Axiom Space Names Normanique Preston as Vice President of People and Culture

Axiom Space Names Normanique Preston as Vice President of People and Culture

July 10, 2024Posted inAxiom Space, Space News
Axiom today named Normanique Preston as VP of People and Culture. Photo: Axiom Space

In a news release today, Axiom Space has announced the appointment of Normanique Preston as the Vice President of People and Culture. The role will see Preston shaping the company’s people strategy, fostering a collaborative culture, and driving employee engagement and development. As an integral member of the executive management team, she will be responsible for attracting, developing, and retaining top talent to support Axiom Space’s ambitious goals.

SpaceX Waits Out Lightning, Launches Turksat-6A

SpaceX Waits Out Lightning, Launches Turksat-6A

July 9, 2024Posted inAviation and Space News, Falcon 9, Space News, SpaceX
Liftoff of Falcon 9 carrying Türksat-6A to orbit on July 8, 2024 Photo: Charles Boyer / Florida Media Now
Liftoff of Falcon 9 carrying Türksat-6A to orbit on July 8, 2024
Photo: Charles Boyer / Florida Media Now

SpaceX weathered lightning in the area until skies cleared early this evening, allowing the company to launch the Turksat-6A mission aboard a Falcon 9. Originally scheduled for 5:20 PM EDT, Turksat liftoff was delayed several times until 7:30 PM when the afternoon’s storms were far away enough to allow the rocket to safely ascend towards orbit.

SpaceX Planning To Launch Turksat 6A Aboard Falcon 9 Late Monday Afternoon

SpaceX Planning To Launch Turksat 6A Aboard Falcon 9 Late Monday Afternoon

July 7, 2024Posted inAviation and Space News, Falcon 9, Space News, SpaceX
A Falcon 9 lifting off from Space Launch Complex 40 in May 2024
Photo: Charles Boyer / Florida Media Now

SpaceX is planning to launch a Falcon 9 carrying a Turkish telecommunications satellite later Monday afternoon from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, weather permitting. The launch window opens at 05:20 PM EDT and extends over four hours to 09:43 PM EDT Monday.

A Look Ahead: Three “Firsts” of The Polaris Dawn Mission

A Look Ahead: Three “Firsts” of The Polaris Dawn Mission

July 6, 2024Posted inSpace News, SpaceX
Official rendering of a Polaris Dawn astronaut egressing from Crew Dragon with the help of the the Skywalker attachment (Zdroj: SpaceX)
Official rendering of a Polaris Dawn astronaut egressing from Crew Dragon with the help of the the Skywalker attachment (Zdroj: SpaceX)

The upcoming Polaris Dawn mission is poised to make history as the first commercial spaceflight to include a spacewalk. Billionaire Jared Isaacman is funding the mission, which is scheduled to launch no earlier than July 31, 2024, from Florida’s Space Coast.

Royal Caribbean Names Pop Star Meghan Trainor “Godmother” of New Port Canaveral-Based Megaship

Royal Caribbean Names Pop Star Meghan Trainor “Godmother” of New Port Canaveral-Based Megaship

July 5, 2024Posted inCruise Ships, Travel
Meghan Trainor Publicity photo via Facebook
Meghan Trainor
Publicity photo via Facebook

Royal Caribbean has started promoting the arrival of the world’s second-largest cruise ship, Utopia of the Seas, to its new home in Port Canaveral. It all kicks off with an online contest for fans of pop singer Meghan Trainor to join her and a small group of other fans on the ship’s initial cruise before it enters into regular service later this month.

Hurricane Beryl Disrupts Florida-Based Cruise Lines

Hurricane Beryl Disrupts Florida-Based Cruise Lines

July 4, 2024Posted inCruise Ships, Florida News, Travel
Disney Cruise Lines boards passengers in Port Canaveral, FL. Photo: Mark Stone/FMN

Those who plan to cruise over the 4th of July holiday weekend and into next week might not get what they signed up for. Hurricane Beryl, the first major storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, has wreaked havoc on Florida-based cruise lines, forcing significant itinerary changes and posing operational challenges.

SpaceX Planning Overnight Falcon 9 Launch

SpaceX Planning Overnight Falcon 9 Launch

July 2, 2024Posted inSpace News, SpaceX
A Falcon 9 heads to space in 2023, as seen from Rotary Riverfront Park in Titusville Photo: Charles Boyer / FMN
A Falcon 9 heads to space in 2023, as seen from Rotary Riverfront Park in Titusville
Photo: Charles Boyer / FMN

SpaceX plans to add more satellites to their Starlink constellation in the wee hours Wednesday morning with the Starlink 8-9 mission set to depart Space Launch Complex 40. Liftoff is currently targeted for 02:57 AM EDT with a launch window extending to 06:01:00 AM EDT the same day. If weather or technical reasons cause a scrub, an additional opportunities are also available on Sunday, July 7 starting at 12:28 AM EDT.

The booster used for the mission is Booster B1073, the same one that experienced an abort-at-ignition on its last launch attempt. After completing its boost cycle, B1073 on the company’s automated landing barge ‘A Shortfall Of Gravitas’ which is stationed at sea in the Atlantic Ocean offshore of the Carolinas. Since the booster will not be returning to the launch site, there will be no sonic booms on the Space Coast.

Florida Legislature Designates A1A as the Jimmy Buffett Highway

Florida Legislature Designates A1A as the Jimmy Buffett Highway

June 30, 2024Posted inFlorida News
Jimmy Buffet and Highway A1A sign
Image: BuffetNews.com

The Florida Legislature has officially designated the iconic Florida A1A highway as the “Jimmy Buffett Highway.” The coastal highway runs from Key West to the Georgia border. This decision honors the legendary singer-songwriter, whose music has long embodied the laid-back, coastal lifestyle cherished by Floridians and visitors alike.

Public Comments on SpaceX Starship Launch Facility at LC-39A Highlight Environmental and Safety Concerns

Public Comments on SpaceX Starship Launch Facility at LC-39A Highlight Environmental and Safety Concerns

June 29, 2024Posted inKSC, Space News, SpaceX
A Falcon Heavy prepares for launch at LC-39a in the shadow of SpaceX's new Starship Tower (right). Construction on the new tower is dormant, pending regulatory approval. Photo: Mark Stone/FMN
A Falcon Heavy prepares for launch at LC-39A in the shadow of SpaceX’s new Starship Tower (right). Construction on the new tower is dormant, pending regulatory approval. Photo: Mark Stone/FMN

Kennedy Space Center, Florida — SpaceX’s ambitious plans to repurpose Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at the Kennedy Space Center for its Starship/Super Heavy launch vehicle program have sparked a wide array of concerns from various public and private stakeholders.

Axiom Continues Making Steady Progress With Spacesuit Program, Collins Aerospace Drops Out

Axiom Continues Making Steady Progress With Spacesuit Program, Collins Aerospace Drops Out

June 28, 2024Posted inArtemis, Axiom Space, ISS, NASA, Space News
Artemis III partners – NASA, SpaceX, and Axiom Space – together conducted a successful pressurized simulation and the first test of its kind since the Apollo era. Courtesy of SpaceX via Axiom Space
Vital Program for Artemis and ISS Loses One of Two Vendors

Though they are often taken for granted, spacesuits are a vital part of US space efforts, both now with the International Space Station, and also later, when astronauts from Project Artemis undertake their EVA duties on the lunar surface. Without spacesuits, many of the necessary maintenance and upgrade duties on ISS cannot be performed, and obviously, without spacesuits, no one will be walking on the moon.