Tag: Falcon 9

  • SpaceX Launches Crewed Dragon

    At 2:49 am EST today SpaceX launched the first of their Crewed Dragon spacecraft on a mission to the International Space Station. As this was the first launch of the spacecraft there were no crew members onboard however the vehicle is heavily instrumented and does carry a dummy called Ripley which will allow SpaceX and…

  • SpaceX begins 2019 with successful Iridium Next launch

    SpaceX completed the last of there contracted launches for Iridium Next with the successfully delivery of 10 satellites to orbit this morning. The launch which had been delayed several times due to satellite and vehicle technical issues successfully lifted off at 10:31 AM EST. This was the 2nd flight of the booster 1049 which again…

  • SpaceX completes 2018 with successful deployed of GPS III satellite

    SpaceX completed its busiest year so far with the successful deployment of the first GPS III satellite, named Vespucci, today.  This was SpaceX’s 21st launch of the year and 72nd overall. The launch was delayed due to a sensor issue and then weather but was able to get off the ground today. This was the…

  • SpaceX launches Es’hail-2 satellite

    SpaceX successfully launched the Es’hail-2 satellite for Es’hailSat (Qatar) this afternoon delivering the payload to orbit 32 minutes after liftoff from Launch Complex 39-A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Following the successful stage separation the booster successfully landing on SpaceX’s Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship Of Course I Still Love you in the Atlantic ocean…

  • SpaceX successfully launches Telstar 18V satellite

    Following several delays to ensure the booster was ready for launch SpaceX successfully completed their 16th launch of 2018 with the deployment of the Telstar 18V satellite to its Geostationary Transfer Order. This was the 2nd launch for Telstar in two months following the successful launch of the Telstar 19V satellite in July. The first…

  • SpaceX launches Merah Putih satellite

    SpaceX continued their 2018 launch campaign with the successful deployment of the Merah Putih communications satellite for Telkom Indonesia this morning. The 5000 kg satellite was successfully deployed to a Geostationary Transfer Orbit and is now making its way to its operating orbit. This was the first reflight for a Block 5 Falcon 9 booster…

  • SpaceX successfully launches another 10 Iridium Next satellites

    This morning SpaceX completed their 14th launch of the year and second of the week with the successful deployment of another 10 Iridium Next satellites.  This was the second launch of the morning coming just 14 minutes after the Arianespace launch, however, the mission completed first due to the shorter coast phase before deployment. Launching…

  • SpaceX successfully launches Telstar 19V satellite

    Early this morning SpaceX completed their 13th launch of the year with the successful deployment of the Telstar 19V satellite to its Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO). This was the 2nd flight of the new Block 5 version of the Falcon 9 and was also the heaviest payload SpaceX has deployed to GTO weighing in at…

  • My first live launch – SpaceX CRS-15

    Today my family and I were able to see our first live rocket launch with the successful liftoff of the Falcon 9 carrying the Dragon Spacecraft to orbit for SpaceX’s CRS-15 mission to the International Space Station. Originally the plan was to get up a 2 in the morning and drive from Davenport, FL to…

  • SpaceX successfully launches SES-12 satellite

    Early this morning SpaceX successfully launched the SES-12 satellite, the launch was originally scheduled for May 31st but was delayed to allow SpaceX additional time to check the rocket’s second stage to ensure mission success. The nine Merlin 1D engines came to life at 12:45 am EDT following a smooth countdown and propelled the payload…