SpaceX

Four MicroGEO satellites from Astranis are integrated on a Falcon 9 payload adaptor prior to being incapsulate inside the payload fairings. Image: SpaceX Update Dec. 21, 12:22 a.m. EST (0522 UTC): SpaceX encountered a pad abort; pivoted to Sunday launch. A rare pad abort forced SpaceX to stand down from launching four MicroGEO satellites for California-based Astranis into a geosynchronous transfer orbit. SpaceX didn’t give a reason for the scrub, but said in a post on social media that they were pivoting launch to Sunday instead. The mission, dubbed ‘Astranis: From One to Many,’ includes the company’s UtilitySat, which is designed to relocate within geostationary Earth orbit over its life to respond to different mission objectives. It will launch alongside three other satellites. Liftoff f...

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Launch Complex 39A near sunset to begin the O3b mPOWER 7 & 8 mission on Dec. 17, 2024. This was SpaceX’s third Falcon 9 launch in less than 24 hours. Image: Adam Bernstein/Spaceflight Now Update 6:14 p.m. EST (2300 UTC): SpaceX landed the Falcon 9 first stage booster on its droneship. SpaceX completed its third Falcon 9 launch in less than 24 hours with a launch for one of its oldest customers: Luxembourg-based communications company, SES. Liftoff of the O3b mPOWER 7 and 8 satellites from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at the Kennedy Space Center happened near sunset at 5:26 p.m. EST (2226 UTC), which was the close of a nearly 1.5-hour-long launch window. It was be the 90th orbital launch from the Florida spaceport comprising of Kennedy Space Center...

The GPS 3 Space Vehicle 07 stands in a clean room at Lockheed Martin’s facilities in Littleton, Colorado. Image: Lockheed Martin The latest third-generation Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite launched to orbit from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Monday night. Unlike previous GPS missions though, the launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket marked a first-of-its-kind mission for the U.S. Space Force. The launch, previously known simply as “RRT-1,” actually stands for “Rapid Response Trailblazer.” Onboard was the GPS 3 Space Vehicle (SV) 07 (GPS 3 SV-07). Lockheed Martin, the satellite’s manufacturer, confirmed successful signal acquisition less than two hours after the launch at 7:52 p.m. EST (0052 UTC). The spacecraft will continue to operation out of Lockheed Martin’s Denver Laun...

Polaris Dawn Commander Jared Isaacman sits down with Matt Anderson, the chief growth officer for the Space Force Association, during the second annual Spacepower Conference to discuss human spaceflight. Image: Adam Bernstein/Spaceflight Now The man who may very well be NASA’s 15th Administrator made his first public address since receiving the nomination for the role. Jared Isaacman made an appearance at the Space Force Association’s Spacepower Conference in Orlando on Wednesday, having previously spoken at last year’s inaugural conference. While the event was billed as a discussion on his recent spaceflight, his comments before a room full of U.S. Space Force Guardians and commercial companies garnered additional interest given his nomination by President-Elect Donald Trump. During a roug...

A Falcon 9 rocket stands at Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) ahead of the launch of the RRT-1 mission. Image: Adam Bernstein/Spaceflight Now Update 8:37 p.m. EST (0137 UTC): SpaceX cited high winds as the reason for the scrub of the launch of the RRT-1 mission. SpaceX scrubbed the planned launch of a payload that has not been officially identified. The mission, according to SpaceX and the FAA is being referred to as “RRT-1.” Liftoff from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station was set for 8:05 p.m. EST (0105 UTC). In a statement posted to X, formerly Twitter, said “Teams will continue to keep a close eye on the weather as we work toward the next best launch opportunity.” “A new target launch date will be shared once available,” SpaceX wrote. On Thursday, the...