Polaris Dawn Takes Flight: The Mission That May Redefine Commercial Space Exploration

Polaris Dawn Takes Flight: The Mission That May Redefine Commercial Space Exploration

September 10, 2024Posted inCrewed, Space News, SpaceX
Polaris Dawn rises off of the launch pad on a SpaceX Falcon 9 on September 10, 2024 Photo: Charles Boyer / Florida Media Now
Polaris Dawn rises off of the launch pad on a SpaceX Falcon 9 on September 10, 2024
Photo: Charles Boyer / Florida Media Now

The Florida skies over the Kennedy Space Center lit up once again this morning with the 5:23 a.m. ET launch of the Polaris Dawn mission. This mission may prove to be one of the most significant yet in the realm of commercial space flight. The mission, spearheaded by SpaceX and billionaire Jared Isaacman, aims to break multiple records and test several new technologies that will advance private space exploration.

Polaris Dawn: Will She Stay or Will She Go?

Polaris Dawn: Will She Stay or Will She Go?

September 9, 2024Posted inCrewed, Space News, SpaceX
Polaris Dawn on the launch pad behind SpaceX’s Starship Tower at LC-39A
Photo: Charles Boyer / FMN

SpaceX plans to launch Polaris Dawn early tomorrow morning from Pad LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center, with four astronauts aboard a Crew Dragon. Following weeks of recent weather delays and continued unsettled weather, the mission has a 40% chance of lifting off tomorrow, according to SpaceX.

Boeing Starliner

Starliner: A Risky Return

September 6, 2024Posted inFalcon 9, ISS, NASA, Space News, SpaceX
Starliner pictured docked to the ISS, will undock later tonight and prepare to land at the White Sands Missile Range. Credit: NASA.
Starliner pictured docked to the ISS, will undock later tonight and prepare to land at the White Sands Missile Range. Credit: NASA.

Tonight, Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft is set to return to Earth. Whether or not it will be a safe return depends on who you ask. In one corner, we have Boeing, who publicly at least, stands 100% behind their crew capsule. In the other corner, NASA’, who is confident in Starliner, but not confident enough to risk the lives their astronauts.

SpaceX Set To Launch Starlink 8-11 Thursday (Updated)

SpaceX Set To Launch Starlink 8-11 Thursday (Updated)

September 3, 2024Posted inAviation and Space News, Falcon 9, Space News, SpaceX, Starlink
Falcon 9 launching from Space Launch Complex 40 in Cape Canaveral
Falcon 9 launching from Space Launch Complex 40 in Cape Canaveral
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville

Update: Wednesday’s Starlink launch attempt was called off with slightly more than two minutes left in the countdown due to weather in the booster landing zone. Florida is experiencing a rather stormy week, leading to a high degree of uncertainty in the week’s launch schedule.

SpaceX plans to launch a Falcon 9 Thursday morning from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral, carrying another group of Starlink satellites. According to SpaceX, “Liftoff is targeted for 8:35 a.m. ET, with additional opportunities available until 12:31 p.m. ET.”

Falcon 9 Booster Lost After Successful Starlink Deployment

Falcon 9 Booster Lost After Successful Starlink Deployment

August 28, 2024Posted inFalcon 9, Space News, SpaceX, Starlink
Booster B1059 propels a batch of Starlink satellies to orbit on Wednesday, August 28, 2024. It was the booster's 23rd mission, a new record for reuseability. Photo: SpaceX Video feed
Booster B1062 propels a batch of Starlink satellites to orbit on Wednesday, August 28, 2024. It was the booster’s 23rd mission, a new record for reusability. Photo: SpaceX Video feed

Fresh off of the announced delay of the Polaris Dawn’s 3:38AM launch Wednesday morning, SpaceX made the decision to continue with the launch of Starlink mission 8-6, slated for launch at 3:48 AM. While the launch went off without a hitch, it would not prove to be a great morning for SpaceX.

Polaris Dawn Delayed Until At Least Friday Due To Abort Zone Weather

Polaris Dawn Delayed Until At Least Friday Due To Abort Zone Weather

August 27, 2024Posted inAviation and Space News, Crewed, Falcon 9, Space News, SpaceX
Polaris Dawn sitting atop Falcon 9 and LC-39A on June 26.
Polaris Dawn sitting atop Falcon 9 and LC-39A on June 26.
Photo: Charles Boyer / Florida Media Now

SpaceX has called off the Polaris Dawn launch of Falcon 9 until at least Friday, August 29th. The company announced shortly after 10 PM EDT that it was standing down for the night, and stated on its website that the next launch attempt would be no earlier than the end of the week.