Reuters reports, “SpaceX’s workhorse Falcon 9 rocket can return to flight for a mission planned for Monday to launch the European Space Agency’s Hera spacecraft from Florida, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration said on Sunday.” The liftoff is planned “for 10:52 a.m. ET (1452 GMT) from Cape Canaveral.”
Full story (Reuters)
Tag: failure
Japan’s Space One Rocket Explodes Moments After Launch
AP News reports, “A commercial rocket trying to put a satellite into orbit was intentionally exploded shortly after liftoff Wednesday morning in central Japan following a problem that’s still under investigation.” Space One was attempting to become “Japan’s first private sector success at putting a satellite into orbit.”
Full Story (AP News)
Videos
Japanese rocket explodes moments after launch
(7News Australia; YouTube)
NASA Sends Astronauts on Spacewalk to Upgrade Solar Power of ISS
Aviation Week reported that NASA pressed ahead “with upgrades to the solar power generation system aboard the International Space Station (ISS) with a Dec. 3 spacewalk by astronauts Josh Cassada and Frank Rubio for the installation of the third of six planned Roll Out Solar Arrays (iROSAs).”
Full Story (Aviation Week)
NTSB Recommends Bell 407 Inspections after Inflight Failure
Aviation Week reported that the National Transportation Safety Board, “citing the risk of a catastrophic inflight failure, is urgently recommending U.S. and Canadian regulators require ‘immediate and more frequent inspections’ of certain Bell 407 helicopter components.”
Full Story (Aviation Week)
FAA Temporarily Suspends Falcon 9 Launches to Investigate Booster Landing Mishap
Space News reports, “Falcon 9 launches are temporarily on hold as the Federal Aviation Administration looks into any public safety implications of the failed landing of a booster early Aug. 28. In an Aug. 28 statement, the FAA stated it was aware of the incident earlier that day when a Falcon 9 booster landed on a droneship on an otherwise successful launch of 21 Starlink satellites. Upon landing, flames erupted from the booster’s base and the vehicle tipped over seconds later.”
Full Story (Space News)
Video
SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 22 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral
(Spaceflight Now; YouTube)
SpaceX Starship Rocket Is Lost During 7th Test Launch, Causing Debris to Fall
The New York Times reports, “The seventh test flight of SpaceX’s Starship rocket failed on Thursday as the vehicle’s upper stage experienced a catastrophic malfunction as it headed upward to space. SpaceX was able to achieve some success by repeating the feat of catching the gargantuan Super Heavy booster back at the launchpad.”
Full Story (New York Times – Subscription Publication)
Video
A SpaceX Starship rocket exploded shortly after launching on its seventh test flight.
(Brut India; YouTube)