Category: SpaceX
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SpaceX makes history with SES-10 launch
Today SpaceX once again made history with the first launch of a previously flown first stage booster. The Falcon 9 lifted off at 6:27 pm EDT today with the SES-10 payload. The booster was previously used for the SpaceX CRS-8 mission on 8th April 2016, the booster was the first to successfully land on an…
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SpaceX launches EchoStar 23
After several delays originally for the static fire test and then the weather SpaceX successfully completed its third launch of 2017 this morning with the delivery of the EchoStar 23 payload to orbit. Liftoff occurred at 02:00 with the ignition of the nine Merlin 1D engines that propelled the towards orbit. 35 minutes later confirmation of…
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SpaceX Moon Mission
In a stunning announcement yesterday SpaceX explained that two people had paid significant deposits for a Dragon 2 mission around the moon currently scheduled to launch in 2018. Using a free return trajectory around the moon the mission will launch from KSC LC-39A atop a Falcon Heavy and then fly around the moon taking the crew…
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SpaceX CRS-10 launches
This morning SpaceX made history once again as it made its first launch from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center. The pad that had previously been used by NASA for Apollo and Space Shuttle launches has been refurbished by SpaceX over the last couple of years. Designed to support the launch of Falcon Heavy,…
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SpaceX launches first of seven Iridium Next payloads
This afternoon SpaceX successfully returned to flight operations following the September 1st anomaly with the successful launch of ten Iridium Next satellites. The launch was delayed several times due to the investigation into the anomaly, as well as the unfavorable weather around Vandenburg this week. As a result of the investigation into the anomaly, there…
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Weekly Space News – 1/7
We are excited to bring back our weekly review of Space related news. These are a selection of stories that excite us about the future of Space exploration/development. The opinions in these reviews are our own. NASA announces selection of two Discovery Missions This week NASA announced that he has selected the Lucy and Psyche missions…
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SpaceX ready for resumption of Falcon 9 launches
Following a four month investigation into the September 1st anomaly that resulted in the lose of a Falcon 9 rocket with it’s payload the Spacecom Amos 6 satellite and significant damage to Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral, Florida. SpaceX announced this week that they have completed the investigate (see report here) and…
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SpaceX Falcon 9 explodes during static fire test countdown
This morning during their standard Static Fire test procedure the Falcon 9 tasked with launching the Spacecom Amos-6 satellite exploded during the countdown to the static fire. SpaceX have confirmed that the Amos-6 payload was lost due to the explosion, however there were no personnel lost due to standard procedures during tanking operations. Statement on…
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Cargo Vehicles arrive at ISS
Following the two successful launches over the weekend the International Space Station now has two additional vehicles attached. Monday evening the Progress MS-03/64P vehicle completed it’s mission with a picture perfect docking to the Pirs module. And early this morning ISS Commander Jeff Williams and Flight Engineer Dr. Kate Rubins successfully captured the Dragon CRS-9 spacecraft. Three…
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SpaceX CRS 9 launches
The second launch of International Space Station Cargo this weekend was completed successful this morning following the successful delivery to orbit of the Dragon capsule. Following a smooth countdown the Falcon 9 rocket lifted off at 12:45:29 am EDT today propelling the Dragon capsule to orbit, the first stage then returned to the Cape for…