Tag: launch

SpaceX Falcon 9 Launches 23 Starlink Satellites from Cape Canaveral

Spaceflight Now reports, “SpaceX launched its latest Falcon 9 shortly after midnight on Sunday, adding 23 more Starlink satellites to its growing mega-constellation. The midnight hour launch featured 13 satellites which have Direct to Cell capabilities. Liftoff of the Starlink 12-5 mission from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station happened at 12:30 a.m. EST.”
Full Story (Spaceflight Now)

Video

A SpaceX Falcon 9 launches 23 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral, December 9, at 12:12 a.m. ET (Launch at 0:59:49 mark)
(Spaceflight Now; YouTube)

Vega C Successfully Launches for First Time in Nearly Two Years

Space News reports, “A Vega C successfully launched an Earth observation satellite Dec. 5 in the rocket’s first flight since a failure nearly two years ago. The Vega C lifted off from the European spaceport at Kourou, French Guiana, at 4:20 p.m. Eastern. The launch was previously scheduled for Dec. 4 but delayed a day because a problem with the mobile launch gantry at the pad.”
Full Story (Space News)

 

 

 

 

 

Video

Vega-C rocket launches Sentinel-1C satellite in return to flight, Dec. 5, 2024 (Launch at 37:02 mark)
(VideoFromSpace; YouTube)

India to Launch European Proba-3 Satellites on Dec. 5 to Create Artificial Eclipses in Space

SPACE reports, “A European mission that will use two satellites to create artificial eclipses in Earth orbit will launch early Thursday morning (Dec. 5) … The ESA’s Proba-3 formation-flying mission is scheduled to lift off atop an Indian Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) from Satish Dhawan Space Center on Thursday at 5:42 a.m. EST (1042 GMT; 4:42 p.m. local time in India).”
Full Story (SPACE)

ULA Preparing New Vulcan Centaur Rocket for 1st Space Force Mission

SPACE reports United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan Centaur rocket is set for its first U.S. Space Force mission, promising cost-effective launches and advanced technology.  “In late 2024 or early 2025, United Launch Alliance (ULA)’s Vulcan Centaur rocket will fly its first of more than two dozen U.S. Space Force missions allocated under a national security space launch contract.”
Full Story (SPACE)

Blue Origin Launches Third Crewed New Shepard Mission of 2024

Via Satellite reports, “Blue Origin flew a crew to the edge of space on the New Shepard rocket on Friday in its ninth human spaceflight mission. The civilian astronaut crew included TV host and space communicator Emily Calandrelli, known for Netflix and Youtube science shows. During the 10-minute mission, the New Shepard rocket launched from Blue Origin’s Launch Site One in West Texas. The crew capsule separated successfully from the booster, giving the crew a few minutes of weightlessness.”
Full Story (Via Satellite)
More Info (AIAA Statement)

 

Video

Blue Origin NS-28 Crew Launch, Friday, November 22, 2024. (Launch at 0:39:02 mark)
(The Launch Pad; YouTube)

SpaceX Falcon 9 Launches from Cape Canaveral with 24 Starlink Satellites

Spaceflight Now reports, “SpaceX completed its fourth Falcon 9 rocket launch since Sunday with a mission carrying the company’s latest batch of Starlink internet satellites. Liftoff of the Starlink 6-66 mission pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station happened at 11:07 a.m. EST (1607 UTC) on Thursday. Space Force meteorologists gave the rocket a 90 percent chance of good weather ahead of launch, with liftoff winds being the only concern at the launch site.”
Full Story (Spaceflight Now)

 

Video

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 24 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral, November 21, 2024. (Launch at 1:00:03 mark)
(Spaceflight Now; YouTube)

AIAA Statement on Blue Origin’s Successful NS-28 Mission

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 22, 2024 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) issued the following statement from AIAA CEO Clay Mowry:

“On behalf of the 30,000 professional and student members of AIAA, we congratulate Blue Origin on its successful NS-28 mission. The New Shepard program embodies the promises of space for the benefit of Earth. Reusability is the future of launch. With its emphasis on reusability and sustainability, Blue Origin is leading the charge in reducing the cost of access to space while enabling the growth of a vibrant space economy.

Congratulations to the NS-28 crew – Emily, Sharon, Marc, Austin, J.D., and Hank – on their remarkable journey beyond the Kármán line today. It’s exciting to witness Marc’s and Sharon’s second spaceflight and see how Sharon is impacting the next generation of explorers through her work with SpaceKids Global.

We’re especially proud to celebrate Emily Calandrelli, also known as The Space Gal, on her transformative experience onboard New Shepard. Emily’s leadership as a Space4All Champion, inspiring young women and girls to explore STEM fields, has reached new heights as she becomes the 100th women to go to space. Her flight serves as a testament to the growing accessibility of space exploration and will undoubtedly inspire countless individuals to see themselves in space careers.

AIAA proudly supports the Space4Allnational space STEM awareness initiative, which is committed to promoting the vast benefits and limitless opportunities associated with space exploration and development for students and jobseekers everywhere who may otherwise believe that a future in space and STEM is unattainable for them. Through education, advocacy, and outreach, Space4All seeks to unlock opportunities for students, educators, and job seekers to contribute to humanity’s space-faring future. In its first year, Space4All has already reached more than 12 million people.

We applaud AIAA Corporate Member Blue Origin for shaping the future of aerospace.”

 

Media Contact: Rebecca Gray, [email protected], 804-397-5270 cell

About AIAA
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is the world’s largest aerospace technical society. With nearly 30,000 individual members from 91 countries, and 100 corporate members, AIAA brings together industry, academia, and government to advance engineering and science in aviation, space, and defense. For more information, visit aiaa.org, and follow AIAA on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X/Twitter.

AIAA Statement on Sixth SpaceX Starship Test Flight

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 20, 2024 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) issued the following statement from AIAA CEO Clay Mowry:

“Congratulations to the SpaceX team on its sixth test flight of Starship. We’re following with anticipation SpaceX’s progress through its rapid, iterative testing of this new launch vehicle. The engineering advances demonstrated by the SpaceX team are accelerating our return to the moon and traveling to Mars. We know the team is learning valuable lessons from the engineering data gathered during this sixth test flight.

AIAA recognizes the countless industry professionals who have helped design, build, and test Starship. We applaud AIAA Corporate Member SpaceX for taking this step forward in shaping the future of aerospace.”

Media contact: Rebecca Gray, [email protected], 804-397-5270

About AIAA
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is the world’s largest aerospace technical society. With nearly 30,000 individual members from 91 countries, and 100 corporate members, AIAA brings together industry, academia, and government to advance engineering and science in aviation, space, and defense. For more information, visit aiaa.org or follow AIAA on X/Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

SpaceX Launches Super Heavy-Starship on Sixth Test Flight

Spaceflight Now reports, “SpaceX launched the world’s most powerful rocket on its sixth test flight Tuesday, an up-and-down trip to space by a gargantuan Super Heavy-Starship to evaluate a variety of safety and performance upgrades. Shattering the afternoon calm with an ear-splitting roar, the huge 30-foot-wide, 397-foot-tall rocket blasted off from Musk’s sprawling Boca Chica, Texas, manufacturing and test facility on the Gulf Coast near Brownsville at 5 p.m. EST, the opening of a 30-minute launch window.”
Full Story (Spaceflight Now)

 

Video

SpaceX launches Starship on 6th test flight, November 19, 2024 (Launch at 1:29:33 mark)
(Spaceflight Now; YouTube)