Administrations.

Launch Alert: SES O3b mPOWER Satellites

November 12, 2023Posted inAviation and Space News, Space News, SpaceX, US Space Force
SES O3b mPower Satellite
OpenAI Illustration of the O3b mPOWER satellite in orbit.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW AT A GLANCE:

  • Rocket: SpaceX Falcon9
  • Booster: B1076 9th flight
  • Payload: O3b mPOWER Satellites 5 and 6
  • Time: Launch Window from 4:08pm to 5:37pm
  • Date: 11-12-23
  • Location: LC40 CCAFS, Florida
  • Booster landing: on A Shortfall of Gravitas
  • Trajectory: will be to the East
  • Weather: is predicted to be mostly cloudy. 

Updated: SpaceX Set to Launch Starlink 6-27 Tonight -Everything You Need To Know

November 8, 2023Posted inAviation and Space News, Florida News, Space News, SpaceX, Starlink
A SpaceX Falcon 9 Stands on the pad
Falcon9 rocket on LC40 during the pre-launch vent. 8-31-23 Photo: Richard Gallagher / FMN

Update

Launch occurred at 12:05am on 11-8-23 from LC40 at CCASA in Florida. SpaceX successfully launched a Falcon9 rocket caring 23 Starlink satellites. The first stage booster B1073 which has made 11 other launches and landings again successfully landed at sea on the barge Just Read the Instruction.

Image highlights of Starlink Group 6-27 launch on 11-8-23. Photos by Richard Gallagher / FMN
Video by Richard Gallagher / FMN

Join other Space Coast spectators tonight under the stars as SpaceX marks its 81st rocket launch this year with the launch of Starlink 6-27. Tonight’s mission (11/7/23) will add more Starlink satellites to the growing global satellite constellation. SpaceX is targeting a launch window between 11:01pm and 3:00am. Launch updates and photographs of this launch attempt will be added to this article when available.

SpaceX Will Deliver Supplies to ISS

November 6, 2023Posted inFlorida News, ISS, KSC, NASA, National News, Space News, SpaceX
A Dragon Capsule atop a SpaceX Falcon9 rocket on LC39A at KSC in Florida will deliver supplies to ISS. Image by Richard P Gallagher

Launch Alert with Sonic BOOM!

Something new! SpaceX will launch a Falcon9 rocket carrying a Dragon cargo capsule. The mission, labeled CRS-2 SpX-29 (Commercial Resupply Service), is filled with supplies going to the International Space Station (ISS). It is scheduled for lift-off on November 9, 2023. The launch window is from 8:28pm to 1:28am Friday morning. It will launch from LC39A at KSC in Florida. The first stage booster will perform a boost back maneuver and return to land zone 1 at CCAFS in Florida. A sonic boom will be heard about 8 minutes after launch, depending on how far the viewing location is from LZ1.

Musk Announces That Starlink Has Reached “Breakeven”Cash Flow

November 3, 2023Posted inSpace News, SpaceX, Starlink
A Falcon 9 carries Starlink satellites to orbit
A Space X Falcon 9 booster delivers another batch of Starlink satellites to orbit. Photo: Mark Stone/FMN

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.

Starship Clears FAA Safety Hurdles, Environmental Review Still Pending

October 31, 2023Posted inSpace News, SpaceX
Starship

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

October 27, 2023Posted inSpace News, SpaceX

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.

Exploring NASA’s Deep Space Optical Communications on the Psyche Mission

October 19, 2023Posted inFalcon Heavy, KSC, NASA, Space News

By: TJ Waller

NASA Psyche Liftoff
NASA Psyche Liftoff

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

October 14, 2023Posted inKSC, NASA, Space News, SpaceX

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.

SpaceX Launches Starlink 6-12

September 4, 2023Posted inKSC, Space News, SpaceX

(Kennedy Space Center, Florida September 3) SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 from Pad LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 10:47 p.m. EDT on September 3, 2023. This mission carried another batch of Starlink satellites to orbit, and it was a record-breaking 62nd orbital launch of the year for SpaceX, breaking last year’s record of 61 launches. As of this date, there have been 46 launches from Cape Canaveral / Kennedy Space Center this year, with all but two coming from SpaceX.